SOCIAL PSYCOLOGY OF COMMUNICATION
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Full programme
- Delivery method
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
An adequate knowledge of the Italian language is required (at least B2 level), while no preliminary knowledge of psychology is necessary, as the first part of the course and the related teaching material introduce the discipline.
The exam will consist of an oral interview aimed at assessing the acquisition and correct understanding, as well as critical analysis, of the topics of the course. The final grade will take into account the accuracy and quality of responses, as well as communicative skills and the ability to articulate and adequately justify statements, establish connections, and provide relevant examples.
General course aim is to analyze the main theoretical and applied foundations of the social psychology of communication, through the examination of studies and research conducted in this field. The course also aims to develop competencies that help promote, within companies and institutions, a mindful and respectful form of communication—free from stereotypes and prejudice—capable of valuing the individual characteristics of each employee and fostering inclusive practices. Specific attention will also be devoted to future orientation, understood as a set of representations, expectations, and projects that guide decisions and behaviors: organizational communication, in fact, can support the development of pathways of growth, belonging, and professional development, contributing to fairer and more motivating work climates. These competencies are central to the emerging professional profile of the Diversity Manager, a key figure in organizations that seek to promote inclusivity and cultural change.
The specific learning objectives are as follows:
- to become familiar with the main authors and constructs in the social psychology of communication and their theoretical and research contributions;
- to develop the ability to critically analyze theories, models, and empirical research in the social psychology of communication;
- to understand how relationships between individuals and groups in different social and organizational contexts influence communication processes, and how communication, in turn, helps to build, maintain, or change these relationships;
- to analyze the role of communication in the construction of social representations, identities, and group belonging, with particular attention to the mechanisms that sustain stereotypes and prejudice;
- to acquire basic concepts and practical tools to recognize, prevent, and counter stereotypes and prejudice in journalistic, political, institutional, and corporate communication;
- to explore the topic of microaggressions and learn strategies to recognize, prevent, and address them in organizations and in everyday, political, and mass-media communication;
- to integrate a future-oriented perspective by understanding how expectations, plans, and narratives about the future influence attitudes, decisions, and behaviors, and how communication can promote empowerment, motivation, inclusion, and professional development in companies and institutions.
The course is organized into three modules:
1) Introductory module: psychology as a science, its main research methods, and its major theoretical approaches.
2) Core module: the key theoretical and methodological foundations of social psychology applied to communication, with a focus on the processes that regulate interaction, meaning-making, and social influence across different contexts.
3) Monographic module: an in-depth exploration of psychological and communicative processes—operating through spoken, written, and visual language—through which microaggressions may be enacted, in connection with stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination, and human aggression. This module also integrates the perspective of future orientation, understood as a set of representations, expectations, and projects that guide individual and collective choices and behaviors. It examines how communication (in organizations, institutions, and the media) can foster fairer and more inclusive climates, support motivation and empowerment, and promote pathways of personal and professional development. Finally, the module addresses psychological and communicative strategies to prevent and reduce microaggressions and subtle forms of exclusion, helping to ensure that social differences do not become socially accepted inequalities.
INTRODUCTION (20 hours)
1) Psychology as a science
2) Psychology in mass media
3) Theoretical Orientations in Psychology: Psychoanalysis, Gestalt Psychology, Social-Cultural Theory, Behaviorism, Cognitivism, Systemic-Relational Approach, and Humanistic Psychology
4) Theoretical Perspectives of Constructivism and Social Constructionism
INSTITUTIONAL MODULE (24 hours)
1) Political socialization (Newcomb)
2) Field Theory, studies on leadership, and decision-making processes (Lewin)
3) Social norms, social groups, and intergroup conflicts (Sherif)
3) Processes of social influence (Sherif, Asch, Moscovici)
4) Persuasive communication (Hovland)
5) Obedience to authority (Milgram)
6) Communication in emergency situations (Latané and Darley)
7) Categorization and Social Identity Theory (Tajfel)
MONOGRAPHIC MODULE (20 hours)
1) Prejudice, stereotypes, and discrimination: psychological mechanisms, language practices, and contexts of production
2) Taxonomy and dynamics of microaggressions: forms, functions, and effects in everyday interactions and organizational settings
3) Ethnic, gender, and sexual orientation– and gender identity–related microaggressions: impacts on well-being, belonging, and participation
4) Future orientation, communication, and the corporate world: how expectations, narratives, and future plans influence relationships, motivation, and pathways of personal and professional development
5) Prevention and intervention strategies: inclusive and kind communication, organizational practices, and interventions to reduce microaggressions and socially accepted inequalities, and to foster future orientation
Teaching activities will be delivered through lectures in which the instructor will present the course content, also using multimedia tools (images and videos of experiments, the analysis of illustrative case studies, and research examples). Active participation is recommended for all students through instructor-guided classroom discussions as well as through the proposed activities, exercises, and individual and/or group assignments. All students, both attending and non-attending, are required to use the teaching materials provided by the instructor on the e-learning platform. Students may contact the instructor by email and may also arrange one-to-one meetings via Teams by appointment (to be scheduled by email).
The professor is available for clarification and explanations by appointment, which can be arranged by sending an email to the following address: paolo.bozzato@uninsubria.it
The final dissertation in this subject requires students’ active participation in one of the surveys coordinated by the professor on a topic of the student's choice or the following issues:
1) Future orientation: How do children, adolescents, or adults perceive their future (existential, educational, occupational, relational, familial, etc.) in our social context?
2) Gender and sexual identity stereotypes and prejudices: How do they influence behaviors and choices at different stages of life? How can mass media communication and social communication campaigns can intervene to limit such influence?
3) Ethnic, gender, and sexual identity microaggressions: investigate them in a chosen social context (school or other educational agencies, university, company, etc.) and identify communicative strategies to prevent and counteract them.
4) Problematic use of smartphones and the internet by adolescents and young adults: What are the risk factors and protective factors for problematic use of communication through technological tools?
The final dissertation in Social Psychology of Communication needs to be requested well in advance, and a preliminary meeting with the professor is planned to discuss the research area and provide an initial reading of some fundamental research contributions to assess one's interest in the topics and research methods. The reference literature is mostly in English and should be consulted using scientific databases (not Google or Wikipedia).