Applied Social Psychology

Paper Code: 
PSY 421
Credits: 
4
Contact Hours: 
60.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

Course Objectives :

  • To help student understand social problems and gain knowledge about intervention strategies.
  • To learn how social psychology is used in applied settings to understand
    and ameliorate social problems.

Course Outcomes:

 

  • CO135: Understand the key issues and theoretical concepts related to applied social psychology and compare and contrast the research methodologies used in the scientific study of human Social behaviour.
  • CO136: Understand the applications of social psychology to social issues like gender, environment, health, intergroup conflicts, etc.
  • CO137: Demonstrate the ability to articulate independently and creatively about human Social behaviour and the cultural influences that affect our behaviour.
  • CO138: Develop an awareness of the role of mass media in shaping public psyche, beliefs and perceptions about social realities and building an informed and critical perspective
  • CO139: Develop an understanding to enable sustainable living pertaining to social influence processes particularly the influence of materialism and wealth

 

12.00
Unit I: 
Foundations of Applied Social Psychology:

Nature; Research Methods-Methods of Data Collection-Self Report Methods, Observational Methods, Research Designs-True Experiments, Experiments, Correlational Studies, Descriptive Studies, Qualitative Research Methods-Creswell’s Research Methods

12.00
Unit II: 
Intervention and Evaluation

Design of Interventions- Nature, Key Tasks and Delivery; Evaluation of Interventions- Reasons for Evaluation, Types of Evaluation; Importance of Research Design in Evaluating Interventions; An Intervention Example With Steps; Influencing Social Policy; Intervention Issues

12.00
Unit III: 
Applying Social Psychology to the Arenas of Life I

Applying Social Psychology to the Media- Effect of Media Violence, Effect of Pornography, Affect of Political News Coverage, Applying Social Psychology to the Court- Eyewitness Testimony, Jurors as Individuate & Jury as a Group, Factors Influencing Juror Judgments.   

12.00
Unit IV: 
Applying Social Psychology to the Arenas of Life II

Applying Social Psychology to the Community- Definition, Origin, Sense of Community, Diversity versus Prejudice and Stigmatization, Bringing  About Social Change; Applying Social Psychology to Diversity-Cultural Diversity, Demographics, Challenges, Conflict and Conflict Management   

12.00
Unit V: 
Social Psychology and Sustainable Future:

Social Psychology of Environment, Personal Space & Psychology of Crowding; Enabling Sustainable Living; Social Psychology of Materialism & Wealth.  

Essential Readings: 
  • Myers, David G., Sahajpal, P., Behera, P. (2010). Social Psychology (10th ed). New Delhi: McGraw Hill Education (India) Private Limited.
  • Schneider, F.W., Gruman, J.A., & Coutts, L.A. (2012). Applied Social Psychology: Understanding and Addressing Social and Practical Problems (2nd ed). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
  • Schneider, F.W., Gruman, J.A., & Coutts, L.A. (2016). Applied Social Psychology: Understanding and Addressing Social and Practical Problems (3rd ed). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

 

References: 
  • Aronson, E. Ellsworth, P., Calsmith, J.M. & Gonzales, M.H. (1990). Methods of Research in Social Psychology. NY: McGraw Hill.
  • Baron, Robert A., Branscombe, Nyla, Byrne, R., Donn, Erwin (2008). Social psychology. Delhi: Pearson
  • Baron, Robert A. Branscombe, Nyla R. Donn, Byrne, Bhardwaj, Gopa (2010). Social Psychology. (12th ed.) Delhi: Pearson.
  • Baumeister, R. F., Bushman, B. J. (2014). Social Psychology and Human Nature (3rd ed). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. 
  • Bunk, Abraham, P. and Vugt, Mark Van (2013). Applying Social Psychology: From Problems to Solutions (2nd ed.). Netherlands: Sage.
  • Feldman, R.S. (1995). Social Psychology : N.J. Prentice Hall.   
  • Kool, V. K. and Agarwal, Rita (2008). Applied Social Psychology: A Global Perspective. New Delhi: Atlantic.
  • Misra, G.(1990). Applied Social Psychology in India. ND : Sage.
  • Ruscher, J.B. (2001). Prejudiced Communication: A Social Psychological Perspective. New York: The Guilford Press.
  • Semin, G.R. and Fiedler, K. (1996). Applied Social Psychology. Delhi: Sage Publications.
  • Vago, S. (1990). Social Change. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

 

Academic Year: 
2021-22
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