Social Psychology

Social Psychology

Instructors: Madhumita R Dhupar

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12 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

2 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

Build toward a degree

Learn more

12 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

2 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

Build toward a degree

Learn more

What you'll learn

Learn how people grow, think, and relate across life stages and understand key ideas that explain physical, cognitive, social, and emotional changes.

Skills you'll gain

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There are 12 modules in this course

This course offers an engaging introduction to social psychology, the scientific study of how people think, feel, and behave in social situations. It covers a wide range of themes such as social cognition, attitudes, persuasion, conformity, group dynamics, prejudice, aggression, prosocial behavior, attraction, justice, and applied social psychology. Through these topics, learners discover how social and cultural forces shape everyday behavior. The course brings together classic studies and modern perspectives and includes both Western and Indian examples, giving learners a broad and relevant understanding of human social behaviour.

Learners will work through a mix of video lessons, readings, discussions, quizzes, and applied assignments. They will explore how people make sense of the social world, how relationships form and change, how group pressures influence decisions, and how psychological processes show up in systems like the legal and environmental sectors. The course also focuses on ethical questions, the role of cognitive biases, and how psychology can address real-world challenges. By the end, learners develop a strong foundation in understanding human behaviour and learn how to apply psychological ideas to social issues, personal interactions, and informed decision-making.

This course explores how individuals perceive, influence, and relate to others within a social context. It examines foundational topics in social psychology such as social cognition, attitudes, persuasion, conformity, group processes, prejudice, prosocial behavior, and aggression. Students will learn to apply theoretical models to understand social behavior and critically analyze cultural and contextual factors that influence psychological processes. The course emphasizes both Western and Indian cultural contexts. This module offers a comprehensive introduction to social psychology, the scientific study of how individuals think, feel, and behave in social contexts. It examines the dynamic interplay between the individual and the social environment, highlighting how group membership, cultural norms, social influence, and interpersonal relationships shape human experience. Students will explore the historical development of the discipline, from its emergence at the turn of the 20th century to its current global and interdisciplinary relevance.Drawing on both Western and Indian perspectives, the module situates social psychology within diverse cultural frameworks, emphasizing how socio-cultural contexts influence the formation and expression of attitudes, identities, and behaviors. The course also differentiates social psychology from related fields such as sociology, which focuses on large-scale social structures, and personality psychology, which centers on enduring individual differences.Through engagement with landmark studies—including Norman Triplett’s pioneering work on social facilitation, Stanley Milgram’s obedience experiments, and Philip Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison Study—students will critically assess the theoretical and methodological contributions that have shaped the discipline, as well as the ethical debates they have sparked.The module also introduces the scientific methods employed in social psychological research, including laboratory experiments, field studies, surveys, and cross-cultural approaches. Students will learn to apply these methods to analyze and interpret real-world social phenomena, such as prejudice, conformity, prosocial behavior, group decision-making, and digital-era interactions. By the end of the module, students will have developed a nuanced understanding of the scope and boundaries of social psychology in relation to allied disciplines. They will also gain the ability to critically evaluate both classic and contemporary research within varied cultural contexts. In addition, students will acquire practical skills in applying social psychological theories and methods to everyday interpersonal interactions as well as broader societal challenges.

What's included

8 videos3 readings2 assignments

8 videos Total 46 minutes

Meet Your Faculty - Prof. Madhumita R Dhupar 1 minute
Introduction to the Course 3 minutes
Defining Social Psychology – Scope, Concepts, and Distinctions 6 minutes
The Historical Foundations of Social Psychology 8 minutes
Research Methods and Ethical Milestones in Social Psychology 6 minutes
Key Domains – Thinking, Influence, and Relationships 6 minutes
Cultural Contexts and Contemporary Applications 8 minutes
Critical Perspectives and Limitations 9 minutes

3 readings Total 30 minutes

Meet Your Faculty - Prof. Madhumita R Dhupar 10 minutes
References Reading 10 minutes
Readings for Module 1 10 minutes

2 assignments Total 40 minutes

Quiz - 1 20 minutes
Assessment - 1 20 minutes

This module delves into the cognitive processes that shape how we perceive, interpret, and remember information about others. It emphasizes heuristics, schemas, attribution theory, and cultural influences on judgment.

