MOOC Social Psychology
In a brainstorming task - do you think that three people working as individuals produce more and better ideas than three people working as a group?
Do men think about sex more often than women?
Do you think that participants in an experiment would administer electric shocks of more than 400 Volts to other participants?
The answer to these three questions is yes!
Social psychology deals with these and many other questions that are relevant to our everyday lives -- at work, in partnerships, or in the wider society. In our course we will explore the answers to these and many more interesting questions. We will provide an overview of classic theories and experiments and also modern social psychological research.
Who will be your lecturer?
I am Rolf van Dick and I am Professor of Social Psychology at Goethe University since 2006. Prior to this, I was Professor of Social Psychology and Organizational Behavior at Aston University in Birmingham (UK). I also was visiting professor at interesting places in the world such as Tuscaloosa (US), on Rhodes (Greece) and in Kathmandu (Nepal). I have written and edited several books, published more than 150 journal articles and book chapters and I was or currently am editor of journals such as the British Journal of Management or the Journal of Personnel Psychology. My research focuses on the application of Social Identity Theory to a variety of constructs that are relevant to live in organizations such as leadership, stress, diversity, or mergers & acquisitions.
Purpose of this course
Social psychology affects all of us. We constantly think, feel and act not only as individuals but as members of social groupings. Social psychology studies human interaction -- its forms, causes, consequences and psychological processes. In this course, we will study how human behavior and thinking is influenced by the actual or imagined presence of others. Students will get an overview of social psychological theories and will learn to apply these theories to everyday problems and situations.
Which topics will be covered?
We will provide a full range overview of social psychology and will discuss topics such as attribution processes, self and identity, influence and obedience, attitudes and persuasion, prejudice, aggression and violence, intergroup behavior, decision making
and leadership, prosocial behavior, attraction and love.
How will the course look like?
On a weekly basis, we will make the lectures available online. You can watch the videos at any time. In addition, we will provide online activities such as moderated discussion forums and online assessments, with open or multiple choice questions.
Can I receive a certificate?
Every participant can take part in the final exam and when passing it, will receive a certificate from the Social Psychology Department at Goethe University, signed by me.
Are there any tuition fees?
Registration and participation in this course is entirely free. You can watch the lecture videos and participate in online assessments and discussion boards without any cost. If you want to earn a certificate, registration for the final exam requires a small registration fee to cover our costs of producing and mailing the certificates.
Do I have to be fluent in English?
Social psychology is studied by researchers around the globe and they publish their findings in the top journals in the field. All these journals are in English and so will be this course. It will be accompanied by a textbook in English and the discussion forums and assessments will be in English. I am not a native speaker, myself but I do think that my version of English should be understandable to everyone who has a basic command of the English language. Also, the assessments are mostly multiple choice items and do not require higher proficiency levels of the English grammar.
When will the course start?
The first lecture will start October 16 and the video will be online as soon as possible afterwards (October 17 the latest). Then, lectures will commence on a weekly basis until February 5 with the final exam a week later. You can join the course at any time and register for the final exam until February 5 2014.
How can I participate in the course?
Please write an email to socialpsychology.frankfurt@gmail.com with your name, background and your motivation to participate in this course and we will send you further information.
