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for a past academic year. Please see the current academic year for up to date information.
| Unit name |
Social Psychology and Individual Differences |
| Unit code |
PSYC20001 |
| Credit points |
20 |
| Level of study |
I/5
|
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1A (weeks 1 - 6)
|
| Unit director |
Professor. Penton-Voak |
| Open unit status |
Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None
|
| Co-requisites |
None
|
| School/department |
School of Psychological Science |
| Faculty |
Faculty of Life Sciences |
Description including Unit Aims
This unit provides an introduction to the study of social psychology and individual differences in behaviour. It is structured around a number of key themes in these areas, including social cognition, person perception, broad behavioural traits and abilities (i.e. personality and intelligence). Evolutionary and cultural psychological approaches to social cognition will be introduced. Cognitive and biological mechanisms that underpin personality and intelligence will be considered.
Aims:
- Develop student's interest, scientific knowledge and understanding of the research on social cognition and individual differences.
- Introduce students to the principles of psychological testing and the application of these to particular areas such as the understanding of trait theory.
- Develop a thorough understanding of the role of empirical evidence in the formation of theory and how theory guides the collection and interpretation of empirical data.
- Help students to understand the conceptual and historical issues in the subject matter and their relation to other areas of psychological science.
- Help students to acquire a wide range of transferable skills.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On completion of this unit, the student will:
- Have a comprehensive understanding and scientific knowledge of the topic and methodological approaches to the study of social psychology and individual differences, including evolutionary and cultural approaches, cognitive and biological mechanisms, and psychometric theories.
- Have a comprehensive understanding of the application of these approaches to the study of specific areas of psychological science.
- Be able to integrate this understanding of these methodologies with other areas of psychological science.
- Be able to understand the conceptual and historical issues in the subject matter of this unit and how they relate to other areas of psychological science.
- Be able to plan and contribute to seminar-based presentations of topics covered in this unit and have further improved their scientific writing skills.
Teaching Information
This unit comprises 16 50 minute lectures, one revision tutorial (2 tutorials in total; 50 students max in each) and 8 50 minute seminars (32 seminars in total, max 25 students in each; i.e. each student attends and participates in 8 seminars and is involved in presenting at one of these).
Assessment Information
Summative assessment with one 2000-word written essay (20%); one oral presentation in seminar (20%) and one 2-hour written exam (60%). The two major topics of this unit (Social Psychology and Individual Differences) will be assessed independently: a student covering Social Psychology with their essay will need to cover Individual differences with their oral presentation or vice versa. In the written exam, students will have to answer questions from each of the two topics.
Reading and References
- Fiske, S. T. & Taylor, S. E. (2008). Social cognition: From brains to culture. London: McGraw-Hill.
- Kunda, Z. (1999). Social cognition: Making sense of people. London: MIT Press.
- Mackintosh, N. J. (1998). IQ and human intelligence. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Matthews, G., Deary, I.J., & Whiteman, M.C. (2009). Personality traits (3nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
