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

Courses Single

Authorized

Lessons timetable Moodle Seminars 0

Learning objectives

GENERAL OBJECTIVES:
- Develop an integrated system of knowledge regarding relational and group processes in organizational and social contexts.
- Apply knowledge regarding relational and group processes in organizational and social contexts.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:
The course focuses on group processes in organizational contexts. It will examine group processes and intergroup relations, with particular attention to topics such as group formation and cohesion, inclusion and identity, group decision-making and productivity, intergroup relationships and conflict, effects of belonging to majority and minority groups, and diversity management. The course aims to develop critical reflection, analysis, and interpretation skills of group dynamics, especially those that occur in organizational contexts. Students will acquire skills such as group observation and understanding of their dynamics, mastery of the main theories of groups, knowledge of the most important approaches to the study of group processes, and the ability to manage relationships between minority and majority group members. The teaching aims to achieve the following specific learning objectives:
- develop an integrated system of knowledge regarding group processes in social and organizational contexts;
- develop skills to manage complex organizational processes with particular reference to diversity management;
- develop skills for planning and evaluating interventions aimed at developing harmonious relationships in organizational contexts.

Prerequisites and basic notions

Social Psychology (bachelor) is recommended.

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
Readings:
1a. Forsyth, D. R. (2022). Psicologia dei gruppi (7ma Ed.). Edra. Chapts: 1,2,3,6,7,8,9,10,12,13,14.
Alternatively:
1b. Forsyth, D. R. (2019). Group dynamics (7th Ed.). Cengage Learning. Chapts: 1,2,3,6,7,8,9,10,12,13,14.
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. Pratto, F., Sidanius, J., & Levin, S. (2006). Social dominance theory and the dynamics of intergroup relations: Taking stock and looking forward. European Review of Social Psychology, 17, 271–320.
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).

Bibliography

Didactic methods

Lectures and in-class assignments aimed at developing students’ skills of group observation and analysis, understanding of group processes, management of diversity-related processes. Attending students will have the opportunity to participate into a project work concerning diversity management in organizational contexts.
Lectures will be in presence. Materials such as power points and texts of in-class assignments will be made available in moodle for students that will be unable to attend some lectures.

Learning assessment procedures

For attending students, the exam will consist of a work-project (optional) and written exam test; for non attending students, the exam will consist of written exam test. The content and modes of completion of the work-project will be agreed upon by the lecturer and (attending) students. The written exam test (for both attending and non attending students) consists of 3 open-ended questions. Each answer will be awarded up to 10 points/marks.

Evaluation criteria

Knowledge of theoretical constructs will be assessed, as well as the ability to understand, analyze and communicate and interpret social and organizational behaviors in the light of the theories and concepts covered by the study program.
Participation to the work-project (optional) will be awarded up to 3 points which will be summed to the marks of the written exam test.

Criteria for the composition of the final grade

For attending students participating in the project work, the final grade will consist of the grade/mark of the written exam test plus the points obtained in the work-project. For all other students, the final grade/mark will correspond to the grade/mark obtained in the written exam test.

Exam language

Italiano