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  2. Social Determinants of Behaviour [PSY1204]

Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science

School: Psychology and Social Science

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Social Determinants of Behaviour

  • Unit Code

    PSY1204

  • Year

    2015

  • Enrolment Period

    1

  • Version

    2

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online

Description

This unit examines the influence that other people, rules, customs and the environment have on our behaviour. A particular emphasis is on applying the findings of social psychology to a wide range of human activities and settings. A social cognition framework will be used for looking at people in social situations.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass 1 units from PSY1101

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded PSY4204

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Define the key concepts and demonstrate understanding of some of the major theories employed in the field of social psychology.
  2. Demonstrate awareness of the scope of the field of social psychology and how it can be applied to some of the major issues facing people now and in the future.
  3. Describe how prejudicial attitudes and discriminatory behaviours might exist in oneself and others.
  4. Describe several classical studies in social psychology.
  5. Discuss how these concepts and associated theories can be used to shed light on human interaction.
  6. Evaluate psychologists' behaviour in psychological research and other professional contexts in relation to the Australian Psychology Society "Code of Ethics" and the complementary "Ethical Guidelines".
  7. Identify some of the pertinent ethical issues in the area.

Unit Content

  1. Areas of application: environmental issues, health issues, legal issues, organisational settings.
  2. Classical studies in social psychology.
  3. Historical overview of classical theories in social psychology.
  4. Major areas of social psychology including cross-cultural and international issues.
  5. Overview of recent theoretical perspectives.
  6. Overview of the domain of social psychology and the key concepts.

Additional Learning Experience Information

The teaching format will consist of lectures and tutorials for on-campus students, and elearning for online students.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentEssay35%
ExaminationEnd of semester examination65%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentEssay35%
ExaminationEnd of semester examination65%

Text References

  • ^ Vaughan, G.M., & Hogg, M.A. (2011). Social psychology (6th ed.). Frenchs Forest, Australia: Pearson Education Australia.
  • Festinger, L. (1962). A theory of cognitive dissonance. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press.
  • Aronson, E., & Aronson, J. (2008). The social animal (10th ed.). New York: Worth Publishers.

Journal References

  • Journal of Experimental Social Psychology
  • Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
  • Journal of Social Issues
  • British Journal of Social Psychology
  • The Journal of Social Psychology
  • Annual Review of Psychology
  • Basic and Applied Social Psychology

^ Mandatory reference

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

PSY1204|2|1

Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science

School: Psychology and Social Science

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Social Determinants of Behaviour

  • Unit Code

    PSY1204

  • Year

    2015

  • Enrolment Period

    2

  • Version

    2

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online

Description

This unit examines the influence that other people, rules, customs and the environment have on our behaviour. A particular emphasis is on applying the findings of social psychology to a wide range of human activities and settings. A social cognition framework will be used for looking at people in social situations.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass 1 units from PSY1101

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded PSY4204

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Define the key concepts and demonstrate understanding of some of the major theories employed in the field of social psychology.
  2. Demonstrate awareness of the scope of the field of social psychology and how it can be applied to some of the major issues facing people now and in the future.
  3. Describe how prejudicial attitudes and discriminatory behaviours might exist in oneself and others.
  4. Describe several classical studies in social psychology.
  5. Discuss how these concepts and associated theories can be used to shed light on human interaction.
  6. Evaluate psychologists' behaviour in psychological research and other professional contexts in relation to the Australian Psychology Society "Code of Ethics" and the complementary "Ethical Guidelines".
  7. Identify some of the pertinent ethical issues in the area.

Unit Content

  1. Areas of application: environmental issues, health issues, legal issues, organisational settings.
  2. Classical studies in social psychology.
  3. Historical overview of classical theories in social psychology.
  4. Major areas of social psychology including cross-cultural and international issues.
  5. Overview of recent theoretical perspectives.
  6. Overview of the domain of social psychology and the key concepts.

Additional Learning Experience Information

The teaching format will consist of lectures and tutorials for on-campus students, and elearning for online students.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentEssay35%
ExaminationEnd of semester examination65%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentEssay35%
ExaminationEnd of semester examination65%

Text References

  • ^ Myers, D.G. (2014). Social psychology (1st ed.). Sydney, Australia: McGraw-Hill.
  • Festinger, L. (1962). A theory of cognitive dissonance. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press.
  • Aronson, E., & Aronson, J. (2008). The social animal (10th ed.). New York: Worth Publishers.

Journal References

  • Journal of Experimental Social Psychology
  • Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
  • Journal of Social Issues
  • British Journal of Social Psychology
  • The Journal of Social Psychology
  • Annual Review of Psychology
  • Basic and Applied Social Psychology

^ Mandatory reference

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

PSY1204|2|2