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Spring
2026
Study Guide: Diversity and Inequality—Online Section
James Beggan
Spring 2026
, Page |1
Introduction to the Course
Listen to:
323-intro to class.WMA
If you look at this study guide, you will see that there are six chapters. Each chapter has two lectures
associated with it, which are audio files that end in WMA. So you can find them just by searching for
WMA. They are also treated as a heading in the headings panel, which appears on the left side of the
screen in word if you activate it. If you follow along in the study guide and listen to the lectures and
watch the supplemental material (in the form of YouTube videos), you will have a good grasp of the
material and what will be tested. There is a test for each chapter, so there are six tests. The tests are
available on blackboard under assignments. All the tests will be open on the first day of the winter term.
All tests must be finished by the last day of winter term. There will be no exceptions or extensions of
that date.
The textbook is called:
Personal Introduction
Listen to:
323-personal intro.WMA
Who am I, and who are you?
, Page |2
My name is Jim Beggan. I was born in New York State in a city called Buffalo, which is close to
Niagara Falls and close to the Canadian border. When I was young, I liked reading comic books,
science fiction, and riding my bike in the neighborhood. I went to college at the State University
of New York at Buffalo and earned a BA in psychology. I worked in a shoe store for a year and a
bookstore for about four years. I went to graduate school in California at the University of
California, Santa Barbara, and then got a job at the University of Louisville in 1989. My research
areas have varied widely from the psychology of decision making, to the role of the self-concept
and possessions in feeling good about oneself. I’ve studied the influence and content of Playboy
magazine, positive deviance, and making rational decisions about sexual behavior. I’ve written
about sexual harassment, polyamory, and heroism. I recently published a book about dogs and
how our love of dogs can create social conflict. I also co-authored a book about why great
leaders can sometimes hurt their organizations and themselves. For fun, I like to partner dance,
such as swing, lindy hop, fox trot, west coast swing. I’ve done salsa and bachata and four years
ago I actually visited Panama for the first time and sought out salsa dancing near the hotel where
I stayed. I have a dog named Lucy and live in a condo about 4 miles from the university.
, Page |3
Spring
2026
Study Guide: Diversity and Inequality—Online Section
James Beggan
Spring 2026
, Page |1
Introduction to the Course
Listen to:
323-intro to class.WMA
If you look at this study guide, you will see that there are six chapters. Each chapter has two lectures
associated with it, which are audio files that end in WMA. So you can find them just by searching for
WMA. They are also treated as a heading in the headings panel, which appears on the left side of the
screen in word if you activate it. If you follow along in the study guide and listen to the lectures and
watch the supplemental material (in the form of YouTube videos), you will have a good grasp of the
material and what will be tested. There is a test for each chapter, so there are six tests. The tests are
available on blackboard under assignments. All the tests will be open on the first day of the winter term.
All tests must be finished by the last day of winter term. There will be no exceptions or extensions of
that date.
The textbook is called:
Personal Introduction
Listen to:
323-personal intro.WMA
Who am I, and who are you?
, Page |2
My name is Jim Beggan. I was born in New York State in a city called Buffalo, which is close to
Niagara Falls and close to the Canadian border. When I was young, I liked reading comic books,
science fiction, and riding my bike in the neighborhood. I went to college at the State University
of New York at Buffalo and earned a BA in psychology. I worked in a shoe store for a year and a
bookstore for about four years. I went to graduate school in California at the University of
California, Santa Barbara, and then got a job at the University of Louisville in 1989. My research
areas have varied widely from the psychology of decision making, to the role of the self-concept
and possessions in feeling good about oneself. I’ve studied the influence and content of Playboy
magazine, positive deviance, and making rational decisions about sexual behavior. I’ve written
about sexual harassment, polyamory, and heroism. I recently published a book about dogs and
how our love of dogs can create social conflict. I also co-authored a book about why great
leaders can sometimes hurt their organizations and themselves. For fun, I like to partner dance,
such as swing, lindy hop, fox trot, west coast swing. I’ve done salsa and bachata and four years
ago I actually visited Panama for the first time and sought out salsa dancing near the hotel where
I stayed. I have a dog named Lucy and live in a condo about 4 miles from the university.
, Page |3
