Course Details in 2026/27 Session

Module Title	LH Contemporary Issues in Social Psychology: Media, Body Image and Prejudice
School	School of Psychology
Department	School of Psychology
Module Code	03 36253
Module Lead	Dr Paul Pope
Level	Honours Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 2
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Lecture-20 hours Seminar-10 hours Guided independent study-170 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	This module explores a number of issues in social psychology which are of great interest and scrutiny at present, both in the scientific discipline and in the public eye. In this module students will: 1. Explore ideas from social psychology (e.g., social cognition, social identity theory) and the way ‘big data’ (i.e., online information) can be used to reveal insights into human behaviour, to better understand contemporary issues in social psychology (e.g., body image, media myths and selfie-taking). 2. Make concepts from a range of core areas in Psychology (e.g., biological, cognitive, and social) approachable and stimulating for today’s students, for whom social media is a key part of their culture. 3. Examine the impact of popular culture and general media on behaviour and well-being.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Recognise the inherent variability and diversity of psychological functioning and its significance for understanding the impact of various contemporary issues in social psychology on behaviour. Demonstrate systematic knowledge and critical understanding of a range of contemporary issues in social psychology that students will recognise from engaging with popular culture and general media, and their impact on psychological functioning and well-being. Demonstrate detailed knowledge of several specialised ideas in social psychology as they relate to understanding contemporary issues in social psychology, and provide examples of how social psychological theories / ideas and modern research techniques can be used to reveal insights into human behaviour, which are at the cutting edge of research in the discipline. Design and write a research proposal that investigates the effect of a social psychological issue on behaviour, under appropriate supervision, and recognise its theoretical, practical, and methodological implications and limitations.
Assessment	36253-01 : Coursework : Coursework (50%) 36253-02 : Exam : Exam (Centrally Timetabled) - Open Book (50%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessment: 50% coursework (1500-word research proposal), 50% exam (1.5 hours)
Other
Reading List