Individuals in Context

Full course description

Can we know ourselves? How do we discover who we ‘truly’ are? How do people process, store, and apply information about other people and social situations? Which mistakes (biases) do they make in doing so? How do systems and structures in our social context – including culture – interact with our personality and evolved psychology, and how does this interaction subsequently influence our thoughts, feelings, and behavior? In this course, students will collaboratively try to find answers to these questions. In each tutorial session, two students will take the lead to discuss the content of the literature by using a real-life case/example to illustrate how social and personality psychology is embedded in our everyday lives. By reading and discussing the core literature, students will become acquainted with classic and recent theories, and empirical findings about a range of topics in social and personality psychology. In this manner, starting with 'me' - the self from a social psychological and personality perspective - and ending up at 'us' - groups and social identity - the course will illustrate how humans are fundamentally social beings. Throughout the course, there is attention for the (social) experiences that are common to all humans, but there will simultaneously be an emphasis on individual differences (including personality) and how these interact with - and are influenced by - other people, society, our genetic makeup, and the culture we live in. Throughout the course, there is attention for the application of knowledge and theory of social and personality psychology to wicked problems in society, and to methodology and statistics.

There is no assessment for this module. You will only receive feedback on completed assignments.