Module code: PSY7029-C
In this module you will gain a comprehensive and critical understanding of the concepts and methods used in explanations of human behaviour when these are applied to individuals and groups in a socio-cultural context. You will also acquire an advanced understanding of the role of theory and research in understanding developmental issues and individual differences in infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and later life. You will engage with a range of topics of relevant to contemporary social psychology and developmental psychology. Amongst these, you will explore critical understanding of the concepts and methods used in explanations of human behaviour when these are applied to individuals and groups in a social setting. The nature of groups will be considered from a micro level (e.g., friendships and work networks) to a macro level (e.g., communities and cultures). Substantive content will range from traditional social psychological theories and methods to more critical reflection on the replication crisis in social psychological research. Topics will include the areas of group processes and intergroup relations, social cognition, attitudes, and attribution. You will consider the relationship between developmental psychology and cognate disciplines such as biology and sociology and individual differences across the lifespan. Content will include theories of development and critical evaluation of the historical approaches to research from birth to death, Topics will include areas such as attachment in infancy, typical and atypical development, cognitive and language development during childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, ageing and end of life. In addition, the combined approaches of social psychology, lifespan, and individual differences will cover topics such as the development of the self, identity, personality, and intelligence. Diversity across all these areas will be explored. Ethical issues in social psychological and developmental psychology research will be a key theme throughout the programme. You will consider multiple perspectives of relevant ethical and socio-cultural issues within real-life situations throughout the life span.
Download the PDF for PSY7029-C_2025_6_V2