HELP 2018-2019 Course Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG] Print this Page Facebook this Page (opens a new window) Tweet this Page (opens a new window) Add to Portfolio (opens a new window)

PSY 251 - Social Psychology

1. Distinguish among the fields related to social psychology and the research methods used to study social psychology
   1. Describe the common research methods used in the study of social psychology and their advantages and limitations
   2. Identify the classic studies of social psychology
   3. Describe the ethical concerns to be addressed when conducting social psychology research
   4. Identify the scope of social psychology and its relative position to the fields of anthropology, sociology, health psychology, industrial/organizational psychology, and the legal system
2. Describe the various factors related to the development of social beliefs
   1. Describe the effect of memory in perceiving and recalling events
   2. Identify the factors related to judgment formation
   3. Define problems that routinely occur in forming beliefs and judg­ments
3. Demonstrate knowledge of individual perception and its application in social interactions
   1. Describe the influence of culture and other individual differences on the individual and society
   2. Describe the components of attribution theory, information integration, and confirmation bias
   3. Describe self-perception, self-esteem, and self-presentation
4. Demonstrate knowledge of attitudes and beliefs and their roles in social interactions
   1. Describe attitude formation and the attitude-behavior relationship
   2. Describe belief formation and belief perseverance
   3. Describe cognitive dissonance theory and its role in attitude-behavior formation.
5. Discuss the ways in which culture impacts social thought and behavior
   1. Describe the effect of societal norms on individual behaviors and attitudes
   2. Describe the effect of roles and role playing on individual behaviors and attitudes
   3. Describe the effect of stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination
6. Describe factors related to forms of social pressure
   1. Describe the classic studies in conformity, compliance, and obedi­ence
   2. Describe the processes relevant to the formation of social groups.
   3. Distinguish between processes of majority and minority group influence
   4. Identify factors in resisting social pressure
7. Distinguish among the factors that contribute to persuasion
   1. Describe the process of persuasion including routes to persuasion in social interactions
   2. Describe the effects of communicator, message, and audience factors on persuasive effects
8. Distinguish between stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination and their sources
   1. Describe social sources of stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination
   2. Describe emotional sources of stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination
   3. Describe cognitive sources of stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination
9. Describe aggression and its sources
   1. Distinguish between instrumental and emotional aggression
   2. Describe the frustration-aggression hypothesis.
   3. Describe the connection between media and aggression catharsis
10. Describe factors in attraction and intimate relationships
    1. Identify factors that contribute to the development of attraction
    2. Define passionate and companionate love
    3. Describe attachment styles and their influence on relationships
11. Demonstrate knowledge of social psychology?s contributions to the justice system.
12. Demonstrate knowledge of social psychology?s contributions to the field of health psychology
    1. Describe key findings related to risk taking behaviors, medical treatment, and prevention
    2. describe the factors that contribute to jury selection/deliberations, cross-race identification bias, and sentencing disparity
    3. Describe the effects of stress (eustress and distress) on performance and psychological well-being

Print this Page