Social Psychology
How do other people and social situations shape us?
Social life involves interpreting other people, negotiating relationships, and acting within groups and institutions. These syllabi examine how personal histories, motives, social expectations, and material conditions shape what people think, feel, and do. Begin with the foundation to connect explanations at these different levels. Further questions concern the self, attitudes, influence, relationships, groups, inequality, cooperation, and aggression. Across these topics, ask how well conclusions travel across people and settings.
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How Do Other People and Social Situations Shape Us?
Explore how situations, interpretations, norms, relationships, and institutions shape social life through eleven readings across six units.
Introductory · 11 core readings · 6 units · Prerequisites: No prior Social Psychology course is required. How to Read Psychological Science offers useful preparation for evaluating evidence.
Begin the syllabus →Additional syllabi
How Do We Understand Ourselves and Other People?
Explore how we judge ourselves and others, explain behavior, and improve understanding through ten readings across five units.
Introductory · 10 readings
How Do Attitudes Form and Change?
Distinguish attitudes from their measures and consequences, compare explanations of formation and change, and evaluate evidence that an intervention lasts.
Introductory · 10 readings
How Do Social Influence and Power Work?
Distinguish information, norms, requests, authority, and power; examine how people follow, resist, and redirect social influence.
Introductory · 10 readings
How Do Close Relationships Form and Function?
Explore how close relationships begin, how people affect one another, and how resources and social opportunities shape their course.
Introductory · 9 readings
How Do Groups Shape Identity and Collective Action?
Examine how people become a group, work and decide together, accept leaders, and act to change their shared circumstances.
Introductory · 8 readings
How Do Prejudice and Discrimination Arise—and Change?
Distinguish stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination, examine how social settings sustain inequality, and evaluate attempts to improve treatment.
Introductory · 10 readings
Why Do People Help and Cooperate?
Distinguish helpful behavior from its motives, examine trust and reciprocity, and ask when communication, sanctions, and institutions sustain cooperation.
Introductory · 9 readings
Why Do People Harm Others—and What Can Reduce It?
Define and measure aggression, compare explanations of harmful conduct, and evaluate whether interventions reduce harm in everyday settings.
Introductory · 9 readings