An introduction to social psychology

Aims 

This course aims to:   

• gain an understanding of what social psychology is and how it is distinct from other forms of psychology  
   
• become aware of the many different forms of social context that are examined in social psychology  
   
• appreciate the extent to which individual behaviour and thought are influenced by these social contexts  

Content 

This course is designed as a general introduction to social psychology and focuses on how differing kinds of social contexts influence human thought and behaviour. The contexts to be considered reflect the wide range of ways in which ‘the social’ can manifest in our daily lives. We begin by exploring how being in a crowd influences the individual before refocussing onto small group interactions. The focus then shifts onto the use of non-verbal communication in, typically, dyadic interactions. The final topic will examine how these different kinds of context actually shape and influence who we are. The specific topics have been chosen to give a broad ‘taste’ of the wide range of issues that social psychologists study. Aside from examining specific topics within the discipline, the course will also explore how social psychology has developed in methodological and historical terms over the last century. 

Presentation of the course  

The five sessions will involve lecture presentation of material but will involve a high degree of group discussion and debate.  

Course sessions 

1. What is social psychology?  
    
2. Crowd psychology  
    
3. Small group dynamics  
    
4. Non-verbal communication 
    
5. The social ‘self’ 

Learning outcomes 

You are expected to gain from this series of classroom sessions a greater understanding of the subject and of the core issues and arguments central to the course.  

 The learning outcomes for this course are:  

• to gain an understanding of what social psychology is and how it is distinct from other forms  
  of psychology  
   
• to become aware of the many different forms of social context that are examined in  
  social psychology  
   
• to appreciate the extent to which individual behaviour and thought are influenced by these social contexts 

Required reading  

There are no compulsory readings for this course. However, you may find the below recommended reading list of interest to supplement your course. 

Typical week: Monday to Friday 

Courses run from Monday to Friday. For each week of study, you select a morning (Am) course and an afternoon (Pm) course. The maximum class size is 25 students.   

Courses are complemented by a series of daily plenary lectures, exploring new ideas in a wide range of disciplines. To add to your learning experience, we are also planning additional evening talks and events. 

Evaluation and Academic Credit  

If you are seeking to enhance your own study experience, or earn academic credit from your Cambridge Summer Programme studies at your home institution, you can submit written work for assessment for one or more of your courses.  

Essay questions are set and assessed against the University of Cambridge standard by your Course Director, a list of essay questions can be found in the Course Materials. Essays are submitted two weeks after the end of each course, so those studying for multiple weeks need to plan their time accordingly. There is an evaluation fee of £75 per essay. 

For more information about writing essays see Evaluation and Academic Credit. 

Certificate of attendance 

A certificate of attendance will be sent to you electronically after the programme.