Course Details

1. Understand the relationship between the individual, groups and society. Describe aspects of human behaviour, as a result of related systems which may be transacting. Know the main themes related to ethology, theories of perception, attitudes and the functions of groups.
2. Implement the research methods of social psychology. Understand the creation of groups and be able to observe the phases of development of groups. Evaluate the meaning of the characteristics of group leaders.
3. Analyse the components of attitudes, the stereotype perceptions of groups and the theories of the productive causes of behaviour. Understand the characteristics of leaders and the theories of aggression. Explain the differences between individual and group learning.
4. Evaluate the most important theories of group dynamics and the characteristics of community leaders. Implement methods of cooperation between groups and communities where multicultural differences are identified.
5. Analyse the elements of the basic social systems which contribute to the creation and operation of the contemporary European Communities. Know the desirable characteristics of the young active citizens.

Methods of Social psychology: The focus of Social psychology, basic theory and applied research. The main research methods of social psychology and ways of evaluating research results. The identification of the physical, social and human parameters that determine the psychological phenomena of the majority of members of a society.  

Attitude and attitude change: The three components of attitudes, attitudes and human behaviour, evaluation of attitudes and the presentation of the main theories of attitudes. Attitudes towards the contemporary social issues faced by most Europeans. Attitudes and human behaviour, evaluation of attitudes and presentation of the most important theories of attitude formation.

Theories of perception and aggression: Stereotype perceptions towards individuals and groups. The main elements of the theories of Kelley and F. Heider. The nature of aggression and ways by which it is acquired by humans. Psychoanalysis and S. Freud, ethology and instincts, neurological and biochemical theories of aggression. Aggression and differences between different communities.

Groups, group processes and obedience: The characteristics of groups, the stages of development of a group. The factors which influence the phases of development of a group and the main theories of group dynamics.    The parameters which influence the conformity of individuals to group consensus. The level of obedience to authority and reference to the experiments carried out by Milgram.

Learning, cooperation & competition: Learning and its special meaning to representatives of the institutions of education. Learning within small groups at schools and its effectiveness compared to individual learning.   Aspects of cooperation, competition and innovative learning processes.

Leadership and multicultural differences: Group effectiveness and its relatedness to group leaders. The main characteristics of effective leads, the functions and main leadership behaviours. The study of leadership theories. The leader’s role in groups. The individual’s performance in groups and the special role of leaders. Young leaders and elements that influence their creation.  

• Giotsas, Α., (2012) , Social Psychology, Athens: ION
• Serdaris, P. (2014), Social Psychology, Past Present Future, Athens: University Studio Press

• Asimakopoulos, D., (2013), Redefining what is Psychosocial, Athens: Epikentro
• Kordoutis, P., (2011), Areas of research in Social Psychology, Athens: Diadrasi
• Papastamos, S. (2008), Introduction to Social Psychology, Athens: Pedio
• Papastylianou Α., (2011), Multicultural Social Psychology, Athens: Gutenberg

The major teaching methods to be implemented are the following: a).Direct dialogue: the lecturer, by using carefully selected and formulated questions, leads students towards a specific topic of knowledge. b).Brain storming: the topic to be studied is presented to students and then they are requested to express freely their ideas and thoughts related to the specific topic. c). Group work: students are divided in groups, with the aim to exchange ideas and experiences related to a specific subject that they are studying. d).Role play: the scenario related to situations, at the professional or social level is presented to students. Students play roles, like actors, which aim to understand better the situation that is presented in the scenario.