Social Psychology

Social psychology is the branch of psychology that examines how people think, feel, and behave in relation to other people. It investigates the social influences that shape individual behaviour, the processes by which groups form and function, the dynamics of prejudice and discrimination, the psychology of persuasion and conformity, and the ways in which social context shapes identity and self-perception. It is a discipline that illuminates the gap between who we think we are and how we actually behave, and it provides insights that are relevant to every area of social life.

This part-time distance learning programme at the Open University makes social psychology accessible to students who cannot attend a campus institution or who are studying alongside work and other commitments. The Open University has a long tradition of rigorous social science education delivered at a distance, and this programme provides the kind of intellectually serious engagement with the discipline that students would find at a campus university, through structured study materials, online discussion, and tutor support. You will study the major theories and findings of social psychology, the research methods used to investigate social behaviour, and the applied dimensions of the discipline in areas such as health, organisations, intergroup relations, and environmental behaviour.

Graduates from this programme apply their social psychology knowledge in careers across health and social care, human resources and organisational development, marketing and consumer research, public health, social work, education, and the charitable sector. Many students are already working in relevant fields when they begin the programme, and the degree deepens and formalises their understanding. For those who want to continue their studies, the Open University provides pathways to postgraduate study in psychology, social science, and related disciplines, and the programme fulfils part of the requirements for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society.