Course

Unit 1

Foundations and Methods in Social Psychology

Overview of key concepts: social cognition, attitudes, perception, and social influence. Scientific methods in social psychology. How to search, read, and evaluate psychological literature. Designing a mini research project or review in social psychology. Hands-on activity: Use online survey platforms (e.g., Google Forms, Qualtrics) for collecting social psychology data.

Unit 2

The Self and Social Perception

The self-concept, self-esteem, and self-presentation. Attribution theory and errors in attribution. Social identity, self-categorisation, and the role of culture. Implicit attitudes and biases. Hands-on activity: Use of implicit association test (IAT) online tools to explore biases and self-perception.

Unit 3

Social Influence and Group Dynamics

Conformity, obedience, and compliance (Asch, Milgram, Zimbardo). Group behaviour: decision-making, polarisation, deindividuation. Leadership and group performance. Role of norms, status, and roles in shaping behaviour. Hands-on activity: Virtual simulations of social influence experiments to observe conformity and group dynamics in controlled settings.

Unit 4

Interpersonal Relationships and Prosocial Behaviour

Attraction, intimacy, and close relationships. Altruism and helping behaviour. Bystander effect, empathy, and social responsibility. Conflict, negotiation, and resolution strategies. Hands-on activity: Interactive role-play platforms or collaborative online tools to simulate conflict resolution and prosocial decision-making.

Unit 5

Prejudice, Discrimination, and Applied Social Psychology

Stereotyping, prejudice, and intergroup relations. Reducing prejudice: contact hypothesis, education, media influence. Social psychology in education, health, organisations, and social media. Ethical considerations and cultural sensitivity in research and applications. Hands-on activity: Use of social network analysis (SNA) software to map and analyse patterns of prejudice, communication, or influence in groups.

Text Books / References

Textbooks

1. Aronson, E., Wilson, T. D., Akert, R. M., Sommers, S. R., & Nagoshi, C. T. (2022). Social psychology (11th ed.). Pearson.
2. Myers, D. G., & Twenge, J. M. (2019). Social psychology (13th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
3. Hewstone, M., Stroebe, W., & Jonas, K. (2021). An introduction to social psychology (7th ed.). Wiley.
4. Sherif, M. (1948). An outline of social psychology. Harper & Brothers.
5. Cialdini, R. B. (2021). Influence: The psychology of persuasion (Rev. ed.). Harper Business.

Suggested Readings

1. Baumeister, R. F., & Bushman, B. J. (2020). Social psychology and human nature (5th ed.). Cengage Learning.
2. Haslam, S. A. (2014). Psychology in organizations: The social identity approach (3rd ed.). Sage Publications.
3. Gervais, W. M. (Ed.). (2019). The Oxford handbook of the science of science communication. Oxford University Press.

This course delves into key domains of Social Psychology, exploring how individuals perceive, influence, and relate to others in social contexts. Building upon foundational knowledge, students will engage with contemporary theories, empirical studies, and real-world applications. They will learn to search and review scientific literature to answer psychological questions, develop critical thinking to assess research findings, and gain insights into how social psychological principles operate in everyday life. Drawing inspiration from Stanfords emphasis on application, students will explore how social psychological phenomena such as conformity, prejudice, prosocial behaviour, and group dynamics manifest in educational, organisational, digital, and policy contexts. The course will foster both academic rigour and applied competence in interpreting and utilising social psychological concepts.

Course Objectives

• To deepen understanding of key social psychological theories and concepts.
• To train students in searching, analysing, and synthesising empirical literature in social psychology.
• To develop critical thinking skills to evaluate research findings in the field.
• To apply social psychological principles to real-world situations and societal issues.
• To encourage students to reflect on the relevance of social psychology in diverse cultural, interpersonal, and digital contexts.
• To introduce beginner-level technology tools to design surveys, simulate social experiments, and visualise social data.

Course Outcomes

• CO1: Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of major topics in social psychology, including attitudes, group processes, and interpersonal influence.
• CO2: Critically analyse and evaluate empirical research in social psychology.
• CO3: Apply social psychological theories to explain current social issues and behaviours.
• CO4: Translate theoretical knowledge into practical interventions in areas such as education, conflict resolution, and social media.
• CO5: Reflect on the cultural and ethical implications of social psychological research and practice.

CO-PO Mapping