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PS32036: Social action and change

[Page last updated: 22 April 2025]

Academic Year: 2025/26
Owning Department/School: Department of Psychology
Credits: 5 [equivalent to 10 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 100
Level: Honours (FHEQ level 6)
Period:
Semester 2
Assessment Summary: CWES 100%
Assessment Detail:
  • Essay (CWES 100%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites: Before taking this module you must take PS22008 OR take PS20168 OR take PS20109
Learning Outcomes: By the end of this unit you should be able to:
Describe and recognize the dominant social psychological perspectives used to explain social change.
Draw on theory and empirical research to analyse social problems and to evaluate social change approaches.
Critically evaluate theory and research addressing the causes and consequences of social change.
Critically apply this knowledge through the evaluation of a theoretically informed social change intervention.


Synopsis: "Explore the topic of social change (and stability); a central concern for social and political psychology and for many of the social sciences. You will work to develop a critical understanding of the dominant social psychological perspectives that influence how social change phenomena are conceptualised and studied. You will engage with current debates about the adequacy of these perspectives and limitations of the field, and develop an awareness of how our theories are used to shape the world."

Content: Social change is a foundational concern of social psychology and indeed, some argue that our ability to explain both social change and social stability should be the yardstick by which social psychology is judged. This unit will cover the following topics:
  • Theories that have been influential in research and their conceptualisation of key concepts including identity, influence, leadership, agency, power, intergroup relations and social change strategies.
  • Current social-psychological research that seeks to understand and/or inform social change processes across a range of social phenomena such as poverty, social exclusion, disability, crime, health inequalities, inter-ethnic conflict, terrorism (examples used will change).


Course availability:

PS32036 is Optional on the following courses:

Department of Education
  • UHED-AFB20 : BA(Hons) Education with Psychology (Year 3)
  • UHED-AKB12 : BA(Hons) Education with Psychology with Professional Placement (Year 4)
Department of Psychology

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2025/26 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2026/27 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2025/26.
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