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Course Syllabus

Bachelor 2020/2021

Social Psychology

Category 'Best Course for Broadening Horizons and Diversity of Knowledge and Skills'
Category 'Best Course for New Knowledge and Skills'
Type: Elective course (Sociology and Social Informatics)
Area of studies: Sociology
Delivered by: Department of Sociology
Where: Saint-Petersburg School of Social Sciences
When: 2 year, 1, 2 module
Mode of studies: offline
Instructors: Ksenia Eritsyan, Yadviga Sinyavskaya, Roman Tikhonov
Language: English
ECTS credits: 5
Contact hours: 48

Course Syllabus

Full Syllabus

Abstract

The course covers broad range of social psychology topics from both theoretical and applied perspective. The course would be focused on classical social psychology issues such us interpersonal perception and communication, cultural differences, interpersonal and intergroup influences. It would also include several notable applications of social psychology to such issues as judgment and decision making, health and illness and internet communications. The current state of art and emerging initiatives in modern social psychology, including open science movement would be discussed in details.
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

  • Learning how to use and explain theories of social psychology in different situations.
  • Analyze and evaluate the strengths and limitations of published works
  • Learn basic principles of social psychological interventions
Expected Learning Outcomes

Expected Learning Outcomes

  • Know basic principles of social psychological interventions development on the group and community levels
  • Explain specific theories of social psychology and use them to interpret and predict behavior in specific social situations.
  • Apply social psychology theories to understand different social problems on group, organization and society level.
  • Know and ready to use effective communication strategies on interpersonal and group levels.
Course Contents

Course Contents

  • Introduction to the state of the art of social psychology
    Course overview; key definitions; theoretical perspectives; social-psychological interventions; methodological challenges of social psychology. Selected classical theories of social behaviour (Social Cognitive Theory, Theory of planned behaviour: Focus theory of normative conduct)
  • Self and self-presentation
    Self; self-concept; self-esteem; sociometer theory; terror management theory; Social identity theory; identity signalling, self-presentation/impression management strategies, self-regulation
  • Groups and group performance
    Joint decision-making and group performance. Types of group tasks. Groups in social psychology. Key characteristics of groups: membership, goals, norms, and interaction. Functions of group norms (coordination, cognitive framework, identity). The Moreland and Levine (1982) model of group socialization. Group leadership. Leadership activities: goal-setting, planning, creating structure, communication, recruiting, monitoring, representative. Leadership styles (Goleman, 2000). Group Development Stages (Tuckman & Jensen, 1977). Group effects: social facilitation/inhibition, Activation theory (Zajonc, 1965), Social loafing (Ringelmann effect). Team-building techniques. Benefits and drawbacks of high/low group cohesion
  • Interpersonal and intergroup relationships
    Aggression: definition and types of aggressive behaviour. The nature of aggression: theoretical perspectives on aggression and its criticism. Determinants of aggressive behaviour. Reducing aggression. Affiliation, attraction, and close relationships. Determinants of relationship formation. Homophily. Mere exposure effect. Matching hypothesis. Social capital theory: offline and online perspectives. Privacy and self-disclosure in personal relationships. Prosocial behaviour: altruism theories, bystander intervention decision model
  • Social cognition and social influence
    Attitudes: components, functions, and formation. Implicit and explicit attitudes and their measurement. Cognitive dissonance and cognitive consistency. The relation between attitudes and behaviour. Social influence (conformity, compliance, and obedience) and persuasion: classical studies and their criticism and elaboration. Normative and informational influence. Persuasion and compliance principles and techniques (Cialdini). Reactance Theory
  • Social psychology applications
    Social psychological interventions development and evaluation. Communication of social psychology findings. Replication of social-psychological phenomena. Group projects presentations discussion
Assessment Elements

Assessment Elements

  • non-blocking In-class Participation
    Each seminar students get a grade for seminar participation. Depending on the seminar content, one of three grading methods are used: 1. Short test on assigned readings or seminar content (50%) + in-class participation (50%). 2. Presentation (50%) + in-class participation (50%). 3. In-class participation (100%). The two seminars with the minimum grades would be excluded from the calculation of the accumulated in-class participation grades. Short tests ● Short tests are based on the reading materials provided by e-mail at least 1 week before the seminar. ● Tests contain from 5 to 10 questions (every correct answer gives 1 or 2 points) with a total score of 10 points. Test grade equals the total score. Presentations Presentation grade (0-10) is the sum of grades of 4 evaluation criteria: content, structure, oral and visual presentation, interaction with audience. Topics of the presentations, requirements and recommendations will be provided by e-mail at least 1 week before the seminar.
  • non-blocking Project
  • non-blocking Exam test
Interim Assessment

Interim Assessment

  • Interim assessment (2 module)
    0.3 * Exam test + 0.4 * In-class Participation + 0.3 * Project
Bibliography

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

  • DeLamater, J. D., & Collett, J. L. (2019). Social Psychology (Vol. Ninth edition). New York, NY: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1753380

Recommended Additional Bibliography

  • Deaux, K., & Snyder, M. (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Personality and Social Psychology. : Oxford University Press. 2018, https://www.oxfordhandbooks.com/view/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190224837.001.0001/oxfordhb-9780190224837.
  • Harkins, S., Williams, K., & Burger, J. (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Social Influence. : Oxford University Press. 2017, https://www.oxfordhandbooks.com/view/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199859870.001.0001/oxfordhb-9780199859870.