The course will introduce students to major topics in social psychology, with an emphasis on sociological approaches. The course will focus specifically on normative, cultural and cross-cultural dimensions of social psychological aspects of human behaviour. Students will be introduced to the notion of the social self, including self-perception and self-presentation. Subsequent topics may include the formation and change of attitudes and values, social judgement, persuasion, attraction, altruism and self-interest, and group behaviour. Case studies will show how social psychological processes are found in everyday life.

• Analyze and interpret the diversity of social experience using a social psychological perspective, especially as they relate to ethnicity, class, gender, age, sexual preference, religion, and nationality.
• Assess the merits of competing theoretical approaches to formulate empirically researchable questions about social life.
• Locate, analyze, assess, and communicate social psychological scholarship. .
• Construct informed theories of social behavior from systematic observation of social life.
• Understand the ethical and social justice implications of sociological inquiry.

Three 1,000 word essays (30% each) and tutorial participation (10%).

Offered every year.

2 lectures per week and 10 hours of tutorials.