What's included

5 videos1 reading2 assignments1 discussion prompt

5 videos Total 42 minutes

The Mechanics of Social Cognition 8 minutes
Cognitive Shortcuts and Heuristics 8 minutes
Emotional and Counterintuitive Cognition 8 minutes
Attribution Theories and Errors 9 minutes
Culture, Schema Types, and Attributional Complexity 8 minutes

1 reading Total 10 minutes

Readings for Module 2 10 minutes

2 assignments Total 40 minutes

Quiz - 2 20 minutes
Assessment - 2 20 minutes

1 discussion prompt Total 15 minutes

Ungraded Discussion Prompt 15 minutes

This module examines the structure, formation, and function of attitudes. It explores how attitudes influence behavior, how they are measured, and the psychological mechanisms of attitude change, including cognitive dissonance.

What's included

6 videos1 reading2 assignments

6 videos Total 49 minutes

What Are Attitudes and Where Do They Come From? 8 minutes
The Structure of Attitudes – ABC Model in Action 9 minutes
Do Attitudes Predict Behavior? 8 minutes
Cognitive Dissonance – When Beliefs and Actions Clash 8 minutes
Culture, Attitudes, and Persuasion 8 minutes
Attitudes and Behavior: Foundations, Mechanisms, and Cultural Variations 8 minutes

1 reading Total 10 minutes

Readings for Module 3 10 minutes

2 assignments Total 40 minutes

Quiz - 3 20 minutes
Assessment - 3 20 minutes

This module investigates the development and structure of self-concept, identity, and self-awareness. It explores philosophical, developmental, and sociocultural dimensions of selfhood, drawing on both Western and Indian thought.

What's included

6 videos1 reading2 assignments1 discussion prompt

6 videos Total 63 minutes

The Nature and Origins of the Self 11 minutes
Building Blocks of Self-Concept 10 minutes
Knowing Ourselves – Self-Discovery and Comparison 10 minutes
Presenting the Self – Impression Management 13 minutes
Culture, Self, and Identity 10 minutes
Philosophical Exploration of the Self 9 minutes

1 reading Total 10 minutes

Readings for Module 4 10 minutes

2 assignments Total 40 minutes

Quiz - 4 20 minutes
Assessment - 4 20 minutes

1 discussion prompt Total 15 minutes

Ungraded Discussion Prompt 15 minutes

This module examines how individuals are influenced by others through conformity, compliance, and obedience. Classic studies are revisited alongside culturally relevant examples, highlighting ethical considerations in persuasive influence.

What's included

5 videos1 reading2 assignments

5 videos Total 51 minutes

Foundations of Social Influence and the Process of Socialization 10 minutes
Conformity – Mechanisms, Cultural Nuances, and Classic Research 10 minutes
Compliance – Psychological Triggers and Persuasion Techniques 9 minutes
Obedience and Minority Influence – Power, Resistance, and Change 9 minutes
Social Influence in Collective Action and Ethical Considerations 13 minutes

1 reading Total 10 minutes

Readings for Module 5 10 minutes

2 assignments Total 40 minutes

Quiz - 5 20 minutes
Assessment - 5 20 minutes

This module explores how individuals behave in group settings, focusing on social roles, conformity, leadership, decision-making, and intergroup conflict. It applies theories such as social identity theory and discusses cultural dimensions of group behavior.

What's included

5 videos1 reading2 assignments1 discussion prompt

5 videos Total 62 minutes

What Are Groups and Why Do We Join Them? 14 minutes
Inside the Group – Cohesion, Roles, and Behavior 11 minutes
Leadership in Groups – Styles, Gender, and Power 15 minutes
Group Decision-Making and Performance Pitfalls 11 minutes
Intergroup Dynamics, Identity, and Social Change 12 minutes

1 reading Total 10 minutes

Readings for Module 6 10 minutes

2 assignments Total 40 minutes

Quiz - 6 20 minutes
Assessment - 6 20 minutes

1 discussion prompt Total 15 minutes

Ungraded Discussion Prompt 15 minutes

This module investigates the origins and effects of stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination. It examines psychological theories and real-world consequences, including stereotype threat, microaggressions, and caste-based discrimination.

What's included

5 videos1 reading2 assignments1 discussion prompt

5 videos Total 55 minutes

Understanding Bias – Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination 12 minutes
Prejudice in Action – From Attitudes to Inequality 11 minutes
The Psychology of Prejudice – Emotion, Cognition, and Contradiction 12 minutes
Modern Discrimination – Subtle Bias and Systemic Impact 9 minutes
Reducing Prejudice – Interventions and Social Change 11 minutes

1 reading Total 10 minutes

Readings for Module 7 10 minutes

2 assignments Total 40 minutes

Quiz - 7 20 minutes
Assessment - 7 20 minutes

1 discussion prompt Total 15 minutes

Ungraded Discussion Prompt 15 minutes

This module explores the psychological and biological foundations of aggression. It examines types, causes, and consequences of aggressive behavior and evaluates theoretical approaches to its regulation and reduction levels.

