Teaching code

4S007375

Teacher

Elena Trifiletti

Coordinator

Elena Trifiletti

Credits

9

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

M-PSI/05 - SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY

Period

Sem. 1A, Sem. 1B

Lessons timetable Moodle Seminars 0

Learning outcomes

This course focuses on group processes in organizational contexts. The course will examine group processes and intergroup relations, with a special focus on group formation and cohesion, inclusion and identity, decision making, productivity in groups, intergroup relations and conflict, effects of majority and minority group belonging, and diversity management. The course aims to provide students with skills, such as critical reflection, analysis, and interpretation of group dynamics, especially those occurring within organizational contexts. Students will learn how to observe groups and to understand their dynamics; they will have a firm grasp of the main theoretical and empirical approaches to the study of groups, and will learn how to manage relationships between minority and majority group members. By the end of the course students will be able to: - develop a sound knowledge of group processes in organizational and social settings; - develop management skills for complex organizational processes with a specific focus on diversity management; - plan and evaluate interventions aimed at developing harmonious relationships within organizazions.

Program

The course will be held in Italian and will cover the following topics:
-group formation
-social categorization and social identity
-cohesion and inclusion
-social influence and conformity
-obedience and power
-leadership
-group decision making
-group productivity
-intergroup relations and conflict
-majority-minority relations within organizations
-stereotype threat in the workplace
-diversity in social and organizational contexts
-diversity management
-diversity training

The topics will be addressed both through frontal teaching and in-class assignments aimed at developing students’ skills of group observation and analysis, understanding of group processes, management of diversity-related processes.

Readings:
1. Forsyth, D. R. (2019). Group dynamics (7th Ed.). Cengage Learning. Capitoli: 1,2,3,6,7,8,9,10,12,13.
2. Ellemers, N. & Haslam, S. A. (2019). La teoria dell’identità sociale, in Van Lange, P. A. M., Kruglanski, A. W., & Higgins, E. T., Psicologia sociale: Teorie sui processi psicologici, intraindividuali, interpersonali e intergruppi (pp.187-202). Traduzione italiana a cura di Pagliaro, S., Sacchi, S., & Vezzali, L. Milano: Edra.
3. Turner, J. C. & Reynolds, K. J. (2019). La teoria della categorizzazione di sé, in Van Lange, P. A. M., Kruglanski, A. W., & Higgins, E. T., Psicologia sociale: Teorie sui processi psicologici, intraindividuali, interpersonali e intergruppi (pp. 203-216). Traduzione italiana a cura di Pagliaro, S., Sacchi, S., & Vezzali, L. Milano: Edra.
4. Sidanius, J. & Pratto, F. (2019). La teoria della dominanza sociale, in Van Lange, P. A. M., Kruglanski, A. W., & Higgins, E. T., Psicologia sociale: Teorie sui processi psicologici, intraindividuali, interpersonali e intergruppi (pp. 203-216). Traduzione italiana a cura di Pagliaro, S., Sacchi, S., & Vezzali, L. Milano: Edra.
5. John F. Dovidio , Samuel L. Gaertner & Tamar Saguy (2007) Another view of “we”: Majority and minority group perspectives on a common ingroup identity, European Review of Social Psychology, 18:1, 296-330.
6. Roberson L. & Kulik C. T. (2007). Stereotype Threat at Work. Academy of Management Perspectives, 21, 24-40.
7. Casad, B,J. & Bryant, W.J. (2016). Addressing Stereotype Threat is Critical to Diversity and Inclusion in Organizational Psychology. Front. Psychol.7:8. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00008
8. Anand, R., & Winters, M. F. (2008). A Retrospective View of Corporate Diversity Training from 1964 to the Present. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 7, 356-372
9. O’Donovan, D. (2017). Inclusion: Diversity Management 2.0. In C. Machado, & J. P. Davim, Managing Organizational Diversity: Trends and Challenges in Management and Engineering. Springer.

Chapters and journal articles will be available on the moodle platform. Non attending students who might find it difficult to study in English are invited use power points on moodle as supplementary materials (not substitutes).

ATTENTION!
The lessons will be held in presence (upon reservation of the student). Lessons will be recorded and available on moodle by two to three days.

Bibliography

Examination Methods

For attending students, the exam will consist of a work-project (optional) and an oral examination; for non attending students, the exam will consist of an oral examination. The content and modes of completion of the work-project will be agreed upon by the lecturer and (attending) students. In the oral examination, (attending/non attending) students will be asked questions about 3-4 topics included in the syllabus, that will be selected by the lecturer. Students are required to know the relevant theoretical constructs, as well as how to interpret social and organizational behaviour according to the theories and concepts included in the syllabus. The oral examination will test students' capacities of understanding, analysis and communication.

Indications about the exam being in presence or via zoom will be provided in due course.