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SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY - BPS205

Duration (approx) 100 hours
Qualification
Statement of Attainment

 

Online Social Psychology Course

  • Course developers and tutors are university trained and real world experienced psychology and sociology experts.
  • Refresher course, gap filler or introductory training to better understand human behaviour, social interactions, and group dynamics, .
  • Learning components involve not only reading and interactive work on a computer, but also prescribed field work tasks involving observation and dialogue in a variety of social psychology contexts.

 

 

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COURSE STRUCTURE AND CONTENT

Course Duration: 100 hours.

Start Date: Start at any time with full tutor support for the duration of your studies.

Lessons: The course comprises 10 lessons as detailed, below.

Lesson 1. Social Cognition

  • Introduction to social psychology.
  • What is social psychology.
  • Impression formation.
  • Behaviour.
  • Appearance.
  • Expectations.
  • The primacy effect.
  • Attribution.
  • Schemas and social perception.
  • Central traits.
  • Stereotypes.
  • Social inference and decision making.
  • Case Study: social psychology and law.

Lesson 2. The Self

  • Introduction.
  • Self-concept.
  • Present and ideal selves.
  • Cognitive dissonance.
  • Experiments into cognitive dissonance.
  • Reducing cognitive dissonance.
  • Self-efficacy.
  • How does the self-develop?
  • Self and social feedback.
  • Socialisation.
  • Types of socialisation.
  • How are we socialised.

Lesson 3. Attribution and Perception of Others

  • Attribution theory.
  • Attribution and Consensus, consistency, distinctiveness.
  • Attribution errors.
  • Culture and attributional style.
  • Criticisms of the theory.
  • Practical uses of attribution theory.

Lesson 4. Attitudes and Attitude Change

  • Defining attitude.
  • Characteristics of attitudes.
  • ABC of attitudes.
  • Affective elements of attitude.
  • Behavioural elements of attitude.
  • Self-attribution.
  • Specificity.
  • Constraints.
  • Cognitive elements of attitude.
  • Attitude formation.
  • Factors affecting attitude change.

Lesson 5. Prejudice, Discrimination and Stereotypes

  • Introduction.
  • What is prejudice.
  • Functions of prejudice.
  • How we measure prejudice.
  • In groups and out groups.
  • Reducing prejudice.
  • Stereotypes.
  • Functions of stereotypes.
  • Dangers of using stereotypes.
  • Changing stereotypes.
  • Discrimination.

Lesson 6. Interpersonal Attraction

  • Introduction.
  • Theories of attraction.
  • The social exchange theory.
  • The reinforcement affect model.
  • Factors affecting interpersonal attraction.
  • Physical appearance.
  • Biological underpinnings.
  • Similarity.
  • Familiarity.
  • Positive regard.
  • Misattribution of emotions.
  • Proximity.
  • Attachment styles.
  • Cultural similarities.
  • An evolutionary perspective.
  • The cost of sex.

Lesson 7. Helping Behaviour

  • Bystander intervention.
  • Diffusion of responsibility.
  • Social facilitation.
  • Compliance.
  • Obedience.
  • Conformity.
  • Why do people conform.
  • Factors affecting conformity.
  • Desire for affiliation.
  • Reinforcement and punishment.
  • Obedience to authority.
  • Why does social influence work?

Lesson 8. Aggression

  • Introduction.
  • Types of aggression.
  • Theoretical approaches to aggression: Freudian, Drive theories, Social learning theories, Biological and evolutionary theories.
  • Aggression against outsiders.
  • Aggression in a species.
  • Aggression in humans.
  • Environmental influences on human aggression.
  • Imitation or modelling.
  • Familiarity.
  • Reinforcement.
  • Aggression and Culture.
  • Other factors.

Lesson 9. Groups

  • What is a group.
  • Kinds of groups; recreational, social, work, family, sporting features of groups.
  • Factors relating to groups: productivity, social loafing, insufficient coordination, social facilitation.
  • Group decision making: group think, group polarisation, minority influence.
  • Deindividualisation.

Lesson 10. Cultural Influences 

  • Defining culture.
  • Culture and social exchange.
  • Individualistic vs reciprocal societies.
  • Cross-cultural psychology vs cultural psychology.
  • Culture bound syndromes.
  • Trance and possession disorder.

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

Why study Social Psychology?
Our online course in social psychology will help you:

  • Understand why people behave in certain ways in social situations, and how they interact with others.
  • Gain insights into how to build and maintain strong relationships, overcome prejudice, and manage aggression.
  • Discover how culture, norms, and social pressures, influence our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.


What is the course duration and format? 

  • There are 10 lessons.
  • Each lesson includes experiential tasks, a self-assessment test, and a written assignment.
  • Assignments are marked by our expert tutors and returned with written feedback.
  • The course is self-paced and can be completed in approximately 10 weeks.
  • There is an optional exam upon completion of the course. 

How long can I access Course Materials?

As long as you need. We don't have a close off date. Some students are still accessing their course materials many years after enrolling. This is one of the ways we are different. We are here for you as long as you need us.

What are benefits and outcomes of this course?
Learning social psychology can help you:

  • Create a pathway into a range of careers, including psychology, sociology, marketing, politics, and education.
  • Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills valuable for many areas of life.
  • Understand how groups form, function, and interact – essential for areas such as business, politics, and community development.
  • Solve social problems like prejudice, discrimination, and social inequality.

Can I use this course as a credit toward a qualification?

Yes. This can be used as a module in a variety of certificates and diplomas with ACS or in a degree with one of our affiliate partners, Warnborough College. Various other universities and colleges around the world have also assessed and given credits for our courses in degrees in the past.


Who is this course for?

  • Researchers and practitioners in social policy, public health, and business.
  • Management, HR and marketing professionals or trainees.
  • Anyone working in customer service or any other job requiring improved interpersonal skills.
  • People interested in working for government departments and agencies where social psychology is used in policy making.
  • Mental health and counselling careers.
  • Consulting and coaching careers.
  • Educators and trainers.
  • Anyone wishing to improve their own self-awareness and emotional intelligence.
 

What Next?

Studying Social Psychology provides a broad basis of valuable knowledge which is useful in many professions.

Sign up for our online course and take the first step towards a career where you can apply social psychology. 

You can enrol today by clicking the “Enrol Now” button above.

Or

Click here to Contact a Psychology Tutor.

Or Request a Prospectus Here.

 
Courses can be started anytime from anywhere in the world!

Meet some of our academics

Tracey Jones (psychology)B.Sc. (Hons) (Psychology), M.Soc.Sc (social work), DipSW (social work), PGCE (Education), PGD (Learning Disability Studies) Tracey began studying psychology in 1990. She has a wide range of experience within the psychology and social work field, particularly working with people with learning disabilities. She is also qualified as a teacher and now teaches psychology and social work related subjects. She has been a book reviewer for the British Journal of Social Work and has also written many textbooks, blogs, articles and ebooks on psychology, writing, sociology, child development and more. She has had also several short stories published.
Jacinda Cole B.Sc.,M.Psych.Psychologist, Educator, Author, Psychotherapist. B.Sc., Psych.Cert., M. Psych. Cert.Garden Design, MACA. Jacinda has over 25 years of experience in psychology, in both Australia and England. She has co-authored several psychology text books and many courses including diploma and degree level courses in psychology and counselling. Jacinda joined ACS in 2001.
Jade SciasciaBiologist, Business Coordinator, Government Environmental Dept, Secondary School teacher (Biology); Recruitment Consultant, Senior Supervisor in Youth Welfare, Horse Riding Instructor (part-completed) and Boarding Kennel Manager. Jade has a B.Sc.Biol, Dip.Professional Education, Cert IV TESOL, Cert Food Hygiene.


Check out our eBooks

Counselling HandbookA book for both students, as well as volunteers who may be involved in helping people with problems. This is a starting point for understanding counselling, and a reference for developing counselling skills. The book contains seven chapters: 1. Where can counselling be used 2. How to see behind the mask 3. Emotions and attitudes 4. How to communicate better when all you have is words 5. Theory versus practice 6. Diffusing difficult situations 7. Golden rules or tips
How Children ThinkAnyone who has ever tried to make a child do anything (clean up their mess, desist from throwing mud, stop drawing on the walls) knows that children think differently to adults. This book attempts to provide the skills and knowledge to develop a greater understanding of children.
How to be a Life CoachLife coaching is a relatively new profession - although coaches have been around for a long time in the guise of trainers, instructors, managers and tutors for various professions and disciplines. Life coaching is not easily defined, but it is a type of mentoring which focuses on helping individuals to achieve what they would like to achieve and thereby to lead more fulfilling lives. Unlike other forms of coaching, it takes place outside of the workplace and is concerned with all aspects of a person’s life.
Psychological ProfilingPsychological profiling is used to assess anyone from potential new staff and school children to serial killers. It helps you to determine someone’s personality, neuroses, mental health and career suitability. This book provides an excellent overview of psychological profiling techniques and pitfalls.