BSc Psychology

The unit aims to extend understanding of historical and contemporary theories in social psychology and challenge students to use their knowledge to engage with real-world issues. For example, what brings people together, and what keeps them apart? The emphasis is on fostering ethically minded and socially responsible psychology graduates, through critical reflection of our personal place in a social system. We will consider one’s potential to help others in need, and to be critically and responsively aware of known biases in social perception and judgement. The unit equips students with enhanced employability skills through a focus on the ability to understand and articulate complex arguments, and to support claims by making sense of and explaining empirical evidence. Students will be encouraged to engage with compelling experimental paradigms and debates in social psychology to move beyond directed textbook material and to become independent, active, and self-directed learners.  

This unit aims to:

• Further develop students' understanding of topics in Social Psychology. Building upon the foundations in First Year, topics are explored in depth to allow students to develop critical skills and knowledge in this area 

This unit will be taught across half of a single semester, exploring major topics in social psychology. As well as new topics that have not previously been covered, the focus will be on deepening students’ understanding of the basic concepts taught in First Year. Topics to be covered include, but are not limited to, social cognition, including impression formation, social categorization, heuristics and social inference; attribution theory and biases; social identity and group behaviour; social psychological approaches to discourse and communication.

Each week: 2 lectures (60 min); these include at-seat classroom polling and participation in interactive activities. At the mid-point and end of the course, two 60-minute workshop lectures (lecturer-directed and supported by TAs) support (a) understanding theory and evidence in social psychology and (b) writing the reflective paper.

Lecture 11: Revision class

Students will be able to submit requests for the review of specific material and to submit questions ahead of this lecture. 

• Explain diversity and variability in psychological functioning as it is understood in social interaction, collective behaviour and group processes.  
• Distinguish how influences on psychological functioning are conceptualised across social psychology through key theoretical frameworks.
• Apply multiple perspectives to social psychological issues, recognising that social psychological approaches involve a range of research methods, theories, and applications. 

• Demonstrate skills in critical thinking about psychology in society.  
• Articulate, and critically reflect on, methods, theories and approaches as they relate to key social psychological topics.  
• Explain the historical and conceptual roots of social psychology, understanding the emergence of the social cognition approach and the response of a critical social psychology.  
• Interpret quantitative and qualitative research findings in key social psychological topics.  

• Demonstrate research skills through enquiry using a range of sources (library, internet, databases), in order to support arguments relating to intergroup behaviour, collective action and individual social perception and judgement.  
• Plan and write a written argument supported by empirical research.  
• Independently gather and select the most relevant information from a body of work through online and library sources. 

• Evaluate, through reflection, obstacles to diversity, tolerance and inclusion in society and professional life.
• Express concise and persuasive arguments regarding psychology and society.  

Grade and individual written coursework feedback provided on Turnitin script 20 working days after final submission date. Cohort-level feedback provided by email following release of grades

• Core text: Hogg, M. A., & Vaughan, G. M. (2022). Social Psychology (9th ed.). Harlow, UK: Pearson.