2022-2023 Yavapai College Catalog 
    
    Apr 25, 2024  
2022-2023 Yavapai College Catalog [PREVIOUS CATALOG YEAR]

PSY 250 - Social Psychology


Description: The study of how our thoughts, feelings, and actions are affected by our social environment. Emphasis on prejudice, conformity, altruism, interpersonal interaction, and the influence of the media.

Prerequisites: PSY 101  

Credits: 3
Lecture: 3
Course Content:
  1. History, issues, and methods
  2. Theories: psychoanalytic, cognitive, behavioral/social learning, and ethological
  3. Attitude formation and change
  4. The effects of the media
  5. Altruism
  6. Aggression
  7. Prejudice
  8. Conformity
  9. Social determinants of self-concept

Learning Outcomes:
  1. Compare and contrast observational, correlational, and experimental methods and how they are applied to gain an understanding of social influence.
  2. Examine and critically evaluate theories of social psychology: learning theory (cognitive/social-learning theory), the psychoanalytic, and humanistic perspectives.
  3. Analyze the situational and social pressures that affect such social behaviors as aggression, altruism, prejudice, person perception, love, and conformity.
  4. Identify and analyze the effects of the media on attitudes, values, and behavior.
  5. Describe the impact of social pressures in group decision making.
  6. Formulate and test a hypothesis using appropriate research techniques.

Required Assessment:
  1. Demonstrate thoughtful and precise writing skills by completing at least 1500 words of monitored writing.