Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Group Psychology
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, English
Teaching staff
Appointments should be requested by email.
Introduction
Group Psychology is part of the area of knowledge of Social Psychology and involves the study of social interaction in group contexts. Much of human behaviour is carried out in more or less formalized groups, and all this implies the need to study the groups from a scientific and professional approach. In the Psychology of Groups subject, basic theories and processes are presented that allow understanding the structure and development of groups, as well as the processes within and between groups.
Pre-course requirements
It is recommended to have attended the subject of Social Psychology.
Objectives
The main objective of the course is to offer students the basic content on research and intervention on the nature of groups, their laws of operation and development, as well as the relationships within each group and between different groups. In this way, the psychosocial bases of behaviour are studied from the group and intergroup approaches. Finally, students are familiarized with the intervention processes in contexts of social exclusion, marginalization and inequality.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- CE05 - Design and apply a psychological intervention strategy depending on the context or service requested.
- CG03 - The ability to read scientific literature in a critical, well-founded manner, take into account its provenance, situate it within an epistemological framework and identify and contrast its contributions in relation to the disciplinary knowledge available.
- CG07 - The ability to adapt to the setting, task or context, handle new tasks and responsibilities and generate processes of change.
- CG08 - The capacity to interpret the content and scope of the information received or requested, orally or in writing, and process it appropriately according to the nature of the matter at hand.
- CG13 - The ability to use information and communication technologies for distinct purposes.
- CT01 - The capacity to organise and plan.
- CT02 - The capacity to solve problems.
- CT04 - The capacity to work in a team
- CT07 - The capacity to learn autonomously
- CT09 - The ability to communicate adequately, both orally and in writing
Learning outcomes of the subject
At the end of the course, the students are expected to:
- Understand human behaviour in group dynamics
- Apply techniques that allow the management of group activity
- Analysis of the person's behaviour in relation to their membership in certain social groups
- Identify the psychosocial principles involved in the interaction between different groups
- Analyse the alternative possibilities of intervention with groups at risk of social exclusion
- Transmit information and ideas through an appropriate style of communication
Syllabus
Chapter 1. Introduction to the study of the groups
- The study of the groups
- Composition and structure of the groups
- Training, development and socialization
- Rules and conduct
Chapter 2. Relations within the groups
- Social identity
- Leadership
- Group performance
- Group cohesion
- Social influence
- Decision making
Chapter 3. Intergroup relations
- Prejudice, discrimination and stereotypes
- Intergroup conflict
- Conflict resolution strategies
Chapter 4. Psychology of Social Intervention
- Scope of application and vulnerable groups
- Social Intervention project
- Diagnosis and detection of needs
- Planning and evaluation of an intervention
Teaching and learning activities
In person
The methodology used in this subject will be active and focused on students, who will be the protagonist in their learning process and skills development. This methodology combines master classes, practical teaching (case studies, group dynamics, seminars, analysis of audiovisual resources), preparation of group work (project) and tutoring (both collective and personalized).
The subject requires both individual and autonomous work as well as group work. In addition to the continuous work that requires the preparation and use of the different theoretical and practical sessions, the student body must carry out a project in groups of 5±1 people, empirically based and on a topic negotiated with the teaching staff. To do this, you will have tutorials with the teacher during the semester. Finally, the project will be discussed with the rest of the classmates.
| TRAINING ACTIVITY |
| Lectures will be the setting in which students will learn and use the terminology and linguistic structures related to the sphere of study, for the purpose of practising and developing oral and written communication skills and becoming familiar with the literature and instruction materials provided to better integrate the curricular content. |
| Project-oriented learning is a method based on experiential and reflective learning in which the process of researching a particular subject matter proves very important, with the aim of resolving complex problems based on open solutions or addressing complicated issues that enable students to generate new knowledge and develop new skills. |
| The exercises provided and problems posed by the lecturer help students make headway in their academic career, and, guided by the lecturer, the students succeed in achieving short-term goals which facilitate the integration of theoretical knowledge. |
| Case studies are a learning technique in which the subject is given the description of a specific situation that poses a problem, which must be understood, assessed and resolved by a group of people through discussion. Case studies are generally resolved in groups to promote student participation and develop their critical thinking skills. They also prepare students to make decisions, teaching them how to back up their arguments and contrast them with the opinions of the other group members. |
| The guided reading of texts aims to develop the students’ critical thinking skills, which play a fundamental role in creating citizens who are both aware and responsible. |
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
The evaluation of the subject is based on:
- Final exam (40%) with test questions and open-questions.
- Group work (30%): both written work and the presentation of the project in class will be evaluated.
- Practical activities (20%) both individual and collective.
- Attendance and participation (10%): a minimum 80% of assistance is required to qualify for this score.
Important considerations:
- It will be necessary to obtain a minimum grade of 5.0 in the final exam and in group work to be able to do average with the rest of the grades.
- The realization of the practical activities is understood as continuous evaluation, and therefore its NO delivery according to the established dates will imply the impossibility of having that part of the note.
- Plagiarism, copying or any other action that can be considered cheating will suppose a zero in that evaluation section. Doing it in the exams will suppose the immediate suspension of the subject.
- On second call, the "Honor Registration" qualification cannot be obtained, so the maximum qualification will be "Excellent".
Bibliography and resources
Bibliography
- Huici, C., Molero, F., Gómez, A., y Morales, J. F. (Coords.) (2012). Psicología de los grupos. Madrid: UNED
- Smith, E.R. y Mackie, D.M. (1997). Psicología Social. Madrid: Ed. Médica Panamericana
Further reading
- Baron, R. A. y Byrne, D. (1998). Psicología Social. Madrid: Pearson.
- Paterna Bleda, C., Martínez Martínez, M. C., Vera Martínez, J. J. (2003). Psicología social: De la teoría a la práctica cotidiana. Madrid: Ediciones Pirámide.
- Rodríguez, A., Morales, J. F., Delgado, N., y Betancor V. (Coords.) (2016). 50 Experimentos Imprescindibles para entender la Psicología Social. Madrid: Alianza Editorial
- Wiseman, R. (2010). 59 segundos. Barcelona: RBA libros.
Others resources
- American Psychological Association: https://www.apa.org/
- Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de España: https://www.cop.es/index.php
- Sociedad Científica Española de Psicología Social: https://sceps.es/
- Sociedad Española de Psicología Positiva: http://www.sepsicologiapositiva.es/