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Fall semester - BA - IR - Year 3 Calendar view

Political Psychology - BA IR


Class
Roberto Muelas
Enrolment for this class is currently closed.

This module will introduce students to a range of theoretical approaches in the area of Political Psychology, as well as classic and current research within the field.

Future

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash: https://unsplash.com/photos/p2Xor4Lbrrk

 

Level 6 (Year 2)

Credits: 5 ECTS / 10 UK credits

Module leader: Roberto Muelas Lobato

Office hour: Monday from 13:00 to 14:00 and Wednesday from 13:00 to 14:00. Please send an email roberto@miuc.org to set an appointment.

Schedule: Monday from 11:30 to 13:00 and Wednesday from 11:30 to 13:00 in FUTURE.

Google meet link: https://meet.google.com/ick-eghs-bby

 

Welcome to the module Political Psychology. This module will guide students towards developing the overall knowledge and understanding of theory and research in Political Psychology. You will be introduced to the political psychology framework for understanding most political phenomena in the actual world. This will encourage you to develop awareness on the application of an analytical approach rather than only allowing yourselves to pursue a purely theoretical understanding of politics. This module will introduce students to a range of theoretical approaches in the area of Political Psychology, as well as classic and current research within the field.

This is a seminar-based module on the interdisciplinary field of political psychology. The module will be taught through weekly lectures and seminars. In the lecture, the main concepts and ideas will be explained by the module leader, and the seminars will provide the space to discuss the compulsory readings and cover examples from the case studies chosen by students.

Active class participation is essential. Students will be expected to participate in all class discussions. This is a way for them to (a) show that they have read (and understood) the material and (b) further their understanding of the literature. Class discussion will also help students develop a nuanced view of the readings, as each of them will likely have a unique perspective on the material.

 

Assessment methods

Learning Outcome

At the end of the module you will be able to:

LO1. Demonstrate knowledge and depth of understanding of the field of political psychology (Summative Assessment 1, 3 & 4)

LO2. Effectively communicate their understanding in written and verbal forms. (Summative Assessment 2, 3 & 4)

LO3. Critically evaluate and demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of research and complex issues in political psychology (Summative Assessment 2 & 4)

LO4. Systematically develop arguments and new ideas pertinent to the development and application of current theory and research in political psychology. (Summative Assessment 2 & 3)

 

For more detail, please see the attached MSG: MSG_PoliticalPsychology_BaPsychology_2021.pdf

Here is the class outline:

Week 1 - Introduction to Political Psychology

Introduction to the module organization, structure and assignments.

1 section
Week 1 - Introduction to Political Psychology

Week 2 - Origins of Political Attitudes

Ways of understanding the origins of political attitudes, how and why people come to hold particular political attitudes.

1 section
Week 2 - Origins of Political Attitudes

Week 3 - Political Ideology

Functions of political ideology in mass publics and nature of ideology as a useful construct in understanding political and social dynamics from a psychological perspective

1 section
Week 3 - Political Ideology

Week 4 - Rational Choice vs. Symbolic Politics

Understanding how people make decisions in the political sphere, such as voting.

2 sections
Week 4 - Rational Choice vs. Symbolic Politics
A1: Written Examination_ Questions on Documentary

Week 5 -Public Opinion and Mass Media

Effects of persuasion through mass media on people’s political opinions, preferences, and political behaviour

1 section
Week 5 - Public Opinion and Mass Media

Week 6 - Nationalism vs. Patriotism

Approaching the onstructs of nationalism and patriotism and how they are defined and differentiated from a psychological perspective

1 section
Week 6 - Nationalism vs. Patriotism

Week 7 - The Politics of Diversity

Dynamics of racial attitudes and racial relations in politics. Gender and diversity

1 section
Week 7 - The Politics of Diversity

Week 8 - Politics and Religion

This week will explore the interaction of religion as an institution, religious beliefs, and political ideologies and behaviour

2 sections
Week 8 - Politics and Religion
A2_Written Examination_Blog Entry

Week 9 - System Justification Theory

System justification theory and the mechanisms behind social stability and change, the people’s motivation to support the maintenance of a given social or political system and the boundary conditions of these processes

1 section
Week 9 - System Justification Theory

Week 10 - Social Dominance and Authoritarianism

Dominance Orientation, and the Right Wing Authoritarianism – and how they work together in the political processes

1 section
Week 10 - Social Dominance and Authoritarianism

Week 11 -Procedural Justice

Basic conceptualization and the differentiation of procedural justice.

1 section
Week 11 - Procedural Justice

Week 12 - Collective Action

This week will introduce some of the processes in collective action and in particular the psychological and social barriers to collective action.

1 section
Week 12 - Collective Action

Week 13 - Extremism, Radicalisation and Terrorism

Psychological approaches to understanding the global phenomenon of terrorism in terms of social processes, group dynamics, and individual motivations.

2 sections
Week 13 - Extremism, Radicalisation and Terrorism
Assessment 4_Final Integrative Assignment (formative feedback)

Week 14 - Module's Review and Final Assessment preparation

Summary of the module and preparation for final assigment

2 sections
Week description
A3_Writting Examination_Reading Analysis

Week 16 - Final Assessment

The aim of this integrative assignment is to assess students’ knowledge and understanding of the contents of the module and their ability to apply this knowledge to the analysis of modern political situations depicted in a film. The student is expected to use the materials covered in the Module (available in NEOlms), as well as to look for additional academic resources that can complement key ideas (e.g. books available at MIUC Library, resources located on the Internet). From the start of the module, students will be presented with the movies that they could use for this assessment. All of them are available at MIUC’s library. The analysis will be elaborated at home and submitted in Week 16 via NEOlms. During week 13 students can submit a draft to get valuable feedback from the module’s leader.

1 section
A4: Written Examination_ Final Integrative Assignment

Resit

1 section
A4: Written Examination_ Final Integrative Assignment_RESIT