Social and Organizational Psychology: Course Overview and Key Concepts

Social and Organizational Psychology

Course Description

This course explores how people think, feel, and behave in personal and workplace settings, focusing on the influence of others and group dynamics. Students will learn about major theories and findings in social and organizational psychology, with an emphasis on practical applications in professional environments.

• Social Perception and Social Cognition: Examines how individuals form impressions and judgments about others.

• Attitudes: Investigates how attitudes are formed, maintained, and changed, and their impact on behavior.

• Group Processes: Explores group decision-making, conflict resolution, and the influence of group membership on individual behavior.

Key Processes in Organizational Psychology

Understanding organizational psychology involves analyzing how psychological principles affect workplace functioning and team dynamics. The course covers:

• Decision-Making: How individuals and groups make choices, including the role of biases and heuristics.

• Motivation and Goal Setting: Theories of motivation and their application to workplace productivity and satisfaction.

• Leadership and Teamwork: How leadership styles and team composition affect performance and collaboration.

• Conflict Resolution: Strategies for managing and resolving interpersonal and group conflicts.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the course, students will:

• Acquire theoretical knowledge and practical skills in social and organizational psychology.

• Apply psychological principles to analyze and improve workplace behavior and team effectiveness.

• Develop critical thinking skills for evaluating research and applying findings to real-world scenarios.

Course Structure

• 14 lectures (colleges) of 2 hours each

• 4 workgroups (werkgroepen) of 2 hours each

Assessment

• Written Exam: Includes multiple-choice questions.

• Presentation and Written Assignment: Conducted in workgroups.

Final grade is based on a weighted average: written exam (70%) and workgroup assignment (30%).

Required Literature

• Neck, C. P., Houghton, J. D., Murray, E. L. (2023). Organizational Behavior: A Skill-Building Approach. SAGE Publishing, 3rd edition.

• Heine, S. J., Goodfriend, W. (2021). Social Psychology. SAGE Publishing, International Student Edition.

Academic Integrity

Students are required to adhere to strict standards of academic integrity, including proper citation and avoidance of plagiarism. Written assignments will be checked for originality.

Contact Information

• Coordinator: Dr. Hester Ruigrok ([e-mail])

• Lecturers: Prof. Dr. E. van Dijk, Dr. E.A.C. van Leeuwen

Table: Key Topics in Social and Organizational Psychology

Topic	Description	Example/Application
Social Cognition	How people perceive and interpret social information	Impression formation in job interviews
Attitudes	Beliefs and feelings that influence behavior	Employee attitudes toward organizational change
Group Processes	Dynamics of group decision-making and teamwork	Team brainstorming sessions
Motivation	Factors that drive individuals to achieve goals	Incentive programs for employees
Leadership	Influence of leaders on group performance	Transformational leadership in organizations

Additional info:

• Students are encouraged to integrate theoretical knowledge with practical skills for workplace application.

• Course includes both individual and group assignments to foster collaboration and critical analysis.