Year 2: Fourth Semester

A214 Introduction to Social Psychology

Course Description:
This course is designed as a comprehensive survey course of theory and research in social psychology. In this class, we
will learn what science can tell us about feelings, thoughts, and behaviors in social situations. For first-year graduate
students, this course offers a broad survey of Social Psychology. Topics to be studied include the self, social perception,
social cognition and information processing, attitudes and relationship, social influence and group behavior, and applied
social psychology. Throughout the course, you will be encouraged to think about how research in social psychology can
shed light on events going on around the world and in your own lives.

Objectives:
The main objective of this course is to make the students familiar with the disciplines of Social Psychology and thereby
make them able to analyze how our thoughts, feelings, and behavior are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied
presence of other people, and pursue answers to the questions that interest you most, whether in your careers as research
psychologists, in practical settings applying psychology, or in your own introspection about yourselves.

Unit I. General Introduction 8 Hrs

Definition of Social Psychology as separate Field of Study 1
History/Origin of Social Psychology 2
Nature and Scope of Social Psychology 2
Subfield of Social Psychology 1
Similarities and differences between Social Psychology with Other Social Sciences: 2
Psychology,
Anthropology,
Sociology,
Biology,
personality Psychology

Unit II. The self and Social Perception 8 Hrs

Definition of self 1
Types of self 1
Functions of self 1
Influence of others on self (Who I am depends on others) 1
Influence of situation on self (Who I am depends on situation) 1
Self Thought and Self Esteem 1
Social Perception and its Process (Non-verbal communication and Person Perception) 2

Unit III. Social Cognition and Information Process 6 Hrs

Definition of social cognition 1
Schema and its types 2
Heuristic and its types 2
Social cognition and behavior 1

Unit IV. Attitude 7 Hrs

Definition of attitude 1
Components of attitude 1
Types of attitude 2
Nature of attitude 2
Attitude and behavior 1

Unit V. Social Influence and Behaviour 7 Hrs

 Definition of Social Influence 1
Conformity 1
Factors influencing conformity 1
Compliance 1
Factors influencing Compliance 1
Obedience 1
Factors influencing Obedience 1
Unit VI. Aggression and Antisocial Behavior 7 Hrs
Definition of aggression and antisocial behavior 2
Theoretical perspectives on aggression: 2
Instinct Theories
Learning Theories
Nature and Nurture
: Causes of aggression 3
Internal causes of aggression:
Frustration
Being in a bad mood
Age and aggression
Interpersonal causes aggression:
Selfishness and influence
Domestic violence
External causes of aggression:
Weapon effect
Unpleasant environment
Mass media

Unit VII. Application of Social Psychology 5 Hrs

Use of Social Psychological knowledge in solving problems of individual and society 1
Social psychologists’ contribution in the field of business, medicine, health and law. 2
Contemporary social issues 2
Gender and Generation Gap
Hunger-Impact on Children and Child Labor
Recent Trend in Divorce
Poverty and Beggary
Girls Trafficking
Recent Trends in Employment and Unemployment

Basic Books:

Baumeister, Roy F. Social Psychology and Human Nature. USA: Wadsworth, 2011.

Sanderson, Catherine A. Social Psychology. USA: John Wiley & Sons, 2010.