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This module explores one of the major tensions in modern psychology derived from the ‘crisis’ in psychology: How best can we understand the actions and behaviour of people?  The module explores the tensions between traditional psychology techniques and social constructionist techniques. This will be achieved by utilising an examination of the two major theoretical perspectives that we as psychologists use to understand group and interpersonal 'behaviour', cognitive social psychology and social constructionism.

The examples in which this argument is placed include:

Attitude theories and their discursive alternatives; the psychology of race and the racism of psychology; Social Identity Theory and the social psychology of identity; sex differences in language and the social construction of gender and the wider issue of social justice.

This module examines modern social psychology, including social cognition and social constructionism. Using stereotypes as a motivating example exploring them from multiple perspectives, including understanding the important role of social justice and psychology. Theories will be applied to explain how groups behave and how individuals behave toward each other and linked to relevant social issues and current world events.

These perspectives are explored as part of the argument that Psychology needs to move towards being a more critical reflexive discipline and the view that a necessary part of this is to broaden its perspective away from its narrow experimental and essentialist roots.

Relevant topics include

Racism

Sex and gender

Stereotyping: Processes and practices

Consequences of stereotyping

Changing stereotypes

A student passing this module should be able to:

1. Understand and use the metatheoretical approach of social constructionism and understand its role in a critique of essentialist psychology.
2. Understand the techniques of discourse and conversation analysis in relation to a small scale study.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of the development from classical stereotype literature to more modern social cognitive theorizing and the role of society in developing psychological explanations.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of issues surrounding stereotype formation, activation, application, content, accuracy, regulation and change
5. Apply social psychology theory to real world situations.
6. Develop and draw upon self-awareness and reflexivity and consider how researchers’ epistemological position influences methodology and conclusions.

The Library Catalogue contains full details of the current reading list for this module. Further details may also be found in the Module Guide.