Psychology of Social Behaviour

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

COURSE OUTCOMES

Course Outcomes

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment Strategies

  
 

On completion of this course, the students will be able to:

CO91: Understand the historical and cultural context of social psychology as a discipline internationally and India

CO92: Examine theoretical frameworks underlying social interaction and its relationship to social identity

CO93: Relate knowledge of theory as well as current and past research in social psychology to situations in everyday life related to self.

CO94: Understand the nature, dynamics and dimensions of social influence like their own attitudes and behaviours and analysing group dynamics.

CO95: Examine the causes of prejudice and aggression prevalent in the society and measures to mitigate them.

Approach in teaching:

Interactive Lectures, Discussion, Tutorials, Reading assignments, Demonstration, Team teaching

Learning activities for the students:

Self-learning assignments, Effective questions, Simulation, Seminar presentation, Giving tasks, Field practical

Class test, Semester end examinations, Quiz, Solving problems in tutorials, Assignments, Presentation, Individual and group projects

  

 

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 Polarisation; 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: 

Suggested Readings

  • Aronson, E. Ellsworth, P., Calsmith, J.M. & Gonzales, M.H. (1990). Methods of Research in Social Psychology. NY: McGraw Hill.
  • Delamater, J. (2003). Handbook of Social Psychology. New York: Kluswer Academic.
  • Farr, R.M. (1996). The Roots of Modern Social Psychology. Oxford: Blackwell. 
  • Fisher, R.J (1982). Social Psychology: An Applied Approach. NY: St. Martin’s.
  • Levine, I. S., & Stoller, R. J. (1993). Coming Attractions: The Making of an X-Rated Video. Yale University Press. EISBN: 978-0-30015-929-5. https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/j.ctt32bdhg
  • Lunbeck, E., & Simon, B. (2003). Family Romance, Family Secrets: Case Notes from an American Psychoanalysis, 1912. Yale University Press. EISBN: 978-0-30012-928-1. https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/j.ctt1nphhq
  • 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.

E-Resources

  • ResearchGate
  • JSTOR
  • Proquest
  • Shodhganga
  • Delnet
  • Google Scholar
  • National Digital Library (NPTEL)
  • Academia

Journals

  • Perspectives on Psychological Science
  • Psychological Bulletin
  • Psychological Sciences
  • Social Psychology and Personality Sciences
  • European Review of Social Psychology
  • Political psychology: A social psychological approach

 

Academic Year: 
2022-23
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