Accessibility statement

Social Cognitive Development - PSY00032H

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  • Department: Psychology
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Spring Term 2022-23

Module aims

Humans are deeply social creatures. In this module, we will discuss the origins of sociality in young children. We will cover key topics in social cognitive development such as imitation, prosocial behaviour and group membership.

Module learning outcomes

  • Give an account of the major findings in each of the topics covered, including the development of prosocial behaviour, imitation and intergroup bias.
  • Describe the relative merits of different methods for studying social cognitive development
  • Discuss the role of learning in bringing about mature social cognitive abilities
  • Describe cultural variation in children’s social behaviour
  • Recognise the implications of major findings in social cognitive development for psychology and society

Module content

  • Social understanding
  • Imitation
  • Prosocial behaviour
  • Social evaluation
  • Group membership
  • Social motivation and autism
  • Cultural differences in social behaviour

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled) 100

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled) 100

Module feedback

The marks on all assessed work will be provided on e-vision

These marks will be accompanied by module feedback which will be circulate by e-mail.

Students will meet supervisors in wk 6 in AuT, SpT and wk 9 in SuT to discuss their marks.

Indicative reading

Sample Reading:

  • Chevallier, C., Kohls, G., Troiani, V., Brodkin, E.S., Schultz, R.T. (2012). The Social Motivation Theory of Autism. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 16(4) 231-239.
  • Dunham, Y., Baron, A.S., & Carey, S. (2011). Consequences of ‘minimal’ group affiliations in children. Child Development, 82(3), 793-811.
  • Martin, A., & Olson, K. R. (2015). Beyond good and evil: What motivations underlie children's prosocial behavior. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 10, 159-175
  • Over, H., & Carpenter, M. (2013). The social side of imitation. Child Development Perspectives, 7, 6-11.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.