Undergraduate Course: Gender and Psychology (PSYL10179)
Course Outline
| School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course will explore the perception of gender from a sociocultural and historical perspective as seen through the lens of psychological science. Gender has long been debated and studied within psychology often with social and cultural implications. In addition, we will investigate and discuss how gender is related to psychological phenomena and the role of gender in social perception and action |
| Course description |
The following topics will be covered: (a) the history of gender presented through the lens of psychology; (b) origins and consequences of gender stereotypes; (c) sex differences and similarities in cognition, personality, and social behaviour; (d) gender and intersectional identities; (e) modern issues related to gender, such as, discrimination, status, and sexual objectification.
Gender is a subject that impacts most elements of life we will discuss some of these, including employment, education, politics, and intergroup relations. This course will allow students to explore gender as an historical component of psychological science through which the perception and application of gender has been dynamic and multifaceted. Students will also engage with psychological research in which gender, intersectional identities, and stereotypes and discrimination will play a key role. Through in-class discussions and written assessments, students will also have an opportunity to develop their research skills, critical analysis, writing and communication skills.
|
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should be studying Psychology as their degree major, and have completed at least 3 Psychology courses at grade B or above. We will only consider University/College level courses. Applicants should note that, as with other popular courses, meeting the minimum does NOT guarantee admission.
**Please note that upper level Psychology courses are high-demand, meaning that they have a very high number of students wishing to enrol in a very limited number of spaces.** These enrolments are managed strictly by the Visiting Student Office, in line with the quotas allocated by the department, and all enquiries to enrol in these courses must be made through the CAHSS Visiting Student Office. It is not appropriate for students to contact the department directly to request additional spaces. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Quota: 0 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 10,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
78 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
1. Essay: 30%
2. Research proposal: 70%
|
| Feedback |
Feedback from the mid-course assessment will be directly relevant to the final assessment. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Examine gender from an empirically based, scholarly perspective, rather than from an intuitive or speculative perspective.
- Understand several classic and contemporary theoretical frameworks, methodologies, and statistical approaches that characterize the scientific study of gender.
- Be able to critically evaluate existing research from a social psychological perspective and communicate these evaluations with others.
- Explain how the groups we belong to can alter psychological functioning and affect how we perceive and are perceived as a social group.
- Be able to develop quantitative research designs to explore issues related to gender.
|
Reading List
Core reading:
Eagly, A. H., Beall, A. E., & Sternberg, R. J. (Eds.). (2005). The psychology of gender. Guilford Press.
Additional readings:
Bem, S. L. (1985). Androgyny and gender schema theory: a conceptual and empirical integration. Psychol Gender,32, 17
Ellemers, N. (2018). Gender stereotypes. Annual review of psychology, 69, 275-298.
Hyde, J. S., Bigler, R. S., Joel, D., Tate, C. C., & van Anders, S. M. (2019). The future of sex and gender in psychology: Five challenges to the gender binary. American Psychologist,74(2), 171.
Rudman, L. A., & Phelan, J. E. (2008). Backlash effects for disconfirming gender stereotypes in organizations. Research in organizational behavior, 28, 61-79.
Shields, S. A. (2008). Gender: An intersectionality perspective. Sex roles, 59(5), 301-311.
Stewart, A. J., & McDermott, C. (2004). Gender in psychology.¿Annual review of psychology, 55, 519. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Based on the broad nature of gender it clearly relates to many areas of individual life as well as a multitude of domains and research disciplines. A deeper understanding of gender will allow students to engage more mindfully and positively with their communities and the world around them. This course will aim to foster an inquisitive and critical mindset, encouraging students to question and acquire knowledge that goes beyond the borders of psychology. Furthermore, students will use of this knowledge and engagement with course materials to better communicate their understanding of gender and other complex social topics. Students will gain confidence by increasing their understanding of research and in their research skills more broadly by being able to use research as a method of creative problem solving. |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Lyndsey Wallace
Tel:
Email: lwallac2@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Anna Jarvis
Tel:
Email: ajarvis3@ed.ac.uk |
|
|
University Homepage