PSY5042 - Biological and Social Psychology

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Demonstrate knowledge of a range of both classic and current research in Biological and Social Psychology
Assess the strengths and weaknesses of various methodological and theoretical approaches within Biological and Social Psychology
Demonstrate critical awareness in Biological and Social Psychology
Show critical awareness of the application of research in both areas

Content:

Social Psychology (Semester 1)
Social Cognition including: schemas, attitudes, attribution, social representations. Inter-Group Processes including: aggression, 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 2)
Building on PSY 4262 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 1)
There will be eight 2-hour lectures, one 1 hour seminar around assessment preparation, one 1-hour tutorial (delivered to 10 groups) and two essay clinics (0.5 hours) = 18.5 hours

Biological Psychology (Semester 2)
There will be eight 2-hour lectures, one non-teaching week (Week Four), one revision lecture, and one tutorial (delivered to 8 groups). In addition, use of Breedlove et al. allows use of companion website (independent learning activities). This equals 19 hours.

Lectures
Hours: 34
Intended Group size: Full cohort

Tutorials,br> Hours: 2
Intended Group size: 12

Seminars 1
Hours: 25

Essay clinics
Hours: 0.5
Intended Group size: 1

Guided independent study
Hours: 162.5

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

Assessment:

001 Report 2000 words semester 1 (Social) 50%
002 Unseen exam (Biological) 1.5 hours semester 2 50%
003 Report 2000 words semester 1 - Visiting students 100%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Dr Alison Torn
Level - 5
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 5YL

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