Social Psychology (International Edition). 8th ed. Harlow: Pearson. A further
indicative text is: Hayes, N. (1993) Principles of Social. Psychology. New York: ...
Course information 2013-14 FP0005 Foundation Course: Social Psychology This is the foundation course on which subsequent, university level Social Psychology courses are based. This course offers an introduction to the concepts, theories and methodologies used in the study of key areas of the discipline.
Prerequisites
Learning outcomes
None apply.
At the end of this course and having completed the essential reading and activities, students should be able to:
Aims and objectives The major aims of this course are to: provide an introduction to Social Psychology as a social scientific discipline, its areas of interest, theory and methodologies consider key ways in which social psychological knowledge can be applied to real-life contexts provide tools that support students in critical thinking and argumentation
Essential reading This course supplements the on-line study guide with excerpts from a range of sources, including textbooks, media texts, short academic articles and influential studies.
Identify and explain key concepts, theories and methodological approaches used in Social Psychology Apply Social Psychological theories to key issues covered in the course Assess the validity and relevance of different approaches to the study of social psychological phenomena
Assessment This course is assessed by a two-hour unseen written examination.
Many examples are drawn from the following text: Aronson, E., Wilson, T. and Akert, R.M. (2012) Social Psychology (International Edition). 8th ed. Harlow: Pearson. A further indicative text is: Hayes, N. (1993) Principles of Social Psychology. New York: Psychology Press. Students should consult the Programme Specification and Regulations for the International Foundation Programme that are reviewed annually. All course information, including the syllabus are subject to confirmation in the Regulations. Notice is also given in the Regulations of any courses which are being phased out and students are advised to check course availability annually.
Foundation course: Social Psychology
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Syllabus This is an indicative description of the material to be examined, as published in the Regulations. On registration, students will receive a detailed subject guide which provides a framework for covering the topics in the syllabus and directions to the essential reading.
Overview: The course introduces students
Group and inter-group relations: This
to key issue areas of Social Psychology, outlining how key researchers have contributed to the development of theory. These issues areas are also used to briefly describe the role of research methods in social psychological research.
module introduces students to key concepts, theories and methodological approaches regarding groups and intergroup relations. These include group norms and roles, social facilitation and social loafing, theories of prejudice and intergroup collaboration.
The self in social context: Students are introduced in this module to key concepts, theories and methodological approaches specific for the study of self. These include the self-concept, self-awareness, selfperception and social comparison, selfesteem and impression management. Interpersonal relations: Students are
Cultural phenomena: In this module, students are introduced to key concepts, theories and methodological approaches related to culture and cultural phenomena. These include cultural experiences of the self, aggression, prosocial behaviour and culture, attribution and culture, and intercultural communication.
introduced in this module to key concepts, theories and methodological approaches to the study of interpersonal relations. These include attachment theory, social exchange and equity theory, factors of attraction and the interpretation of the behaviour of others.
Foundation course: Social Psychology
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