Introductory description

The module discusses social psychology as the scientific study of human behaviour as influenced by other people and the social context in which this occurs.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Introduction to Social Psychology & methods
Social Cognition
Social Perception
The Self
Attraction
Behaviour and attribution
Attitudes
Persuasion
Prejudice
Stereotyping and discrimination
Revision
Revision

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• At the end of the module students should be able to: · understand and discuss and evaluate methods for studying social psychology, and the relation between phenomena, research methods, data and theories;
• and be able critically to discuss theory and research on the following topics: · pro-social and anti-social motivation and behaviour;
• social perception, attribution and inference
• attitude structure, function and change
• behaviour within and between groups

Indicative reading list

Gilovich, T., Keltner, D, Chen, S., & Nisbett, R. (2015). Social Psychology (4th ed.). New York: WW Norton & Company
Aronson, E., Wilson, T. D., & Akert, R. M. (2015). Social Psychology (9th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon.
Hogg, M. A., & Vaughan , G. M.. (2008). Social psychology (5th ed.). Harlow: Prentice-Hall.
Hewstone, M., Stroebe, W. & Jonas, K. (2008). Introduction to social psychology (4th ed.). Oxford :
Blackwell.
Fiske, S.T. (2010). Social beings (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
Eagly, A.H. & Chaiken, S. (1993). The psychology of attitudes. Fort Worth , TX: Harcourt Brace &
Co
Fiske, S.T. & Taylor, S.E. (1991). Social cognition (2nd ed.) New York : McGraw-Hill.
Brown, R.J. (2000). Group processes (2nd ed.). Oxford : Blackwell

Subject specific skills

evaluate methods for studying social psychology, understanding of the relationship between different areas of psychology as a discipline, understanding of the relationship between phenomena, research methods, data and theories

Transferable skills

critically discuss theory and research
effective personal planning skills