Social psychologists study people as social beings, looking at their relationships and shared experiences in context. This module discusses social psychology's insights into life and people in a globalised and fast-changing twenty-first century world. The module explores current issues in contemporary UK society, including gender, multiculturalism, immigration, global conflicts and work. You'll learn about recent research findings and different social psychological theories and approaches, including a critical approach towards psychology itself. As preparation for future study, work and life activities, you'll develop the academic and communication skills you need to study independently and follow your own interests.
| Course facts | |
|---|---|
| About this course: | |
| Course code | DD317 |
| Credits | 60 |
| OU Level | 3 |
| SCQF level | 10 |
| FHEQ level | 6 |
| Course work includes: | |
| 5 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) | |
| End-of-module assessment | |
| No residential school | |
The module discusses social psychology's insights into life and people in a contemporary globalised world. It explores the new developments and interdisciplinary boundaries of social psychology today. The study programme is divided into an introduction, five main blocks and a conclusion, with additional weeks for review and revision.
Block 1: Social psychology for a contemporary society
In the first block, you'll be asked: How are we changed by our changing world? What can social psychology tell us about life today and contemporary people? What do social psychologists contribute to discussions of big issues like globalisation, new media and surveillance technologies, mobility and migration, political change and economic crises? You'll also consider the power of psychology itself, looking at ways that psychological knowledge has impacted our daily lives. The areas of social psychology covered in this block include critical social psychology and research, and social psychology linked to theories of the subject.
Block 2: New encounters across cultures in a globalised world
You'll explore the relationships between individuals and cultures in modern, diverse societies. Looking at the encounters between people in a world of increased mobility, you're asked: What happens when different cultures meet? What are the potential barriers? Can intercultural dialogue be achieved? You'll study how new encounters can lead to both conflicts and positive cultural mixing. The block also asks: What are the politics of identity and difference in today's mobile society? The approaches covered include sociocultural psychology and social representations theory.
Block 3: Social psychology and participation: understanding and effecting change
You'll look at how people get involved as members of society or citizens and study how they join together to produce social change. These include everyday actions, such as voting, as well as more extreme forms of political action, for example, in contexts of conflict and uprising. The block asks: What drives people to join large-scale protest movements? And how is their participation affected by social media? You'll also investigate how social psychology itself has contributed to social action and change. The approaches covered include political psychology, liberation psychology and the social identity approach.
Block 4: A contemporary subject
This block centres on the idea that the person studied by psychologists is socially produced. This again raises questions about similarity and difference, and how free we are to choose who we want to be. You'll be asked how recent changes in work and employment have impacted our lives and identities, comparing the 'good' workers of today with workers of the past. It discusses gender, looking at research on 'new' femininities and masculinities in contemporary society. It discusses happiness and suggests that the goal of being happy is more complicated than it appears! The approaches covered include social constructionism, critical discursive psychology, a psychology of the second order and positive psychology.
Block 5: Threats and fears
This block features one of the most famous areas of psychology: the theories of psychodynamics and psychoanalysis, which originated in the work of Sigmund Freud. The block considers these not in relation to therapeutic practice but for their application to society more generally. It offers psychoanalytic re-interpretations of classic psychological topics like bystander behaviour. You'll read accounts of ongoing conflicts (like Israel-Palestine) and explanations of people's fears and responses to contemporary threats. The areas covered include psychoanalysis, psychodynamics and psychosocial studies.
The content of this module is delivered through blended tuition using online material and two textbooks. You'll be required to read the module textbook and other published material, watch videos and listen to interviews with leading international scholars, complete online activities, and participate in forums. This will help to develop your academic and communication skills. You'll also spend time working independently, for example, to search for more information about the areas of social psychology that you find especially interesting.
From studying this module, you will learn about:
This module will be of value to psychologists and other social scientists seeking to expand their knowledge of contemporary social psychology theory and research. The module will also be of value to students wishing to develop their understanding of recent academic work on 21st-century social issues. The module will develop key employability and life skills of critical reading, writing, giving feedback, and setting and following independent study goals. It will also develop the academic skills required for further postgraduate studies and/or research in psychology and cognate disciplines.
This is an OU level 3 module. OU level 3 modules build on study skills and subject knowledge acquired from previous studies at OU levels 1 and 2 with the OU. They are only intended for students with recent experience of higher education in a related subject.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the module, please speak to an adviser.
You'll be provided with two textbooks and have access to the module website, which includes:
You'll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module.
They'll help by:
Online tutorials run throughout the module. Where possible, we'll make recordings available. While they're not compulsory, we strongly encourage you to participate.
The assessment details for this module can be found in the facts box.
The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone. The Accessibility Statement below outlines what studying this module involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.
Much of this module's study materials are online. Online materials are composed of pages of text with images, audio/video clips of 2-20 minutes long (all with transcripts/subtitles), interactive media and multiple choice self-assessed quizzes. Online materials also include links to external resources, online forums and online tutorial rooms. This module has two textbooks. Electronic versions of printed material are available on the module website.
This module provides online tutorials. Although not compulsory, attendance at tutorials will help you consolidate your learning.
You will be required to work with other students by posting findings from your independent study onto a forum and commenting on their posts. This interactive activity is relevant to one of your assignments.
You will be required to work independently, for example, to search for new sources. You will engage with other students in the interactive work. In addition, some of the online activities (e.g. on skills self-assessment; planning; providing feedback; report writing) and assessment have practical relevance for employment.
The study materials contain some diagrams and images. Figure descriptions are provided for all figures.
You may be required to search for, and make use of, third party material online and this contributes to assessed work.
This module has 5 Tutor-Marked Assignments (TMAs), which must be submitted online via the OU electronic TMA system, an Interactive Computer-Marked Assignment (iCMA) completed online, and an End-of-Module Assessment submitted online.
You will receive feedback from your tutor on your submitted Tutor-Marked Assignments (TMAs). This will help you to reflect on your TMA performance. You should refer to it to help you prepare for your next assignment.
All University modules are structured according to a set timetable and you will need time-management skills to keep your studies on track. You will be supported in developing these skills.
Advancing social psychology (DD317) starts once a year – in October. This page describes the module that will start in October 2025 when we expect it to start for the last time.
October 2025 is the final start date for this course. For more information, see Future availability.