INTERGROUP RELATIONS - 2020/1

Module Overview

"No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite."

(Nelson Mandela)

This module examines advanced theory and research in intergroup relations. It offers a critical engagement with major theories in intergroup relations such as social identity theory, self-categorisation theory, intergroup emotions theory, and intergroup contact theory. It considers how social categorisation leads to prejudice and discrimination, how prejudice can be reduced, how minorities can influence social change, why intractable conflicts are hard to solve, helping in an intergroup context, how people behave in crowds, how belonging to a stigmatised minority group influences health, whether diversity and multiculturalism are good or bad. It further explores applications of the social psychology of intergroup relations in real life settings.

Module provider

Psychology

Module Leader

GENTLE Judith (Psychology)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

BSc Psychology Levels 4 and 5 or equivalent.

Module content

Indicative content includes prejudice, stereotypes, and discrimination; social identity and intergroup emotions; intergroup contact; minority influence and collective action; intractable conflicts and terrorism; helping in intergroup relations; crowd behaviour; stigma and health; diversity and multiculturalism; applications.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of the psychology of intergroup relations, their ability to read and review literature critically, and to formulate an argument presenting this knowledge. In addition, students are provided with the opportunity to demonstrate critical assessment of current theories and empirical evidence and their application to specific social issues.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

Assignment 1: Essay (maximum 8 pages, 50%)

This essay requires students to answer a question covering one or more topics in intergroup relations. They will critically discuss theories and empirical evidence in this area and the application to real world problems (assesses learning outcomes 1-6).

Assignment 2: 60-minute exam (50%)

The exam will involve answering 1 essay question from a choice of 4 questions. The questions will require students to synthesise material across multiple weeks of the course and further reading to address broader issues (assesses learning outcomes 1-6).

Date: exam period.

Formative assessment

Discussions around the lecture content and the readings.

Feedback

Students will receive verbal feedback during and after the lectures, for example on group work, as well as written feedback on coursework.

Module aims

• This module aims to provide students with an advanced understanding of current theories and empirical evidence in the area of intergroup relations, to equip students with the theoretical tools needed to conceptualise and analyse a variety of issues in intergroup relations, and to enable students to contribute to the practical application of social psychological theories to contemporary issues in the area of intergroup relations

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

• Engage students with classic and contemporary theory and literature in intergroup relations.


• Foster independent and critical thought.


• Develop written skills of argumentation and analysis.


• Apply theory and research in intergroup relations to real world problems.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: PSY3100

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2020/1 academic year.