5 credits

In this course, students use the lens of social psychology to examine both social cognitions and social behavior—nearly all phenomena that pertain to the individual in society. Students explore the topics of perceptions, attitudes, relationships and attraction, the motivation to help others, prejudice and aggression, conformity and obedience, group behavior, and the influence of culture, and they consider how knowledge of these topics can be used to effect positive social change. The application of what students learn in this course culminates in a final project in which they develop a plan for using social psychology research to address a significant social problem. Moreover, their learning in this course will extend to their personal and professional lives and truly enable students to effect positive social change as scholar-practitioners committed to doing so.