The aim of the module is to present an introduction to social psychology, the scientific study of human social influence and interaction, as applied to organisational life. The module provides basic exposure to social psychological issues in the context of work organisations. Specifically, the module draws on social psychology to examine aspects of contemporary issues in work organisations. This module aims to give a critical understanding of social psychology research and how it is applied to the workplace.

The nature and history of Social Psychology; Approaches to the study of Social psychology; New employee socialisation; Personal and social identity in workplaces; Self-awareness and self-regulation; Job attitudes; Social influence, conformity, compliance and obedience; Helping behaviours and organisational citizenship, Pro-social, anti-social and withdrawal behaviour; The role of attribution and cognitive dissonance in organisational decision-making; Groups and teams; Stereotyping and prejudice in employment and workplace interactions.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: Demonstrate theoretical and applied knowledge about key social psychological concepts and theories as they manifest in business organisations Develop an understanding of social influence and persuasion processes in a business environment Analyse the interplay of group and individual (i.e., within-person and contextual) influences in the work environment, including in behaviour and the formation of attitudes and identity Critically evaluate various research methods employed in the study of the social psychology of organisations

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: Develop an appreciation of the complexity of individual behaviour in the workplace, and with a particular focus on the role of context in influencing it, e.g., social pressure and social norms Challenge assumptions about tendencies towards ethical and unethical human behaviour in the workplace

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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).