PSY5042 - Biological and Social Psychology

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of a range of both classic and current research in Biological and Social Psychology
2.Assess the strengths and weaknesses of various methodological and theoretical approaches within Biological and Social Psychology
3. Demonstrate critical awareness in Biological and Social Psychology
4. Show critical awareness of the application of research in both areas

Content:

Social Psychology (Semester One)
Social Cognition including: schemas, attitudes, attribution, social representations. Close Relationships including: interpersonal attraction, relationships. Inter-Group Processes including: prejudice, inter-group conflict, social identification, crowd behaviour, deindividuation. Small Group Processes including: norms, leadership, decision-making. Social Influence including: conformity and obedience, majority and minority influence, the bystander effect. Social Constructionism including: identity making, discursive psychology.

Biological Psychology (Semester Two)
Building on psy4262 (Introduction to Biological Psychology), this module will quickly recap the previous year – Neuroanatomy – before moving onto the topic of Comparative Psychology. It will then cover neurodevelopment in the womb and several neurological disorders (e.g. Alzheimer’s Disease, Epilepsy and Strokes) before discussing Internal Regulation (i.e. eating and drinking). Sexual differences and the biological basis of sexual orientation will follow, as will further discussion of the biological aspects of emotion (fear and anger). Finally, it will consider psychological disorders (i.e. Schizophrenia and Depression), critically considering the Dopamine Hypothesis and basic psychopharmacology (i.e. biological mechanism of certain antidepressants).

Learning and Teaching Information:

Social Psychology (Semester One)
There will be seven two-hour lectures, one revision lecture, one one-hour tutorial (delivered x8) and one Moodle-based independent learning activity.

Biological Psychology (Semester Two)
There will be seven two-hour lectures, one revision lecture and one 60min seminar (delivered x8). In addition, use of Breedlove et al. (6e) allows use of companion website (independent learning activities).

Lectures
Contact hours: 32
Intended Group size: 90

Tutorials (x16)
Contact hours: 2
Intended Group size: 12

Other Relevant Matters
Students will develop a range of study skills including: reasoned argument, critical thinking and evaluation of contrasting perspectives.

Assessment:

001 Unseen Exam 1 x 2 hours (Sem 1) (Social exam) 50%
002 Unseen Exam 1 x 2 hours (Sem 2) (Biological exam) 50%


Click here to go back to previous page