- Department: Psychology
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: I
- Academic year of delivery: 2023-24
- See module specification for other years: 2024-25
Occurrence | Teaching period |
---|---|
A | Semester 1 2023-24 |
This module aims to explore the means by which social and personality psychology address the fundamental issues affecting our experiences of self and communication. The module aims to extend students’ knowledge of how our personalities modify our responses to everyday situations, and the different ways in which we can measure personality. Students will also be introduced to the study of interpersonal communication, taking a microanalytic approach. The module will further explore students’ understanding of the means by which the individual and society interact with one another, looking at themes such as obedience, conformity, and cooperative behaviour. A further aim of the module is to give students a broad overview of intelligence, considering what it is, how it's measured, its history, use and impact.
There are four different blocks in this module:
Personality: This block begins by questioning what personality is and how to measure it effectively across different cultures. We will then explore different models of personality, and finally look at how research into personality can be used in applied settings such as Health and Sport Psychology.
Language and Communication: The focus of this block is the microanalytic approach to interpersonal communication, based on detailed analysis of video- and audio-recordings of real-life social interaction. We explore how such close analysis can give away subtle clues to our inner thoughts, emotions, and motivations.
Psychology in Society: This block will explore the influence of society on the individual, as well as the influence of the individual on society. We will examine current themes in research on power, obedience, persuasion, conformity, resistance, and cooperative behaviour.
Intelligence: This block includes an in-depth coverage of the psychology of intelligence, looking at how psychology assesses cognitive and intellectual abilities and the impact this can have.
Task | % of module mark |
---|---|
Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled) | 50 |
Essay/coursework | 20 |
Essay/coursework | 30 |
None
Task | % of module mark |
---|---|
Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled) | 50 |
Essay/coursework | 20 |
Essay/coursework | 30 |
The marks on all assessed work will be provided on e-vision.
These are two of the most useful textbooks for this strand:
Hogg, M. A., & Vaughan, G. M., (2011) Social Psychology (6th ed.). Harlow, Essex: Pearson Education Limited.
Kring, Ann M (2016). Abnormal Psychology (13th ed.). Chichester; Wiley.