SOCIAL PSYCOLOGY OF COMMUNICATION
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Full programme
- Bibliography
- Delivery method
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
Sufficient knowledge of the Italian language (corresponding to B2 level)
The examination is oral and aimed to check the proper knowledge and critical analysis of the topics of the course.
The final grade will take into consideration, together with the accuracy of the answers to the professor’s questions, the communicative skills of the candidates, their abilities to argue, justify and exemplify their statements, and establish links to other topics.
The general purpose of this course is to analyze the major theoretical and practical issues of the social psychology of communication.
Specific purposes of the course are:
- to analyze communication in specific social contexts
- to develop skills in the critical analysis of theories and models
- to understand how the relationships between individuals in different contexts influence communication and how this one is influenced by the aforementioned relationships
- to learn the main concepts concerning stereotypes and prejudices, preventing and reducing them in the journalistic, political, social and business communication.
The course is organized in three modules:
- an introduction on psychology as a science, its research methods and theoretical orientations
- an institutional module on the theoretical and methodological underpinnings of social psychology of communication
- a monographic module on the psychology of stereotypes, prejudices and discriminations, analyzing especially gender stereotypes.
Detailed programme of the course:
INTRODUCATION (20 hours)
1) Psychology as a science
2) Psychology in the mass media
3) The theoretical orientations of psychology: psychoanalysis, gestalt psychology, socio-cultural theory, behaviorism, cognitivism and humanistic psychology.
4) The theoretical perspectives of constructivism and social constructionism.
INSTITUTIONAL MODULE (24 hours)
1) Theoretical orientations of social psychology
2) Research methods in social psychology
3) Basic psychological concepts concerning communication
4) Verbal, visual and non-verbal codes
5) Groups, social influence and group communication
6) Psychological aspects related to social media
7) Persuasive, mass, political and social communication.
MONOGRAPHIC MODULE (20 hours)
The monographic module will address stereotypes and prejudices, especially gender stereotypes. The aim will be to analyze the ways in which gender differences are transformed by individuals in socially accepted inequalities. This part of the course will also deal with the social strategies useful to reduce stereotypes, prejudices and discriminations.
INTRODUCATION (20 hours)
1) Psychology as a science
2) Psychology in the mass media
3) The theoretical orientations of psychology: psychoanalysis, gestalt psychology, socio-cultural theory, behaviorism, cognitivism and humanistic psychology.
4) The theoretical perspectives of constructivism and social constructionism.
INSTITUTIONAL MODULE (24 hours)
1) Theoretical orientations of social psychology
2) Research methods in social psychology
3) Basic psychological concepts concerning communication
4) Verbal, visual and non-verbal codes
5) Groups, social influence and group communication
6) Psychological aspects related to social media
7) Persuasive, mass, political and social communication.
MONOGRAPHIC MODULE (20 hours)
The monographic module will address stereotypes and prejudices, especially gender stereotypes. The aim will be to analyze the ways in which gender differences are transformed by individuals in socially accepted inequalities. This part of the course will also deal with the social strategies useful to reduce stereotypes, prejudices and discriminations.
The examination will concern the topics of the following books:
1. Palmonari A., & Cavazza N. (2012). Ricerche e protagonisti della psicologia sociale. Bologna: Il Mulino.
2. Lotto, L. & Rumiati, R. (2013). Introduzione alla psicologia della comunicazione. Second
edition. Bologna: Il Mulino. N.B.: The first edition cannot be used.
3. Biavaschi P., Bozzato P., & Nitti P., Eds. (2021). Infirmitas sexus. Stereotipi di genere in prospettiva multidisciplinare. Milano-Udine: Mimesis.
4. Teaching material on the University e-learning portal.
The course is mainly organized in frontal lessons during which the professor will illustrate the main concepts using multimedia tools (images and videos about experiments, social cases and surveys). Active participation of students is recommended. Students will be involved in the lessons through discussions, exercises, individual and group works. Students not attending the class should study the teaching material on the University e-learning portal. They could also reach the professor by email for questions or appointments.
The professor receives the students by appointment to be arranged using the following address: paolo.bozzato@uninsubria.it
The final dissertation in this subject should be asked far in advance and requires the participation of the student in a survey conducted by the professor.