Social Psychology (in English)

Course Description
This course is designed to offer a comprehensive introduction to social psychology as an
applied science to study how people influence each other’s thoughts, feelings, and
behaviors. We will explore and examine its core questions from both a theoretical and an
applied basis.

Course Goals and Methodology
The main goal of this course is to understand what social psychology is; how this field of
study has evolved into the current state of knowing; and how students can apply social
psychology concepts to their own lives and experiences. The course combines lecturebased classes with a case study methodology. We will dedicate three classes to each unit.
Every unit begins with several core questions, which gives way to class conversation and
discussion. The instructor will present the theoretical contents of each unit in two lecturebased classes. In the third class of each unit, following a flipped classroom methodology,
the students will prepare and present a number of case studies previously assigned by the
instructor. Finally, each unit concludes with a self-check quiz and a number of broader
questions to check students’ progress and understanding are going well, and make sure
students are prepared for the assessments across the course.

Learning Objectives
By the end of the course, students will:
● Explain what social psychology is and what social psychologists do
● Analyze important questions about social thought and behavior
● Apply social psychology concepts to their own lives and experiences
● Understand how our self-perceptions are influenced by others, and how we adjust
our social self to influence others
● Explain social cognition as a combination of intuition and logic to process social
information
● Understand how attitudes and persuasion work within the social world
● Explain how groups provide social and practical benefits to individuals, and analyze
how groups can both help and hinder individual efforts
● Describe how prejudice and discrimination emerges, and apply methods of
prejudice reduction
● Explain general motives for why helping and aggressive behaviors occur
● Discuss, compare and contract different “attachment styles” and what this means in
intimate relationships

Required Texts
There is no textbook required for this course. Therefore, students are not expected to
purchase any material. The instructor will post the class material (Google Slides, case
studies handouts, in-class worksheets, announcements, links, and any additional reading)
on Blackboard, which is accessible both on campus and off campus. To log in, you need to
sign in on https://campusvirtual.upo.es using the username and password you received in
your orientation folder.
However, the contents of the course are mainly based on the following two textbooks:
● Heinzen, T. E., & Goodfriend, W. (2018). Social psychology. Los Angeles; London;
New Delhi; Singapore; Washington DC; Melbourne: Sage.
● Heinzen, T. E., & Goodfriend, W. (2019). Case studies in social psychology critical
thinking and application. Los Angeles; London; New Delhi; Singapore; Washington
DC; Melbourne: Sage.
Additional bibliography:
● Alquist, J. L., Ainsworth, S. E., Baumeister, R. F., Daly, M., & Stillman, T. F. (2015). The
making of might-have-beens: Effects of free will belief on counterfactual thinking. Personality
and Social Psychology Bulletin, 41, 268–283.
● Bordens, K. S., & Horowitz, I. A. (2014). Social psychology. Solon, OH: YOLO Learning
Solutions Group.
● Brummelman, E., Thomaes, S., & Sedikides, C. (2016). Separating narcissism from selfesteem. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 25, 8–13.
● Doğan, R. (2014). Different cultural understandings of honor that inspire killing: An inquiry
into the defendant’s perspective. Homicide Studies, 18, 363–388.
● Doliński, D., Grzyb, T., Folwarczny, M., Grzybała, P., Krzyszycha, K., Martynowska, K., &
Trojanowski, J. (2017). Would You Deliver an Electric Shock in 2015? Obedience in the
Experimental Paradigm Developed by Stanley Milgram in the 50 Years Following the Original
Studies. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 8(8), 927-933.
● Eagly, A. H., & Wood, W. (2013). The nature–nurture debates: 25 years of challenges in
understanding the psychology of gender. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 8, 340–
357.
● Gilovich, T., Keltner, D., & Chen, S. (2019). Social psychology. New York: W. w. Norton &
Company.
● Goluboff, S. L. (2016). Text to sex: The impact of cell phones on hooking up and sexuality on
campus. Mobile Media & Communication, 4, 102–120.
● Horwitz, S. R., & Dovidio, J. F. (2017). The rich—love them or hate them? Divergent implicit
and explicit attitudes toward the wealthy. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, 20, 3–31.
● van Bommel, M., van Prooijen, J., Elffers, H., & van Lange, P. A. M. (2014). Intervene to be
seen: The power of a camera in attenuating the bystander effect. Social Psychological and
Personality Science, 5, 459–466.
● Zebrowitz, L. A. (2017). First impressions from faces. Current Directions in Psychological
Science, 26, 237–242.

