PSY30140

Learning Outcomes:

Appreciate the historical roots of contemporary social psychology. Develop the ability to apply social psychological models to the understanding of modern social issues, including racism and 'modern' racism, materialism, relative deprivation, socio-cultural influence and psychological aspects of health. Appreciate the biological influences on complex human behaviours. Recognise the variety of perspectives made by differing 'schools' of social psychological thought.

Indicative Module Content:

1/ Dynamics within Groups (themes include the development of groups, their dynamics, their group leadership, and optimising group performance).
(3 LECTURES)

2/ Dynamics between Groups (themes include the prejudiced personality, relative group deprivation, modern racism and stereotyping).
(4 LECTURES)

3/ Well-being and Society (themes include the post-materialist society, affluence and happiness, and the role of social equality).
(3 LECTURES)

4/ Applying Social Psychology to Physical and Mental Health (areas covered include the potential and limits of public health models, stress, and Positive Psychology, ‘Nudging’). (4 LECTURES)

5/ The Biological Foundations of Social Psychology (areas covered are Evolutionary Social Psychology, Terror Management, Sex and Gender Differences, Human Sexuality). (4 LECTURES)

6/ Power, Culture and Violence (areas covered include status, the impact of power, the effect of subordination, levels of violence across human history, and the way in which culture shapes people).
(3 LECTURES)

Student Effort Hours:

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:

The content is divided into six areas. The first two areas are linked as they both examine the social psychology of groups, but section 1 examines dynamics within groups such as leadership, and assimilation. The second section examines dynamics between groups and looks at issues such as prejudice and group hostility. The third section examines the ways in which wealth can affect people's values and lives - this content tends towards the more 'societal' form of social psychology, whereas the initial two areas are more individual and group based traditional social psychology. The fourth section considers human health and welfare from a broad perspective; the content takes in stress and positive psychology, as well as examining the efficacy and impediments to public health campaigns. The first section takes account of the growing resurgence of biological influence in explaining human behaviour and considers evolutionary social psychology, human mortality and human sexuality as areas where some biological hard-wiring interacts with social and cultural influence. The final section examines the role of culture in influencing human behaviour and attitudes around the world and throughout history. Overall, it is hoped that the blend of traditional social psychology, societal social psychology, applications to human health and well-being, and the competing power of biology and culture will provide a coherent and stimulating overall picture of our species to the student.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Learning Recommendations:

Should have some background courses taken in psychology or sociology.

Module Requisites and Incompatibles

Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy

 

Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Essay 1 is submitted in week 8. Each student will be individually emailed, by week 12, with a provisional grade, and a brief explanation justifying the awarding of that grade. Essay 2 is submitted at the end of the trimester 2. Feedback will be given with release of the overall module grade, as an individual email.