PL4S143 - Psychological Responses to Societal Challenges 01 Sep 2017 - 31 Aug 2023 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: PL4S143
Module Title: Psychological Responses to Societal Challenges
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Psychology and Therapeutic Studies
Faculty Sub Group: Psychology
Module Leader: Dan Bowers
Module Team: Nicola Kazamia
First Intended Intake: SEP 2017 Final Year of Intake: 2022
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 7
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100497 - psychology
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Sep 2017
Valid To 31 Aug 2023

Module Aims

To encourage students to critically evaluate contemporary social psychological theories and approaches and their application to the resolution of societal issues.

To develop critical appreciation of identity and social identity based interventions for clinical, health and environmental psychology issues.

Content Summary

Contemporary theoretical perspectives in social, community and environmental psychology and cyberpsychology.

Identity and social identity based approaches to address individual and societal challenges; place identity, virtual identity, management of identity, multiple and conflicting identities, identity based interventions. The relationship between socio-cognitive and social identity processes. Intergroup relations and group-based interventions; online and offline communities, using internet and social media to promote and implement intervention. Challenges addressed may include prejudice and intergroup relations, migration, displacement and refugee status, responses to environmental disasters, promoting health, mental health and successful ageing.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Independent Study 127
Directed Study 68
Formative Assessment - Independent 5
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Critically reflect on the role of social psychology in facilitating individual responses to societal challenges.
LO2 Critically appraise the efficacy of social psychological interventions to address societal and individual issues.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Written Assignment (CW) Essay (CW) 1 An essay critically assessing the contribution that Psychology can make to addressing societal issues 0 3000 50 No 40
Written Assignment (CW) Case Study (CW) 1 Application of social psychology to a specific societal challenge 0 3000 50 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Essay (CW) 1
Case Study (CW) 1

Reading List

Jetten, J., Haslam, C., and Haslam, S.A. (2011). The Social Cure: Identity, Health & Well-Being. Hove: Psychology Press

Steg, L., van den Berg, A.E. and de Groot, J.I. (2012). Environmental Psychology: An Introduction. Oxford: BPS Blackwell Books

Journals:

British Journal of Social Psychology

Cyberpsychology and Behavior

European Journal of Social Psychology

Environment and Behavior

Group Processes and Intergroup Relations

Journal of Applied Social Psychology

Journal of Environmental Psychology