The module introduces social psychology as the scientific study of social influence and interaction, with a particular focus on its application to organisational contexts. It provides foundational exposure to key social psychological concepts and research relevant to work organisations and uses these perspectives to analyse contemporary organisational issues. The module aims to develop students’ critical understanding of social psychology research and its application to workplace practices.

The nature of Social Psychology and approaches to studying it; Recruitment, attraction, and ensuring fit between the person and the job/organization; New employee socialisation; Self-awareness; Job attitudes; Social influence on behaviours; Positive behaviours and organisational citizenship; Anti-social and withdrawal behaviour; Attributions about the self and others; Organisational decision-making; Groups and teams; Stereotyping and prejudice in the workplace.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: Demonstrate theoretical and applied understanding of key social psychological concepts and theories as they operate within business and organisational contexts. Explain and interpret processes of social influence and persuasion in workplace and business environments. Analyse the interaction between individual-level (within-person) and group or contextual influences on workplace behaviour, including the formation of attitudes and identity. Critically evaluate various research methods employed in the study of the social psychology of organisations. Develop an informed appreciation of the complexity of individual behaviour at work, with particular attention to the role of context, including social norms and social pressure

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: Question and challenge assumptions about ethical and unethical behaviour in organisational setting

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The primary mode of teaching in this module will be through interactive sessions altering between lecture style and interactive discussion. Students shall learn through a combination of the material presented during the sessions, practical exercises to develop skills associated with this knowledge, through interaction with their fellow students and their experiences, and through reflection on their own experiences and case studies presented during class time. Classic and contemporary research in social psychology forms the basis for the content of the module. Additionally, findings of classic social psychology experiments inform in-class discussion and assessment. Corporate social responsibility and ethical behaviour underpin all topics in this module. Students will be expected to demonstrate their awareness of these issues for various stakeholders in classroom discussions, as well as in their assessments. This will also require tenacity and effective time-management, encouraging students to be both responsible (personally, socially, professionally, sustainably and ethically responsible) and courageous (tenacious, resilient, robust, transformative, enterprising, innovative). Through group work, completion of the assignments, analysing organisational problems, and applying concepts and theories introduced in the module, students will be offered the opportunity to gain several transferable skills and competencies, and to develop the UL graduate attributes of curious (problem-solver, critical, knowledgeable, inquisitive, imaginative) and articulate (strong inter and intra-personal skills, empathetic, collaborative).