Module: Social Psychology & Contemporary Issues

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Social Psychology & Contemporary Issues
Module Code	PSY1045 (ITS: PSYC401)
Faculty	Psychology	School	Science & Health
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

This module aims to extend students understanding of social psychology through its application to social problems facing modern society. 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 critical knowledge and understanding of critical issues in contemporary social psychology
2. Identify and achieve familiarity with the social psychological perspective on human behaviour
3. Demonstrate advanced levels of explanation for some aspects of human social behaviour
4. Develop oral and written skills in the communication of social psychological concepts
5. Critically consider competing theoretical positions and take a well-reasoned position after careful research and analysis of salient academic material

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Online activity	20	Asynchronous lectures and other content
Directed learning	10	Synchronous online discussions
Tutorial	6	Online based tutorials
Assignment Completion	48	Preparation for debate and independent assessment preparation
Independent Study	41	Lecture review and preparation/independent learning
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	11486	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Louise Hopper	Module Teacher	Elizabeth Mc Loughlin

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Group project	Students will be required to participate in a clashing views debate demonstrating critical analysis and evaluation of a contemporary issue through a social psychological lens	40%	n/a
Essay	n/a	60%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

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 and contemporary issues
Applying a social psychological perspective to a number of contemporary issues

Social psychology of the environment
Emergence of environmental psychology

Climate and human behaviour

Group processes in social psychology
Group behaviour and dynamics

Group attitudes, norms and prejudices

The social identity approach

Evolutionary perspectives on social psychology
Emergence of evolutionary psychology

Relationships and human sexual behaviour

Altruism and intergroup conflict

Applying social psychology in everyday life
E.g., the criminal justice system,

media and advertising,

the workplace

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Fiske, S.: 0, Social Beings: Core Motives in Social Psychology, Wiley,
Fiske, S.: 0, Social cognition From brains to culture, Sage,
Aronson, Elliot, Aronson, Joshua: 0, The Social Animal, Worth, New York,
Smith, J. R., & Haslam, S. A.(eds.): 0, Social Psychology: Revisiting the classic studies, Sage Publications Ltd,
Baumeister, R. F., & Finkel, E. J.: 0, Advanced social psychology: The state of the science., Oxford: Oxford University Press.,
Linda Steg, Judith I. M. de Groot, (eds.): 0, Environmental Psychology: An Introduction, Wiley-Blackwell,
Van Lange, P. A. M., Kruglanski, A. W., & Higgins, E. T.: 2011, The handbook of theories of social psychology., Sage., Los Angeles Sage.,
Kruglanski, A. W. & Higgins, E. T.: 0, Social psychology: Handbook of basic principles, New York: Guilford.,
Gough,B., Mc Fadden, M., & Mc Donald, M.: 0, Critical Social Psychology, Palgrave MacMillan,
edited by Susan T. Fiske, Daniel T. Gilbert, Gardner Lindzey: 2010, Handbook of social psychology, John Wiley, Hoboken, N.J., 9780470137482

Articles:

0: European Journal of Social Psychology, 53434, 1
Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin: 53435, 1,
53436: 1, 0, Social Psychological and Personality Science,
1: 0, Journal of Environmental Psychology,

Other Resources

None