PSY-30180 - Module Specification
School of Psychology
Faculty of Natural Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

How do we decide what is right and wrong? How do we assign blame and responsibility? What factors affect trust and cooperation? How can social and moral psychology contribute to our understanding of justice?
Questions like these have fascinated social and moral psychologists for decades and in this module, we'll explore critical perspectives and key debates in psychology that help us to understand the basis of morality and justice in society. In order to build your knowledge, we will cover several topics including responsibility and blame, trust, and justice, critically reviewing contemporary research to discuss how these operate in society.
The module contains weekly taught interactive sessions where you will be encouraged to develop your knowledge and shape your own research ideas. Importantly and through active discussions, you will learn to apply your understanding of morality and justice to real world issues.

How do we decide what is right and wrong? How do we assign blame and responsibility? What factors affect trust and cooperation? What are the psychological mechanisms of justice?
This module explores the basis of morality and justice and how these operate in society. Using contemporary theories and research findings in moral and social psychology, the module aims 1) to provide students with an in-depth understanding of contemporary theories, current issues of contention, and research findings related to morality, justice, and society 2) to enable students to critically evaluate existing research, and 3) to demonstrate an awareness of how these theories can be applied to real-world settings.

Intended Learning Outcomes

describe and understand contemporary theories, current issues of contention (debates), concepts, and research findings in moral psychology and social psychology relating to morality, justice, and society.: 1,2
critically evaluate theories, debates, concepts, and research findings in contemporary moral and social psychology relating to morality, justice, and society and develop a clear rationale for further research in these areas.: 2
demonstrate an awareness of how theories and research findings in moral psychology and social psychology can be applied to real-world settings.: 1

Study hours

20 hrs (10 sessions) synchronous taught sessions.
2 hrs (2 sessions) assessment-focused sessions.
128 hrs independent study including 9 hrs asynchronous activities (9 hrs asynchronous activities included here. Of the remaining hours, 20% of this should be reading recommended papers, 10% should be reviewing taught materials, 30% should be preparing and recording presentation, 40% should be preparing and writing the written report).

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment