Course Title: Introduction to Social Psychology
Course Code: SOC205
Recommended Study Year*: Second or Thirds year
No. of Credits/Term: 3
Mode of Tuition: Tutorial approach
Class Contact Hours: 3 hours per week
Instructor: Dr. Kevin CHENG (office: SO318; tel: 2616 7412; email:
chenghck@LN.edu.hk)
Brief Course Description: Social Psychology is an inter-discipline situated
between psychology and sociology. The former examines inner lives and selves
while the latter examines the relationships between collectivities and
organizations. Social psychologists examine how the self and the social
interplay, as well as how individuals influence one another. In other words,
social psychology is the study of the influences on and consequences of social
interaction. Topics cover in this course included theories and research on social
cognition (attitude, stereotypes, judging others), social influences (conformity,
obedience to authority, and persuasion) and social relations (attraction, love,
prejudice, altruism, and aggression).
Aims:
9 To introduce to students that most social phenomenon can be
understood in the terms of social cognition, social influence, and social
relation
9 To enable students to relate principles of social psychology with real life
phenomenon
Learning Outcomes: To understand and to apply theories on social cognition,
social influences and social relations in real life settings.
Indicative Content:
Schedule
Preparations
Week 1 – Introduction & Administrations
Week 2 - Social Thinking
The self in a social world: Self-Concept, Perceived
Self-Control, Self-Serving Bias, and Self-Presentation
Myers - Chapter 2
Week 3 - Social Thinking
Social Beliefs and Judgments: Explaining Others,
Constructing Interpretations and Memories, Judging Others,
Self-Fulfilling Beliefs
Week 4 - Social Thinking
Behavior and Attitudes
Week 5 – Social Influence
Genes, Culture and Gender: Human Nature and Culture
Diversity, Gender Similarities and Differences, Evolution and
Gender, Culture and Gender
Week 6 – Social Influence
Conformity
Week 7 Mid-term quiz (no lecture thereafter)
Myers - Chapter 3
Week 8 – Social Influence
Persuasion: Paths to Persuasion, Elements of Persuasion,
Cult, Attitude Inoculation
Week 9 – Social Influence
Group Influence: Social Facilitation, Social Loafing,
De-individuation, Group Polarization, Groupthink, Minority
Influence
Week 10 – Social Relations
Attraction and Intimacy: Friendships, Love, Maintaining
Close Relationships, Ending Relationships
Week 11 – Social Relations
Prejudice: The Nature and Power of Prejudice, Social
Sources of Prejudice, Emotional Sources of Prejudice,
Cognitive Sources of Prejudice
Week 12 – Social Relations
Aggression: Theories of Aggression, Influences on
Aggression, Reducing Aggression
Myers - Chapter 7
Myers - Chapter 4
Myers - Chapter 5
Myers - Chapter 6
Myers - Chapter 8
Myers - Chapter 11
Myers - Chapter 9
Myers - Chapter 10
Week 13 – Social Relations
Altruism: Why, When, and Whom will we help?
Revision
Myers - Chapter 12
Teaching Method: There are one 2-hour lecture and one 1-hour tutorial per
week. In tutorials, students are asked to give presentations and comment on
each other’s presentations. Students are required to attend all tutorial classes.
Grades will be deducted if fall to do so.
Measurement of Learning Outcomes:
1. Tutorial Participations
This is further divided into two parts. Each is worth 10%.
For the presenters: You are required to give a presentation in your
tutorial class. Choose any topics related to each week’s lecture theme. For
example, you should present materials relating to conformity in week 6. You are
assessed according to the extent you can demonstrate the related topic by
referring to real life examples. The presentation should be between 20 to 30
minutes. More will be explain in the first tutorial.
For the audience: You are required to generate two relevant research
questions (RRQ)(in no more than 50 words) for any two of the topics
presented in the tutorial1. This is a total of four RRQ to be submitted on 21st
April to the general office of the Department of Politics and Sociology (3rd Floor
Social Sciences Building) before 5pm. More will be explain in the first tutorial.
2. Mid-term examination (17th March)
The exam will evenly cover all materials from week 2 to week 6 (see
lecture schedule). The examination consists of 20 multiple-choice
questions. The duration of the exam is one hour and it is held in the lecture
hall in week 7.
3. Essay (DUE 8th May)
The best way to understand the principles of social psychology is to apply it in
matters that are relevant to you. After all, most “groundbreaking” research in
psychology stems from questions that affect us all on a daily basis! Because of
this, find a problem that has taken your attention recently. It can be matters
related to your personal life. It can be a controversial issue that has generated
much heated arguments by citizens at all levels of the society. For example, the
tsunami that originated from an earthquake in Indonesia caused over 12
thousands deaths in South-East Asia. Why do people around the world showed
1
Do not ask questions that relates to concepts or topics that you do not understand.
unanimous humanitarian support for this natural disaster? The topics you bring
to discussion can be something less serious. For example, a crocodile was
found in the wetlands near Yuen Long in Hong Kong. Why did it generate
enthusiasms rather than fear among citizens of Hong Kong?
The essay should be approximately (but no more than) 2000 words. Refer to
www.ln.edu.hk/polsoc/staff/chenghck for file on formatting instructions.
4. End of term examination
The examination will cover mainly materials cover in the lecture.
Students are required to provide answers in short-essay format.
Assessment:
1. Tutorial Participations2 (20%)
2. Mid-term quiz (20%)
3. Essay (30%)
4. Final Exam (30%)
Required/Essential Readings: Textbook: Myers, D. G. (2005). Social
Psychology (8th Edition) McGraw Hill.
Recommended/Supplementary Readings:
Articles or books
Forgas, J. P., & Kipling D. W. (2001). Social Influence: Direct And Indirect
Processes. Philadelphia: Psychology Press.
Forgas, J. P., Kipling D. W., & Wheeler, L. (2001). The Social Mind: Cognitive And
Motivational Aspects Of Interpersonal Behavior. Philadelphia: Psychology Press.
Gilbert, D. T., Fiske, S. T., & Lindzey, G. (1998). The Handbook of Social
Psychology. Boston: McGraw-Hill
Multimedia
The Pianist (Directed by Roman Polanski)
The Experiment (Directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel)
2
Students are required to attend 80% of their tutorial classes. Grades will be lowered if failure to do so.
You can be excused from tutorial classes provided you have a medical condition. Your medical condition
needs to be verified by a physician. The medical certificate needs to be dated on the same date as your
tutorial class.