Critical Social Psychology (VS1) (U03484)

? Credit Points : 10 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : PPL-4-CSPV1-PS

The course is divided into four sections. The first, concerned with Crises in Social Psychology, will introduce three main 'crises' within Social Psychology which we will trace in their early and more recent forms. These are the paradigm crisis (relating to methods), the conceptual crisis (individualism and the concept of self), and the moral/political crisis (relating to power and psychology's effects). In Part Two, some critical tools are introduced (studies of science, the turn to language, poststructuralist thought). These arguments will be put to use in mounting a more thorough critique of social psychology in Part Three where social psychology will be deconstructed (taken apart, to see how it works). This will include an examination of the history and politics of the emergence of modern psychology; how psychology contributed to the government of individuals' lives; and the dependence of knowledge on discourse and writing techniques. Finally, the assumptions about the self that underpin psychological theory and research will be examined and questioned. Part Four addresses issues such as the possibility of a postmodern (discursive or political) social psychology, and the limitations of discourse analysis. Alternative concepts of self, and the possibility or desirability of a non-cognitive social psychology will also be discussed.

Entry Requirements

? This course is only available to part year visiting students.

? This course is a variant of the following course : U00594

? Pre-requisites : Degree major in Psychology and passes in psychology courses at least to the equivalent of junior honours level in Edinburgh. Prior agreement with the 4th Year Honours Course Organiser: Dr Martha Whiteman (Ext. 50 3317).

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Psychology, (School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, Schedule I)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 4th year

? Delivery Period : Block 1 only

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 5 weeks

First Class Information

Date	Start	End	Room	Area	Additional Information
20/09/2007	11:10	13:00

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Thursday	11:10	13:00	Central

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

You should be able to do at least three of the following:
- Describe and assess social psychology's claim to be a science, and evaluate its use of experiments.
- Discuss social psychology's paradigm, conceptual and moral/political crises.
- Apply arguments from science studies, Foucault's work, and 'the turn to language' to evaluate psychology's methods.
- Describe psychology's contribution to the 'government of individuals'.
- Assess efforts to reconstruct social psychology's practice and/or subject.