Social Psychology

Social psychology sits at the heart of some of the most pressing questions about human behaviour: why do people conform, obey authority, or follow the crowd? How do prejudice and discrimination operate? What drives cooperation, conflict and altruism?

Unlike individual-centred psychology, social psychology is explicitly concerned with how people are shaped by and in turn shape the groups, institutions and cultures they inhabit. It is a discipline that is simultaneously scientific and humanistic, empirical and politically engaged.

At Leeds Beckett University you will explore the full range of social psychological thought, from its experimental foundations to its engagement with consciousness, identity, culture and power. You will study topics including persuasion, group dynamics, intergroup relations, identity, AI and human interaction, psychoanalytic approaches, positive psychology, and the spiritual and ecological dimensions of human experience. The three-year full-time programme includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to study in a different national and cultural context and to broaden your understanding of how social forces shape psychology across different societies.

You will develop skills in critical analysis, research methods, and the ability to synthesise findings across different theoretical traditions.

Social psychology graduates apply their understanding of human behaviour to careers across a wide range of settings. Market research, advertising, organisational consultancy, human resources, community development, health promotion, education, social care, journalism, policy research and politics all draw on knowledge of how social influence works. With further training, social psychology also provides a foundation for clinical psychology, counselling, and health psychology.

Many graduates go on to postgraduate study in psychology, social sciences, organisational behaviour, or research methods, developing their theoretical interests and quantitative skills for research or professional practice careers.