Introduction to Social Psychology
Overview
- Credit value: 15 credits at Level 4
- Convenor: Professor Anne Miles
- Assessment: a 1000-word article summary assignment (50%) and one-hour examination (50%)
Module description
This course introduces you to developmental and social psychology focusing on humans as social animals, and taking into account cultural perspectives on what it is to be a child, an adult and the member of various groups.
Indicative module content
- Research methods in developmental psychology
- Introduction to brain development
- Introduction to cognitive development (Piaget; Vygotsky etc)
- Introduction to personality from the perspective of developmental psychology (the emergence of traits; reciprocal determinism etc)
- Introduction to social development (attachment; Erikson etc)
- Cultural perspectives on developmental psychology
- Research methods in social psychology
- Groups and intergroup dynamics
- Interpersonal communication
- Cultural perspectives on social psychology
Learning objectives
By the end of this module, you will be able to:
- outline the research methods particularly prevalent within developmental and social psychology, highlighting their strengths and limitations including reference to ethical issues where pertinent
- provide a brief overview and critique of main psychological theories relevant to each of the topics studied
- highlight the way in which cultural psychology might contribute to our understanding of topics within developmental and social psychology
- offer valid examples of the ways in which theory in the areas studied might inform our understanding of practical problems in the ‘real’ world
- write academic essays to a standard commensurate with your level of study under both timed and non-timed conditions, and give an accurate account of your strengths and priorities for development.