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Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title Social Psychology: From Theory to Translation
Module Code PSYC503 (ITS) / PSY1058 (Banner)
Faculty Science & Health School Psychology
Module Co-ordinatorMaggie Brennan
Module Teachers-
NFQ level 9 Credit Rating 5
Pre-requisite Not Available
Co-requisite Not Available
Compatibles Not Available
Incompatibles Not Available
Coursework Only
Description

This module aims to support students understanding of social psychology through its application to social problems facing modern society. Utilising both philosophical and theoretical frameworks, it aims to explore current social problems such as crime, conflict and violence, the media and advertising through a social psychological lens and develop students understanding of social psychology as a mechanism for promoting social change.

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate clear knowledge and understanding of critical issues in contemporary social psychology
2. Understand and achieve familiarity with the social psychological perspective on human behaviour and how it relates to cognate areas
3. Evaluate advanced levels of explanation for some aspects of human social behaviour
4. Critically consider competing theoretical positions and take a well-reasoned position after careful research and analysis of salient academic material
5. Integrate knowledge on broad themes and communicate same in a clear, concise and scholarly manner by means of a formal written report that follows the accepted conventions of the discipline.



Workload Full-time hours per semester
Type Hours Description
Online activity20Asynchronous lectures and other content
Directed learning10Synchronous online discussions
Tutorial2Online based tutorials
Independent Study46Lecture review and preparation/independent learning
Independent Study47Independent assessment preparation
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Social Psychology: from Theory to Translation
The key concepts and methods used in social psychology

Attitudes and behaviour

Social influence

Stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination
How are these affecting contemporary Ireland and the wider world; reduction strategies

Attraction and Relationships
How we form, maintain or end different types of relationships

Group processes in social psychology
Group behaviour and dynamics Group attitudes, norms and prejudices

The social identity approach

Aggression, interpersonal and inter-group conflict

Prosocial behavior

Evolutionary perspectives on social psychology
Emergence of evolutionary psychology Relationships and human sexual behaviour

Social psychology of the environment
Emergence of environmental psychology Climate and human behaviour

Applying social psychology in everyday life
E.g., the criminal justice system, media and advertising, the workplace

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment100% Examination Weight0%
Course Work Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
AssignmentDrawing on the extant literature, students will be required to prepare a short critique on a salient social psychological issue that requires demonstration of their mastery of core theoretical and philosophical knowledge.40%n/a
Essayn/a60%n/a
Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories:
Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module.
Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module.
Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1
Indicative Reading List

  • David G. Myers, Jean M. Twenge: 0, Social Psychology, McGraw-Hill Education, New York,
  • Michael A. Hogg,Graham M. Vaughan: 0, Social Psychology, Pearson, Harlow, England,
  • Aronson, Elliot, Aronson, Joshua: 0, The Social Animal, Worth Publishers, New York, US,
  • Fiske, S: 0, Social beings: Core motives in social psychology, Wiley, New York, NY,
  • Smith, J. R., & Haslam, S. A.: 0, Social Psychology: Revisiting the classic studies, Sage Publications Ltd,
  • Baumeister, R. F., & Finkel, E. J. (Eds.).: 0, Advanced Social Psychology: The State of the Science, Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK,
  • Kruglanski, A. W. & Higgins, E. T. (Eds.).: 0, Social Psychology: Handbook of Basic Principles, Guiford, New York, US,
  • Van Lange, P. A. M., Kruglanski, A. W., & Higgins, E. T. (Eds.).: 0, The Handbook of Theories of Social Psychology, SAGE, LA, US,
  • Linda Steg, Judith I. M. de Groot, (eds.): 0, Environmental Psychology: An Introduction,, Wiley-Blackwell,
Other Resources

None

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