Syllabus (PSYCHOLOGY)

Course Type: MAJ-5

Semester: 4

Course Code: BPSYMAJ05C

Course Title: SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY

(L-P-Tu): 4-2-0

Credit: 6

Practical/Theory: Combined

Course Objective: To develop an understanding of the individual in relation to the social world and orient students to the realm of social influence as to how individuals think, feel and behave in social situations.

Learning Outcome: Upon the successful completion of this course students will be able to understand. 1) Impact of social setting on human behavior. 2) Historical development of the field of social psychology. 3) Basic social processes like social cognition, attitude, and s

Course Contents:

UNIT I: INTRODUCTION

Definition and nature, Brief history and Methods of social psychology

UNIT II: SOCIAL COGNITION

Social cognition and information processing: schema, stereotypes, and heuristics, Impression formation, Self-concept, self-awareness and self-presentation, Attribution Process: inferring traits and motives of other, Biases in Attribution Process.

UNIT III: ATTITUDE

Nature of attitudes - definition & characteristics, Attitude Formation: Learning theories; cognitive theories, Attitude Function; the Attitude Behavior Relation., Measurements of attitudes: Attitude Scales– Likert Scale, Thurstone Scale.

UNIT IV: SOCIAL INFLUENCE PROCESS

Conformity: Asch’s and Sherif’s classical studies and why do people conform, Compliance: Obedience and the Power of the Situation; The Milgram Experiments; Leadership: Theories, functions and types.

UNIT V: GROUP DYNAMICS AND INTER-GROUP RELATIONS

Nature of groups, Consequences of belonging - performance, decision making, Co-operation and conflict. Nature of intergroup relations-prejudice, inter-group conflict, Intervention techniques

Unit VI: PSYCHOLOGY OF AGGRESSION AND SOCIAL CONFLICT

Concepts and Theories on Aggression & Authoritarianism; Identity politics: politics of recognition, representation, ethnic identity, and nationalism; Social Catastrophe, Terrorism & War

Practicum: (Anyone from the given list)

Practical on STAXI-2

REFERENCES:

• Baron, R.A., Byrne, D. & Bhardwaj, G. (2010).Social Psychology (12th Ed.). New Delhi: Pearson.
• Baumeister, R.F. & Bushman, B. J. (2013).Social Psychology and Human Nature.Wadsworth.
• Franzoi, S.L. (2009). Social Psychology (5th Ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
• Hogg, M. &Vaughan,G.M.(2008).Social Psychology. Prentice Hall.
• Kassin, S., Fein, S., & Markus, H.R. (2008).Social Psychology.New York: Houghton Miffin.
• Misra,G.(2009).Psychology in India, Vol. 4: Theoretical and MethodologicalDevelopments (ICSSR Survey of Advances in Research).New Delhi: Pearson
• Taylor, S.E., Peplau, L.A. & Sears, D.O. (2006).Social Psychology (12th Ed.).New Delhi: Pearson
• Krech, D. & Crutchfield, R. S. Theory and Problems of Social Psychology. McGraw Hill.
• Kuppuswamy. An Introduction to Social Psychology. Media Promoters and Publishers Pvt Ltd.