Hidayatullah National Law University |1

SOCIAL PSHCHOLOGY (COMPULSORY PAPER) IV SEMESTER |

B.A.LL.B. (Hons.)
SYLLABUS (SESSION: January-April), 2024

Faculty Dr. Ayan Hazra Year/ Term Second Year /

IV semester
Course Name Sociology IV Session duration 60 Minutes
No of Contact hours 60 Lectures =60 hours No. of Credits 4

Introduction, Course People from all walks of life are increasingly using smartphones in
Objective & Pedagogy our globe. Cellular tower installation is frequently less expensive in
underdeveloped nations than it is in traditional landlines. Instead of
sharing a home phone, many people in industrialised societies live in
families where each individual has a mobile phone. Curious
researchers have wondered what influence phones might have on
relationships as this technology grows more and more prevalent. Do
you think that smartphones encourage more intimate relationships?
Or do you think that connectivity may be hampered by smartphones?
Researchers have found that relationships can be hampered by a cell
phone left on a table in a number of studies. Mobile phones seemed
to keep people from interacting with each other during talks between
complete strangers and close friends that took place in coffee shops
and research labs. Lower conversation quality, decreased trust, and
decreased empathy for the other person were noted by the study
participants (Przybylski & Weinstein, 2013). Naturally, this is not
meant to diminish the benefits of smartphones. It's only a reminder
that certain circumstances call for their usage more than others.
Additionally, it serves as a practical illustration of how social
psychology can shed light on how we perceive and interact with one
another
The objective of this course is to acquaint the learners with:
CO1: Recognize major theories of social psychology related to
Cognitive and Behavioral phenomenon
CO2: Describe the scientific methods used to obtain knowledge.
CO3: Analyze the complexity of action in social contexts by
combining factors related to the person and the situation.
CO4: Describe situational factors that constrain human action.
CO5: Describe social factors that affect personal motivations.
CO6: Analyze contemporary events using social psychological
theories or concepts.
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Pedagogy: This course will be administered through classroom

teaching, internal assessments, use of ICT tools in the class,
discussion, and evaluation. Classroom interactions between students
and teachers are considered as one of the practical aspects of
imparting this course. Students are encouraged to participate in
question-answer sessions and they are also expected to share their
opinions, ideas, and critical views in the classroom which can help all
the stakeholders for further improvements in teaching-learning
processes and development
of the curriculum.

Learning Outcomes:

LO1: This paper is expected to bring familiarity in a student about Social Psychology. It will
present a comprehensive, integrated and empirically –based profile of human society. It is
hoped that the structure and processes operative in the society, the change agents operating in
society presented in this course will also enable students to gain a better understanding of their
own situation and region.

LO2: Understand the individuals and social institutions, and also can correlate their beliefs,
religious position, scientific temper, social pathologies, power-functions in contemporary
society, and can develop critical social advocacy skills.

EVALUATION COMPONENTS

Evaluation Components Distribution of Marks

Continuous Internal Assessment 25
Mid Term examination 25
End Term 50
Total 100
*Note: Passing mark is 50% of the final grade.

COURSE PLAN

Sl. No. UNIT No. of Sessions/

Lectures
1. Module-1: Introduction to Social Psychology 05
2. Module 2: Self Perception & Self Presentation 10
3. Module 3: Social Perception 10
4. Module 4: Social Cognition& Attitude 10
5. Module 5: Stereotypes, Prejudice and Discrimination 10
6. Module6: Interpersonal Interaction 05
7. Module7: Aggression and Conflict 05
8. Module8: Application Of Social Psychology 05
Total Lectures 60

DETAILED SYLLABUS
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UNIT CONTENT

Module-1 1. Social Psychology and its Evolution

Introduction to 2. Connection with other fields
Social Psychology 3. Relation with culture and Subcultures

1. Factors influencing Self, Positive Self- Concept,

Module -2 Presenting themselves to others
Self-Perception & Self 2. Impact of Culture, Attribution Theory, Correspondent
Presentation Inference Theory, Covariation Theory
3. Types of Errors, Causes of Errors, Impressions on basis
of Nonverbal Behavior
4. Cultural Impact

Module 3 1. Thinking about Others

Social Perception 2. Errors of Thinking, Impression on Non-Verbal Behavior
3. Self and its Process
4. Culture influence of Social

1. Errors in Social Cognition,

Module 4 2. Impression of People, Cultural influence of Social Cognition,
Social Cognition & 3. Creation of Reality, Forms of Attitude, Prediction of
Attitude Behavior, Attitude Change
4. Alternatives to Cognitive Dissonance

1. Factors influencing stereotypes and Prejudice

Module 5 2. Social Identity Theories
Stereotypes, Prejudice 3. Consequences of being stereotyped,
and Discrimination 4. Is Stereotyping Inevitable
5. Overcoming stereotypes

