Course Title: Social Psychology
Course Code: BEH205
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 H C 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:
 To introduce to students that most social phenomenon can be
understood in the terms of social cognition, social influence, and social
relation
 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
Introduction & Administrations
Social Relations
Aronson et al., Chapter
Attraction and Intimacy: Friendships, Love, Maintaining Close
10; Myers - Chapter 11
Relationships, Ending Relationships
Social Relations
Aronson et al., Chapter
Prejudice: The Nature and Power of Prejudice, Social Sources of
13; Myers - Chapter 9
Prejudice, Emotional Sources of Prejudice, Cognitive Sources of Prejudice
Social Relations
Aronson et al., Chapter
Aggression: Theories of Aggression, Influences on Aggression, Reducing
12; Myers - Chapter 10
Aggression
Social Relations
Aronson et al., Chapter
Altruism: Why, When, and Whom will we help?
11; Myers - Chapter 12
Social Influence
Aronson et al., Chapter 5;
Genes, Culture and Gender: Human Nature and Culture Diversity, Gender
Myers - Chapter 5
Similarities and Differences, Evolution and Gender, Culture and Gender
Social Influence
Aronson et al., Chapter 8;
Conformity
Myers - Chapter 6
Social Influence
Aronson et al., Chapter 7
Persuasion: Paths to Persuasion, Elements of Persuasion, Cult, Attitude
& 9; Myers - Chapter 7
Inoculation
Social Influence
Aronson et al., Chapter 9;
Group Influence: Social Facilitation, Social Loafing, De-individuation,
Myers - Chapter 8
Group Polarization, Groupthink, Minority Influence
Social Thinking
Aronson et al., Chapter 4;
The self in a social world: Self-Concept, Perceived Self-Control,
Myers - Chapter 2
Self-Serving Bias, and Self-Presentation
Social Thinking
Aronson et al., Chapter 3;
Social Beliefs and Judgments: Explaining Others, Constructing
Myers - Chapter 3
Interpretations and Memories, Judging Others, Self-Fulfilling Beliefs
Social Thinking
Aronson et al., Chapter 7;
Behavior and Attitudes
Myers - Chapter 4
Teaching Method:
A) Weekly 2-hour lecture
B) Experiential Learning
Brief outline
You will take part in a group project. Due to the popularity of facebook,
a social networking tool on the Internet, we will examine facebook in
terms of the three main themes of social psychology. You will
understand facebook and associated activities in terms of a) social
relation, b) social influence, and c) social thinking.
1) Social relations: friendship, attraction
i) What are the criteria for friendship or initial attraction on
facebook? What do you need to do to make yourself more attractive
and popular? What are the costs and perks (if any) for popularity?
ii) Do you think facebook is an effective way to meet people? Why
do you think so? Or Why do you not think so? What are some
befriending strategies? Provide examples.
iii) What can you do to express your discontent towards another
person on facebook? Under what circumstance will you express
disapproval to your friends?
2) Social influence: gender and cultural difference
iv) What do facebook tell us about human nature? Why do you
think it is so popular?
v) Is there any gender differences in the way facebook is utilised by
you compared to the oppose sex? What are they or what is it?
vi) Do conformity affect people’s action between friends in
facebook? How is it so?
vii) Do you think facebook offer people to be different and express
themselves in their own terms? How is it so? How is it not so? Give a
personal account.
viii) How much do you think your actions are the result of your
beliefs or attitude? And how much, with respect to attitude, is your
behavior the result of conformity? Use facebook as a study case.
ix) In Solomon Asch’s experiment, people succumbed to the
broadcasted judgments of their peers. Can you find an instance when
this occurred in facebook when you are interacting with your friends?
x) Who are more vulnerable to the effect of conformity? Can you
describe their actions in the context of facebook?
3) Social thinking: self concept, self presentation, attitude
xi) How can facebook activities affect the way you see your self –
that is, self identity? 1
xii) How do you present yourself to others in your network? 2
xiii) How do others see you? Use photo tags as evidence of their
perception of you? 3
xiv) What is your attitude towards facebook and people in your
network? 4
Assessment:
1. Tutorial presentation (10%)
2. Mid term quiz (10%)
3. Project: Facebook.com (50%)
4. Final Exam (30%)
5. Bonus by participations (9%)
Measurement of Learning Outcomes:
1. Tutorial Presentation (group)
You are required to give a presentation in your tutorial class. Choose any topics
related to each week’s lecture theme. 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. You may form groups up to
3 people.
2. Mid term quiz (March 20th)
The quiz will explore your knowledge on covered materials discussed up
until the mid-term period. The examination consists of multiple-choice
1
Give example by talking about your experience with 2 people who are your friend in facebook.
2
Give example by talking about your experience with 2 people who are your friend in facebook.
3
Give example by referring to your experience with 2 people who are your friend in facebook.
4
Give example by referring to 2 people who are your friend in facebook.
questions. The duration of the exam is one hour and it is held in the lecture
hall on March 20th at 10am.
3. Facebook project (DUE 28th April) (tutorial group)
The assessment is based on your activities on facebook. You will represent, by
referring to activities in facebook: A) how you think about each other, B) how
you influence each other, and C) how you relate to each other (see above for
specific requirements). You will submit your work by physically representing the
facebook network5 of your tutorial group. Overall, experiential learning from
the above specifies the requirement from page 3 & 4. More will be clarified and
elaborated during tutorials.
4. End of term examination
The examination will only cover materials discussed in the lectures. There are
two components (multiple choice and short essay).
5. Bonus
In each lecture, you will have a chance to present your contribution (for 5mins)
related to the lecture topic. Provide multimedia materials to illustrate your
thoughts on the topic. Each student is restricted to 3 presentations. Consult
your instructor prior to each lecture on the relevant topic.
5
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Required/Essential Readings: Textbook: Aronson, E., Wilson, T. D., Akert,
R. (2006). Social Psychology (6th Edition). NJ: Prentice Hall.
Recommended/Supplementary Readings:
Articles or books
Myers, D. G. (2007). Social Psychology (9th Edition) McGraw Hill.
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)