Social and clinical psycology

Module Social Psychology of the groups and Institutions

At the end of the course, students will have acquired:

ü  in-depth knowledge of the main theoretical models and empirical research relating to the phenomena of cognition and social perception;

ü  a thorough understanding of the internal functioning of groups, including roles, norms, cohesion and decision-making processes, obedience to authority and groupthink;

ü  awareness of the role of institutions in shaping individuals and their relationships, and how power structures and institutional norms can both support and hinder psychological well-being.

ü  mastery of technical and disciplinary language to accurately describe the phenomena studied.

Students will be able to:

 apply the theoretical models learned to the critical analysis of complex and current social phenomena, such as intergroup conflict dynamics or dehumanisation processes;

ü  interpret individual and group behaviours (e.g. conformity, obedience, aggressive acts) in light of the social cognition and social influence dynamics studied;

ü  develop an independent and scientifically based judgement on the multi-causality of psychosocial phenomena, avoiding simplistic or reductionist explanations.

SOCIAL INTERACTION 

1. Social categorisation: cognitions, values and groups, 2. The social dimensions of attribution.

THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE GROUP

1. The relationship between the individual and the group -  2. The “interpersonal-group” continuum - 3. Social identity theory 4. Three unifying themes: social identity, social context and social action. 

INTERDEPENDENCE AND GROUP DYNAMICS 

1. Interdependence - 2. Social categorisation - 3. Joining and interacting in a group: some basic group processes - 4. The acquisition and development of group norms - 5. The power of the majority - 6. Convergence towards extremes: group decisions. - 7. The influence of the minority - 8. Leadership

THE MORALITY OF GROUPS

1. Aggression and collective violence. The dehumanisation of the outgroup - 2. Groups and helping behaviour. 

SOCIAL INFLUENCE AND OBEDIENCE TO AUTHORITY

1. The concept of authority/Obedience and disobedience – 2. Conformity/Informational social influence/Compliance 3. Obedience as a value/Obedience and responsibility – 4. The concept of deviance/Moral disengagement/The differences between disobedience and deviance. 

DEHUMANISATION

1. The long history of dehumanisation – 2. Explicit dehumanisation – 3. Subtle dehumanisation – 4. Objectification.

The categorisation process

Social Identity Theory

Dehumanisation