00870 - Social Psychology

Academic Year 2019/2020

  • Moduli: Monica Rubini (Modulo 1) Michela Menegatti (Modulo 2)
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures (Modulo 1) Traditional lectures (Modulo 2)
  • Campus: Cesena
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Psychological sciences and techniques (cod. 8774)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student should be able to: a) understanding the link between social cognition and social behaviour; b) understanding the role of social factors (values, ideology, group membership) in the development of social cognition; c) understanding the positive and negative facets of the self-other-social context relation; d) understanding how social cognition affects social behaviour.

Course contents

The program will comprise:

  • a brief history of social psychology and its underlined epistemological approaches;
  • the processes through individuals and groups develop their knowledge on the social world;
  • -non-verbal and verbal communication in interpersonal and intergroup relations;
  • explanations of pro-social and aggressive behaviours;
  • self and identity, their development and role in social cognition and behaviour;
  • how groups are formed, how individuals behave in groups, dynamics and processes of groups;
  • social categorization, intergroup processes and their consequences (discrimination, stereotypes, prejudice);
  • how others influence individuals’ cognitions, motivations and behaviours.

Readings/Bibliography

Palmonari, A., Cavazza, N. e Rubini, M. (2012). Psicologia Sociale (seconda edizione). Bologna, Il Mulino

Palmonari, A., Cavazza, N. ( A cura di), (2012. Ricerche e Protagonisti della Psicologia Sociale. Bologna, Il Mulino

Teaching methods

The course comprises two modules. The first module (15 ours) is taught by prof. Monica Rubini, and the second one (45 ours) is taught by prof. Michela Menegatti.

The course will be taught trough frontal lessons. Videoclips/movies will be used to explain how psychological processes and behaviours happen in daily life, and to illustrate the most important experiments of social psychology in both their original form and modern adaptation. Comments and discussion will be strongly encouraged in order to understand how social-psychological process explain real and daily life phenomena, and facilitate the links with other psychological domains.

The frequency to the lessons will not be measured but it is strongly recommended.

Assessment methods

The exam aims at verifying the acquisition of the knowledge in the four areas described above. The questions, although in close format, do not ask to simply memorize the key concepts, but to deeply understand the contents of social psychology and the ability to make connections among them.

The final exam is in written form. It comprises 30 close-format questions to be answered in 30 minutes. The exam concerns the entire program of the course and it is not divided according to the two modules.

Students who will follow all classes could do a specific exam at the end of the course (middle of December).

The final mark will be calculated in two different modalities for “regular” exams and the exam for students who followed the classes.

The mark of the exam for students who followed classes is calculated by assigning 1 point to correct answers, 0 to null and wrong answers.

In all other exams, the mark will be calculated by assigning 2 points to correct answers, 0 to wrong answers and -1 to wrong answers. To obtain 18/30 the student must answer correctly to 20 questions, to obtain 30 the student must answer correctly to 29-20 questions, to obtain 30L it is necessary to answer correctly to all questions.

Oral exam could be requested in the following cases: difficulties in writing and reading, difficulties linked to the Italian language, several failed attempts to do the exam.

Any further material (books, notes, etc) is not allowed during the exam. Students with specific needs will ask for supplementary minutes during the exam.

Signing up on AlmaEsami is mandatory. Any problem to sign up should be reported to the office as soon as possible.

Teaching tools

Teaching material (power point presentations, papers, movies) will be made available on IOL platform (in accordance with copyright norms).

Office hours

See the website of Michela Menegatti

See the website of Monica Rubini

SDGs

Good health and well-being Gender equality Decent work and economic growth Reduced inequalities

This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.