Module 6 1. Factors leading to Interpersonal Attraction,

Interpersonal 2. What is Love, Relationship Satisfaction,
Interaction 3. Problems in Close Relationship
4. Culture influence Interpersonal Attraction
5. Close Relationship, Break-up

Module 7 1. Origins of Aggression,

Aggression and Conflict 2. Interpersonal aggression,
3. Intergroup Conflict,
4. Resolving conflict and Reducing Aggression
Module 8 1. Application in Work Setting,
Application Of Social 2. Consumer Behavior,
Psychology 3. Legal system,
4. Environment and diversity
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Readings:
1. Catherine A. Sandserson.2010. Social Psychology. John Wiley & Sons Inc
2. Vinita Pandey.2016. Indian Society & Culture. Rawat Publications.
3. Aronson, E. (2011). The Social Animal (11th ed.). New York: Worth Publishers.
4. Book Baron, R. A., Byrne, D., & Branscombe, N. R. (2007). Mastering Social Psychology. Boston,
MA: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon.
5. Book Baumeister, R. F., & Bushman, B. J. (2016). Social Psychology and Human Nature (4th ed.).
Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth.
6. Book Breckler, S. J., Olson, J., & Wiggons, E. (2006). Social Psychology Alive. Belmont, CA:
Thomson/Wadsworth.
7. Book Crawford, L. A., & Novak, K. B. (2013). Individual and Society: Sociological Social
Psychology. New York: Routledge.
8. Book Crisp, R. J., & Turner, R. N. (2014). Essential Social Psychology (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks,
CA: Sage Publications.
9. Book DeLamater, J. D., Collett, J. L., & Myers, D. J. (2014). Social Psychology (8th ed.). Boulder,
CO: Westview Press.
10. Book Dickerson, P. (2012). Social Psychology: Traditional and Critical Perspectives. Harlow, UK:
Pearson.
11. Book Fiske, S. (2014). Social Beings: A Core Motives Approach to Social Psychology (3rd ed.).
New York: Wiley.
12. Book Franzoi, S. L., & Oswald, D. (2021). Social Psychology (8th ed.). Redding, CA: BVT
Publishing.
13. Book Gilovich, T., Keltner, D., Chen, S., & Nisbett, R. (2019). Social Psychology (5th ed.). New
York: W. W. Norton.
14. Book Greenberg, J., Schmader, T., Arndt, J., & Landau, M. (2015). Social Psychology: The Science
of Everyday Life. New York: Worth Publishers.
15. Book Heinzen, T., & Goodfriend, W. (2018). Social Psychology. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
Publications.
16. Book Hewstone, M., Stroebe, W., & Jonas, K. (Eds.). (2012). An Introduction to Social Psychology
(5th ed.). London: Blackwell.
17. Book Kassin, S. M., Fein, S., & Markus, H. R. (2013). Social Psychology (9th ed.). Boston, MA:
Houghton Mifflin.
18. Book Kenrick, D. T., Neuberg, S. L., & Cialdini, R. B. (2014). Social Psychology: Goals in
Interaction (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon.
19. Book Miller, D. (2006). An Invitation to Social Psychology: Censoring and Expressing the Self.
Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
20. Book Myers, D. G. (2014). Exploring Social Psychology (7th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
21. Book Rohall, D. E., Milkie, M. A., & Lucas, J. W. (2013). Social Psychology: Sociological
Perspectives (3rd ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
22. Book Smith, E. R., & Mackie, D. M. (2014). Social Psychology (4th ed.). Philadelphia, PA:
Psychology Press.
23. Book Taylor, S. E., Peplau, A. L., & Sears, D. O. (2006). Social Psychology (12th ed.). Englewood
Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
24. Book Vallacher, R. R. (2020). Social Psychology: Exploring the Dynamics of Human Experience.
New York: Routledge.
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Online Sources:

All HNLU Online Subscriptions: JSTOR, EBC READER, MANUPATRA, ETC

Web: A collection of links on the topic of peace psychology
https://www.socialpsychology.org/peace.htm
Web: A great resource for all things social psychology, all in one place - Social Psychology Network
http://www.socialpsychology.org/
Web: A list of profiles of major historical figures in social psychology
https://www.socialpsychology.org/social-figures.htm
Web: A review of the history of social psychology as well as the topics of interest in the field
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_psychology
Web: A succinct review of major historical figures in social psychology
http://www.simplypsychology.org/social-psychology.html
Web: An article on the definition and areas of influence of peace psychology
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_psychology
Web: Article describing another way of conceptualizing levels of analysis in social psychology
http://psych.colorado.edu/~oreilly/cecn/node11.html
Web: Extended list of major historical figures in social psychology
http://www.sparknotes.com/psychology/psych101/majorfigures/characters.html
Web: History and principles of social psychology
https://opentextbc.ca/socialpsychology/chapter/defining-social-psychology-history-and-principles/
Web: Links to sources on history of social psychology as well as major historical figures
https://www.socialpsychology.org/history.htm
Web: The Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict and Violence
http://www.peacepsych.org/