What's included

5 videos1 reading2 assignments

5 videos Total 57 minutes

Understanding Aggression – Definitions, Traits, and Bullying 11 minutes
Theories of Aggression – Biological, Evolutionary, and Psychoanalytic 12 minutes
Social Learning and the Environment – How Aggression Is Acquired 12 minutes
Group Context and Extreme Aggression 12 minutes
Reducing Aggression – Psychological and Social Interventions 10 minutes

1 reading Total 10 minutes

Readings for Module 8 10 minutes

2 assignments Total 40 minutes

Quiz - 8 20 minutes
Assessment - 8 20 minutes

This module investigates helping behavior, distinguishing altruism from prosociality. It covers evolutionary, cognitive, and cultural explanations, emphasizing conditions that promote or inhibit helping in emergencies and everyday life.

What's included

5 videos1 reading2 assignments

5 videos Total 51 minutes

Understanding Prosocial Behaviour – Forms, Motives, and Altruism 11 minutes
Evolution and Altruism – Kin Selection, Reciprocity, and Inclusive Fitness 9 minutes
The Psychology of Helping – Mood, Personality, and Social Norms 10 minutes
Barriers to Helping – The Bystander Effect and Urban Influences 10 minutes
Promoting Prosocial Action – Overcoming Inaction and Fostering Altruism 11 minutes

1 reading Total 10 minutes

Readings for Module 9 10 minutes

2 assignments Total 40 minutes

Quiz - 9 20 minutes
Assessment - 9 20 minutes

This module explores the psychological foundations of attraction, love, and relationship maintenance, with a focus on both universal principles and Indian cultural contexts such as arranged marriages and family dynamics.

What's included

5 videos1 reading2 assignments

5 videos Total 58 minutes

Foundations of Attraction – Proximity, Familiarity, and Similarity 12 minutes
Reciprocal Liking, Physical Attractiveness, and Cultural Ideals 10 minutes
Attachment Styles, Relationship Economics, and Gender Norms 11 minutes
Love Types, Relationship Maintenance, and Indian Family Systems 12 minutes
Relationship Breakdown, Dissolution, and Social Scripts in India 12 minutes

1 reading Total 10 minutes

Readings for Module 10 10 minutes

2 assignments Total 40 minutes

Quiz - 10 20 minutes
Assessment - 10 20 minutes

This module explores the dynamic intersection of psychology and the legal system, with a focus on the Indian context. It investigates how cognitive biases, memory distortions, social influence, and mental health impact legal decision-making, eyewitness testimony, and judicial outcomes.

What's included

5 videos1 reading2 assignments

5 videos Total 54 minutes

Psychology in the Legal System – Memory, Misinformation, and Eyewitness Testimony 11 minutes
Deception Detection, False Confessions, and Interrogation Practices 11 minutes
Judicial Bias, Public Opinion, and Sentencing Inequities 11 minutes
Mental Illness, Culpability, and Victim Psychology 11 minutes
Reforming Indian Justice Through Psychological Science 11 minutes

1 reading Total 10 minutes

Readings for Module 11 10 minutes

2 assignments Total 40 minutes

Quiz - 11 20 minutes
Assessment - 11 20 minutes

This module examines the psychological dimensions of environmental crises and sustainability. It explores how human behaviour contributes to climate change, resource use, and waste, and how social psychology offers strategies to foster sustainable practices. Students will also reflect on the connections between sustainability and well-being, with examples from Indian and global contexts.

What's included

5 videos2 readings2 assignments

5 videos Total 60 minutes

Our Environmental Crisis 14 minutes
Applied Social Psychology for Real-World Challenges 12 minutes
Strategies for Sustainable Behavior 11 minutes
The Psychology of Happiness 12 minutes
Combining Sustainability and Well-being 12 minutes

2 readings Total 20 minutes

Readings for Module 12 10 minutes
Course Wrap-Up 10 minutes

2 assignments Total 40 minutes

Quiz - 12 20 minutes
Assessment - 12 20 minutes

Build toward a degree

This course is part of the following degree program(s) offered by O.P. Jindal Global University. If you are admitted and enroll, your completed coursework may count toward your degree learning and your progress can transfer with you.¹

Instructors

Madhumita R Dhupar

O.P. Jindal Global University

1 Course 1,248 learners

Meenakshi Banerjee

O.P. Jindal Global University

1 Course 1,248 learners

Offered by

O.P. Jindal Global University

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