May 20, 2024  
2022-2023 Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

SOCI 253 - Introduction to Social Psychology


PREREQUISITES: PSYC 101 - Introduction to Psychology  or SOCI 111 - Introduction to Sociology  and ENGL 111 - English Composition  
PROGRAM: Social Sciences
CREDIT HOURS MIN: 3
LECTURE HOURS MIN: 3
DATE OF LAST REVISION: Fall, 2018

The study of social psychology as a science, and how social psychologists study the interactions within and between individuals, social groups and institutions. This course cross lists with PSYC 253 - Introduction to Social Psychology . A student completing this course cannot receive additional credit for PSYC 253 - Introduction to Social Psychology .

MAJOR COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Upon successful completion of this course the student will be expected to:

  1. Describe the classic and contemporary theories and findings that form the shared heritage of the discipline.
  2. Demonstrate comprehension of the main theoretical perspectives and their application to different topics in the field, such as the self, attitudes and prejudice.
  3. Demonstrate how theories and research methods apply to everyday experiences and social problems.
  4. Demonstrate comprehension of the concept of social perception, how it develops and its effect on the understanding, awareness, and behavior of the individual and groups.
  5. Describe how individuals interpret the behavior of others and themselves and its causes.
  6. Describe the effect of the presence of others on performance and why this effect occurs.
  7. Describe the dynamics and behavior of groups and individuals within those groups.
  8. Demonstrate an understanding of aggression, its effects, and causes.
  9. Demonstrate an understanding of prejudice, its effects, and causes.
  10. Demonstrate an understanding of persuasion and why some individuals might be more persuasive than others.
  11. Use social psychological theories to think critically about the social world.


COURSE CONTENT: Topical areas of study include -  

  • Social cognition
  • The self
  • Attitudes
  • Persuasion
  • Prejudice/racism
  • Conformity/obedience
  • Group behavior
  • Gender
  • Aggression
  • Stress and coping
  • Attribution
  • Groupthink
  • Scapegoating
  • Social facilitation/inhibition

 
Course Addendum - Syllabus (Click to expand)