Psychology of Social Behaviour

Paper Code: 
PSY 321
Credits: 
4
Contact Hours: 
60.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

Course Objectives :

  • To familiarize students with some of the major theoretical perspectives in social psychology
  • To appreciate interpersonal and group level psychological processes in the cultural context.
  • To acquaint students with the processes involved in cognition and to develop critical understanding about cognitive processes.

Course Outcomes:

  • CO86: Understand the historical and cultural context of social psychology as a discipline internationally and India
  • CO87: Examine theoretical frameworks underlying social interaction and its relationship to social identity
  • CO88: Relate knowledge of theory as well as current and past research in social psychology to situations in everyday life such as interpersonal and group relations.
  • CO89: Understand the nature, dynamics and dimensions of interpersonal behaviour
  • CO90: Examine their own attitudes, behaviours, perceptions, and biases to developing culturally aware social beings.

 

12.00
Unit I: 
Historical Background:

 Growth of Social Psychology as a Modern Discipline; Tradition of Social Psychology-Psychological, Sociological, Societal and Applied; Culture and Social Psychology - Relationship with Other Social Sciences 

12.00
Unit II: 
Theoretical Perspectives:

Cognitive Dissonance, Social Comparison, Reactance, Social Identity; Field; Psycho-Dynamic; Social Constructionism; Social Representation; Theory of Planned Behaviour   

 

12.00
Unit III: 
Social Thinking

Self in a Social World – Self Concept, Self – Esteem Perceived Self-control, Self-serving Bias; Social Beliefs and Judgments – Social Cognition, Priming, Heuristics; Attribution – Theories of Attribution, Errors in Attribution. 

12.00
Unit IV: 
Social Influence

 Attitudes-Attitude & Behaviour, Attitude Formation; Persuasion-Resistance to Persuasion; Group Influence-Social Facilitation; Social Loafing; Deindividuation; Group Polarization; Influence of Minority; Groupthink 

12.00
Unit V: 
Social Relations

Prejudice, Nature, Sources of Prejudice, Methods for Reducing Prejudice; Aggression-Theories, Causes and Controlling Aggression; Interpersonal Attraction- Factors and Theories; Prosocial Behaviour.

 

Essential Readings: 
  • Baron, R. A., Branscombe, N. R. (2012). Social Psychology. (13th ed.) Boston, MA: 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. 
  • Feldman, R.S. (1995). Social Psychology : N.J. Prentice Hall.
  • Myers, David G., Sahajpal, P., Behera, P. (2010). Social Psychology (10th ed). New Delhi: McGraw Hill.
  • Schneider, Frank W., Gruman, Jamie A. & Coutts, Larry M. (2012). Applied Social Psychology. New Delhi: Sage.
  • Schneider, Frank W., Gruman, Jamie A. & Coutts, Larry M. (2017). Applied Social Psychology: Understanding and Addressing Social and Practical Problems.(3rd ed.). Los Angeles: Sage.
  • Sinha D. (1990). Interventions for Development Out of Poverty. New Delhi: Sage.

 

References: 
  • Aronson, E. Ellsworth, P. , Calsmith, J.M. & Gonzales, M.H. (1990). Methods of Research in Social Psychology. NY: McGraw Hill.
  • Farr, R.M. (1996). The Roots of Modern Social Psychology. Oxford: Blackwell. 
  • Delamater, J. (2003). Handbook of Social Psychology. New York: Kluswer Academic.
  • Fisher, R.J (1982). Social Psychology: An Applied Approach. NY: St. Martin’s.
  • 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.
  • Vago, S. (1990). Social Change. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

 

Academic Year: 
2021-22
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