PY 260 - Social Psychology

Description
In this course, students explore the relationship between individual behaviors and mental processes within the social environment. Typical applications of social psychology include social cognition and perception, attitudes, conformity, stereotyping, gender, group process, and aggression. This course is intended for students with a good foundation in psychology.

Credit Hours: 3
Contact Hours: 3
Prerequisites/Other Requirements: PY 201 (C or Higher)
English Prerequisite(s): None
Math Prerequisite(s): None
Course Corequisite(s): None
Academic Program Prerequisite: None
Consent to Enroll in Course: No Department Consent Required
Dual Enrollment Allowed?: Yes
Number of Times Course can be taken for credit: 1
Programs Where This Course is a Requirement:
Gerontology Certificate, Pre-Psychology, A.A. (General Transfer), Pre-Public Health, A.A. (Western Michigan University)

Other Courses Where This Course is a Prerequisite: None
Other Courses Where this Course is a Corequisite: None
Other Courses Where This course is included in within the Description: None

General Education Requirement:
None
General Education Learner Outcomes (GELO):
NA
Course Learning Outcomes:
1. Define Social Psychology.

2. Explain the role of research in Social Psychology.

3. Define and apply basic terms from the field of Social Psychology.

4. Describe how the social environment affects the way in which individuals think, perceive, and view themselves.

5. Interpret how attitudes are shaped by others.

6. Provide examples of conformity based on societal norm.

7. Explain and demonstrate affective behavior as part of a team/community.

8. Examine interpersonal behaviors within a social context.

9. Identify the origins of bias, stereotypes, and prejudice, and provide examples of how it might be reduced.

10. Explain the role of the social environment on individual aggression.

Course Outline:
I. Introduction to Social Psychology

A. Definition Historical Background Landmark Studies
B. Research Methods

II. Being a Social Animal

A. Social Cognition: Thinking About People
B. Social Perception: Perceiving Self and Others
C. Living In Situ: Self-Concept, Gender, and Disposition.

III. Attitudes

A. Origin
B. Effect on Behavior
C. Rationalization and Dissonance Changing
D. Attitudes

IX. Behavior Influences

A. Conformity
B. Compliance
C. Obedience

X. Stereotypes

A. Prejudice
B. Discrimination
C. Cause
D. Reducing

XI. Group Dynamics

A. Individual Performance
B. Decision Making
C. Behavior
D. Roles
E. Conflict and Cooperation

XII. Aggression

A. Varieties of Aggression
B. Influence
C. Social Context
D. Reducing Aggression

XIII. Social Psychology in Your Life

A. Attraction, Love, and Relationships
B. Helping Behavior
C. Stress and Health
D. Environment

Approved for Online and Hybrid Delivery?:
No
Instructional Strategies:
Lecture: 40-70%

Team/Group Work: 10-40%

Mediated Instruction: 5-25%

Community Service: 0-10%
Mandatory Course Components:
None
Equivalent Courses:
None

Accepted GRCC Advanced Placement (AP) Exam Credit: None
AP Min. Score: NA
Name of Industry Recognize Credentials: None

Course prepares students to seek the following external certification:
No
Course-Specific Placement Test: None
Course Aligned with ARW/IRW Pairing: N/A

Mandatory Department Assessment Measures:
None

Course Type:
Program Requirement- Offering designed to meet the learning needs of students in a specific GRCC program.
Course Format:
Lecture - 1:1
Total Lecture Hours Per Week: 3
People Soft Course ID Number: 102145
Course CIP Code: 42.01
Maximum Course Enrollment: 36
High School Articulation Agreements exist?: No
If yes, with which high schools?: NA
Non-Credit GRCC Articulation Agreement With What Area: No
Identify the Non Credit Programs this Course is Accepted: NA

School: School of STEM
Department: Psychology
Discipline: PY
Faculty Credential Requirements:
Master’s Degree (GRCC general requirement)
Faculty Credential Requirement Details:
Requirements to teach this course are Master’s Degree in Psychology.

Major Course Revisions: Prerequisite
Last Revision Date Effective: 20250224T20:23:16
Course Review & Revision Year: 2029-2030