Teaching code

4S02341

Teacher

Antonio Nocera

Credits

6

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

M-PSI/05 - SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY

Period

Sem. 1A dal Sep 27, 2021 al Nov 6, 2021.

Lessons timetable Moodle Seminars 0

To show the organization of the course that includes this module, follow this link:  Course organization

Learning outcomes

This module offers an introduction to Social Psychology, its areas of interest, and main theories, with particular reference to social influence processes in interpersonal and intergroup interactions and to how they affect social behavior and individual well-being. The first aim of the module is to provide students with knowledge and understanding of the main theories and constructs in Social Psychology, with particular reference to theoretical concepts that can be most frequently applied to social workers' workplace. A second aim is to provide students with knowledge and understanding of factors that promote the stability or change of social hierarchies. Furthermore, the module aims at developing students' ability to apply key socio-psychological concepts to the professional context, in order to understand the personal, family-related and social antecedents of users’ behaviors and to place users’ difficulties within the social and relational context in which they live.

Program

The course will deal with three broad thematic areas centered on each other:
1. the social perception
2. social influence
3. social relations

These aspects represent the "What" social psychologists study. We will deal with how individuals perceive each other, influence each other and relate to each other.

1. Social perception is how we come to know and understand the fundamental elements of our social world, which is made up of both individuals and social groups. During the discussion of social perception, while emphasizing the role of cognitive processes, we will reiterate the idea that all cognition is socially influenced, even those cognitions as personal and basic as the perception of oneself.

2. Social influence is the effect that each of us has on others. Each of us constantly influences the others and is constantly influenced by them. Attitudes and modification of the same: advertising targets our wallet, political campaigns play on our fears, debates appeal to our reason. Can they change our opinions? If so, how? Attitudes and behaviors: In the presence of adequate circumstances, attitudes reflect and guide behavior. We will see the mutual influence of attitudes and behaviors. Groups, norms and conformism: we will examine how groups reach an agreement and why that agreement has disruptive effects on group members. Norms and behavior: the effects of groups not just on what people think, but on what they do.

3. Social relationships are the bonds that bind us to each other, as individuals and as groups. United by attraction and cooperation or imprisoned in aggression and conflict, individuals find in the relationship with others a source of affection and solidarity or indifference and hostility. Love and sympathy: we will see the feelings of attraction towards others and the formation and development of relationships of intimacy and affection. We will also see what social psychology can tell us about why relationships evolve positively or negatively. Interaction within groups: small groups make society work. We will see how we interact with others within small groups and how the groups work to achieve common goals. Aggression and conflict: we will analyze the path of conflicts that place individual against individual and group against group: how they can arise, intensify and, at times, be resolved. Altruism and cooperation: episodes of heroism pushed to the point of self-denial or simpler acts of collaboration for the benefit of others: why do they occur? We will examine the conditions under which we help people and the reasons why we do so.

Some of the main topics:
- social perception;
- social categorization, prejudices and stereotypes;
- self, personal and social identity;
- attitudes and persuasion;
- aggression;
- communication;
- prosocial behavior;
- social influence in groups;
- intergroup relations and discrimination.

The module aims to foster the ability to apply the concepts of Social Psychology acquired to the professional reality of the social worker, in particular to understand the causes of the users' social behaviors and to place the criticalities detected regarding their users in the social context and relational.

Textbook: as an alternative to the suggested text, it will be possible to agree with the teacher a manual of Social Psychology that can be used to study the topics of the course.

Bibliography

Examination Methods

At the end of the module there will be a written exam aimed at ascertaining the achievement of the educational objectives and the knowledge of the topics covered during the lessons, to be explored in a manual of Social Psychology. The outcome of the "Social and Community Psychology" exam will consist of a single mark (average of the evaluations of the two questions of Social Psychology and of the two questions of Community Psychology, expressed out of thirty) which will be recorded once both are passed the modules in the same exam session. Students of the academic year 2020-21 (and earlier) who still have to take the exam can take it with the program for their year of study. In relation to the situation arising from the Coronavirus emergency, the examination methods listed above may be changed (oral examination in electronic mode) in accordance with the instructions of the university.