Course Description
Why do we change our behavior when we’re around other people? How do first impressions form? Why are some people persuaded more easily than others? What makes us like, love, help, compete with, or sometimes hurt one another?
Social Psychology explores how other people—and the social world around us—influence the way we think, feel, and behave. You’ll discover how we form impressions of others, develop attitudes and beliefs, and make sense of ourselves and the people around us.
You’ll explore persuasion, social influence, conformity, stereotypes, and discrimination, examining how social forces can shape our decisions and behavior. You’ll also investigate the psychology of liking and loving, helping and altruism, aggression, competition, and cooperation.
The course takes these ideas into real-world settings as you examine group dynamics, leadership, decision-making, and performance, while considering how individuals and groups influence one another.
Throughout the course, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the social forces shaping everyday life—and perhaps start seeing your own relationships, interactions, and decisions in a whole new way.
Benefits of taking the course
- Build a foundation for majors and careers in psychology, law, business, marketing, communications, education, and human services.
- Prepare for advanced coursework in psychology and other social and behavioral sciences
- Develop a deeper understanding of relationships, social influence, and group behavior
- Strengthen interpersonal and communication skills by understanding persuasion, conflict, cooperation, and decision-making
- Apply psychological science to real-world issues such as stereotypes, discrimination, aggression, and social influence
Learning objectives
- Demonstrate knowledge of major findings in the field of social psychology.
- Identify a variety of research techniques used by social psychologists.
- Identify and explain how major principles of social psychology manifest in real-world or fictional examples.
- Illustrate an understanding of the basics of APA-style on a writing assignment.
Summary of topics covered
Introduction to health psychology, biological systems, health behaviors, health promoting behaviors, health compromising behaviors, stress, coping/resilience/and social support, psychoneuroimmunology, using health systems, patient/provider/and treatment, pain and discomfort, chronic health disorders, heart disease/stroke/ and type 2 diabetes, Syllabus