Course Requirements and Grading
Participation
In-class discussions will be encouraged at all sessions. Class participation will therefore be graded
according to the students’ previous work and reflections about the provided material. Active
participation means not only attendance (being there ≠ participation) but discussion with relevant
basis (text-based and not just random personal experience and background), asking and answering
questions in class, engaging in class discussions and conversations with classmates, questioning
information presented and discussed. Students are also expected to actively participate in in-class
exercises and to do some homework.
Exams
Two examinations will be given (midterm and final), which will cover the concepts in the
course and test conceptual and critical-thinking skills. Both exams will consist of multiplechoice, short answer, essay and/or case analysis/reflection questions.
Paper
During the semester, students will be composing a final paper. A five-page summary and
reflection on a social psychology applied topic that will be provided by the instructor.
Students will be asked to write a final paper on one of the following topics:
o Behavioral economics
o Environmental sustainability
o Law and the courtroom
o Happiness and positive psychology
o Stress and health
o Relationship violence
o Industrial/organizational psychology
o Volunteerism and internships
This paper is to be typed, double-spaced, using black 12-point Arial font. Please abide by
the deadline set by your professor. If you submit your paper after the due date, then you
should expect to be penalized (5% for every working day that your paper is late). Your paper
should be clear and concise using proper concepts, correct spelling, and appropriate
attribution for all sources. All writing is to follow the American Psychological Association
(APA) Style for citations.

Case Study Oral Presentation
Students are required to prepare a 10-minute oral presentation (in pairs or small groups) on
a case study (which will be assigned by the instructor as soon as the add/drop period ends).
This presentation will be graded on evidence of preparation (organized presentation,
presentation/discussion flows well, no awkward pauses or confusion, evidence you did your
own research), content (accurate & relevant information, appeared knowledgeable about
the case study and the topic discussed, offered strategies for dealing with the problems
identified in the case study), delivery (clear and logical organization, effective introduction
and conclusion, creativity, relevant transitions between the different parts of the
presentation, oral communication skills—eye contact, well-designed presentation slides,
use attractive, relevant and illustrative images), and discussion (presenter initiates and
maintains class discussion concerning the case study, use of visual aides, good use of time,
involves classmates).

On your day to present, please arrive on time (or early, if possible) and prepared with your
presentation (Google Slides preferred, so that you can access it from the classroom
computer). All members of the group should be involved, both in preparing and in delivering
the presentation. Students will be graded individually. Following each presentation we will
spend 5-10 minutes discussing the main ideas of the case presented. All students are
expected to participate in the discussion, but some students will be designated discussants.
These students should make sure that they have read the case study material before coming
to class and note potential questions and points while listening to the presentation.

Your final grade will be calculated as follows:
● Participation (25%)
● Mid-term Exam (20%) —March, 14th
● Case Study Oral Presentation (10%)
● Final Paper (25%) —May, 9th
● Final Exam (20%) —TBA

Final Grade Expectations: The instructor will use the Spanish 10-point grading scale. The
grades that will appear on your final transcript are also Spanish grades.

Course contents
1. Applied Social Psychology: Social Thought and Behavior
a. What is social psychology?
b. What are the big questions in social psychology?
c. Is science a valid way to learn about complex social behavior?
2. The Social Self
a. What is the “self”?
b. How do we know the self is social?
c. How do we present different selves in different situations?
d. What is self-esteem?
3. Social Cognition and Person Perception
a. How do we think?
b. From where does intuition come?
c. How do we remember social information?
d. How do we form impressions of others?
e. How do we explain other people’s behavior?
f. Why do we misjudge one another?
4. Attitudes and Persuasion
a. What are attitudes,and do they predict behavior?
b. From where do they come?
c. How do they change?
d. What persuasion techniques are used to change attitudes?
5. Social Influence: Conformity, Social Roles, and Obedience
a. What types of social influence exist?
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b. Why and when do we choose to conform?
c. How do social roles change our behavior?
6. Stereotyping, Prejudice, and Discrimination
a. How do we stereotype?
b. How do stereotypes turn into prejudices?
c. Is prejudice a personality problem?
d. Has prejudice decreased over time?
e. How can we reduce stereotyping,prejudice, and discrimination?
7. Aggression and Violence
a. What does it mean to be "aggressive"?
b. Is aggression explained by biological instinct?
c. Is aggression explained by cultural influences?
d. Is aggression explained by situational influences?
8. Help and Cooperation
a. What motivates people to help others?
b. Why do some people help more than others?
c. What circumstances make helping more or less likely?
9. Intimate Relationships
a. What causes attraction?
b. What makes us physically attractive?
c. How do we decide to commit?
d. Do men and women act differently and,if so,why?