OVERVIEW

Social psychology explores the complex human interactions, examining how individuals and groups mutually influence, understand others, and relate within the context of their daily lives.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Through this teaching students will improve their analysis skills on today's phenomena, such as stereotypes, social conformism and relations between mass- media and aggressiveness. Further, throughout the course it will be devoted a great deal of attention to the issue of prejudice from a social psychological perspective. Comprehending origins of prejudice and strategies to overcome it are highly relevant issues in today's societies to promote harmonious relations between group members belonging to different social groups.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course, the student will be able to:

• understand the theoretical foundations of social psychology

• identify the main authors and landmark studies in the field of social psychology

• become familiar with key empirical methods used to analyze social phenomena

• develop basic communication skills related to topics in social psychology

• understand how social processes influence human behavior

Erasmus students are invited to contact the teacher at the beginning of the course to agree on teaching and exam methods which, in compliance with the teaching objectives, take into account their specific path.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures in which the main theoretical assumptions are presented and exemplified through lab experiments and real-life examples. A critical and active participation of the students will be encouraged.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The teaching aims to provide students with the theoretical and methodological knowledge on Social Psychology and its research field. This purpose will be achieved through a critical analysis of the core theories and research that characterizes this discipline. 

The teaching will be organized in three parts:

• Part 1: Introduction to Social Psychology

Definition of Social Psychology – Doing research in Social Psychology – Social Cognition – Social influence – Attitudes and persuasion – The self in a social world – Social behavior: Aggressiveness and prosocial behaviors - Social psychology and digital technologies

• Part 2: Prejudice: Its Social Psychology  

The nature of prejudice – Psychosocial foundations of prejudice – Prejudice and intergroup conflicts – The stigma – New and old forms of prejudice – Dehumanization – Overcoming prejudice

• Part 3: Social Psychology Research Methods

Epistemology of research in sociap psychology - Research methods and sampling – Explicit and Implicit Measures - Questionnaire and self-report measures

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Andrighetto, L., & Riva, P. (2020, edited by). Psicologia Sociale: Fondamenti teorici ed empirici. Il Mulino: Bologna.
• Brambilla, M., & Sacchi, S. (2022, edited by). Psicologia sociale del pregiudizio. Raffaello Cortina Editore: Milano.
• Giacomantonio, M., & Mannetti, L. (2016). Metodi di ricerca in Psicologia Sociale. Carocci Editore: Roma.
• Palmonari, A., & Cavazza, N. (2003). Ricerche e protagonisti della psicologia sociale. Il Mulino: Bologna.
• For students who will attend the teaching: Ppt slides and other materials that will be uploaded on aulaweb.

More informations about the teaching program can be found in Aulaweb. Upon request, recommended reading and bibliography in English language will be provided to foreign students.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Second semester

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Written exam in Italian language for the mothertongue. Upon request, lecture will organize oral exams in English language for foreign students.    

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Written exam in Italian language for the mothertongue. Upon request, lecture will organize oral exams in English language for foreign students.    

The exam will allow lecture to assess the following students' outcomes:

Coomunication skills: Students will have to demonstrate an appropriate use of terms appropriate for Social Psychology and to communicate in a clear and unambiguous way with experts and non experts of this field.

Learning skills: Students will have to develop approriate learning abilities that will allow them to gain further knowledge aboout the main topics of Social Psychology in an independent way, especially within the working settings where they will work in.

FURTHER INFORMATION

• Students are invited to frequently check Aulaweb where materials and information about the present course are constantly updated.

• For students with disabilities or specific learning disorders (SLD)

  Students with disabilities or with SLD are reminded that, in order to request exam accommodations, it is first necessary to upload their certification on the University website at the page servizionline.unige.it in the “Studenti” (Students) section. The documentation will be verified by the University’s Office for Inclusion Services for Students with Disabilities and SLD (https://rubrica.unige.it/strutture/struttura/100111).

  Subsequently, well in advance (at least 10 days) before the exam date, students must send an email to the professor who will administer the exam. The email should also be sent in cc to both the School Inclusion Representative for Students with Disabilities and SLD (laura.traverso@unige.it) and the above-mentioned Office using one of the following addresses: disabili@unige.it or dsa@unige.it.

  The email must include the following information:

• The name of the course

• The date of the exam session

• The student's surname, first name, and student ID number

• The requested compensatory tools and dispensatory measures considered necessary