PL2S130 - Developmental and Social Perspectives on Identity 01 Sep 2023 - 31 Aug 2027 | Version 4

Associated Module Information

Module Code: PL2S130
Module Title: Developmental and Social Perspectives on Identity
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Psychology
Faculty Sub Group: Youth and Community
Module Leader: Mary O'Connell
Module Team: Klara Price, Leigh Attwood, Kirsty Richards, Alexis Jones, Dan Bowers, William Price
First Intended Intake: SEP 2018 Final Year of Intake: 2023
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 5
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100497 - psychology
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 4
Valid From 01 Sep 2023
Valid To 31 Aug 2027

Module Aims

To enable students to gain a deep critical appreciation of current debates in social and developmental psychology.

Content Summary

This module will address cutting edge topics in social and developmental psychology with a key focus on identity. This will include the Social Identity Approach; including Social Identity Theory & Self-Categorisation Theory

The importance of context as a driver for Social Identity Theory. Measurement and formation of identity and its links to behaviour. Motivational processes and the impact of identity for well-being. This module will also cover identity in the context of lifespan development; including Marcia’s identity process model, Erikson’s lifespan approach to identity development and questions of identity transition as seen, for example in adolescence or midlife. This will provide scope to explore the final topic of this module; namely the wider context in which development occurs such as family, school and peer contexts. These will be explored with specific reference to well-being and culture. A series of directed study activities, seminar tasks and formative assessment opportunities will support students’ progress towards summative assessments.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Practical classes and workshops 36
Independent Study 100
Directed Study 64
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Critically appraise current debates in social and developmental psychology
LO2 Evaluate and reflect on the role of context in social and developmental psychology.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Essay 1 Written essay with a choice of titles on key topics in social or developmental psychology. 0 1500 50 No 40
Synchronous Online Assessment Classroom Test - Time Constrained (Online) 1 Classroom test made up of MCQs and short answer essay questions. 60 N/A 50 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Essay 1
Classroom Test - Time Constrained (Online) 1

Reading List

Boyd, D.R. & Bee, H. (2015). Lifespan Development (7th Ed). Harlow: Pearson

Crisp, R. J. & Turner, R. N. (2014) Essential Social Psychology (3rd Edition). London: Sage.

Gillibrand, R., Lam, V. & O’Donnell V.L. (2016). Developmental Psychology (2nd Ed.). Harlow: Pearson

Hogg, M.A., & Vaughan, G.M. (2017). Social psychology (8th ed.). Harlow: Pearson.

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

Taylor, S. and Workman, L. (2018). The Psychology of Human Social Development: From Infancy to Adolescence. Taylor and Francis

Plus journals relevant to Social & Developmental Psychology such as:

British Journal of Developmental Psychology

British Journal of Social Psychology

European Journal of Social Psychology

Self and Identity

Social Development