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PSY-30126 - Module Specification
School of Psychology
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2024/25 Last Updated: 30 April 2024

PSY-30126 - The psychology of deviance
Coordinator: Chris Stiff Tel: +44 1782 7 33667
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 6
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733736

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

Why are children bullied, and why do some children join in, while others help? What causes people to send derogatory messages to others they have never met or seen over the Internet? Why are football matches often marred with hooliganism, whilst other sports experience no such issues?
This module will attempt to answer these questions by examining the psychology of deviance. What can psychology tell us about deviant behaviour, and how can we use this knowledge to help.
Students on this module will cover a fascinating range of topics and work with experts engaged in active research on those areas. Possible topics covered will be: (cyber)bullying, domestic violence, Internet vigilantes, Internet addiction, the behaviour of crowds, the power of anonymity, and video game induced aggression.

Aims
- To provide students with new insights into how psychology can be applied to understanding deviance in variety of contexts,
- To provide students with new insights into a specialist area of psychology,
- To provide students with an understanding of literature relating to deviant/aberrant attitudes and behaviour through the reading and critique of peer-reviewed evidence, and synthesis of their own research ideas,
- To allow students greater expansion of previously learned material.

Talis Aspire Reading List
Any reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.
http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/psy-30126/lists

Intended Learning Outcomes

1
1
1
1
1

Study hours

20 hours taught classes
Asynchronous study comprising structured activities 30 hours
100 hours private study to include reading (60), and writing assessment (40)

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Assignment weighted 100%
Problem-based assignment
Intervention/problem based assignment. Students will be provided with a number of (hypothetical) situations which require analysis and intervention from a psychologist in order to be solved. Several will be provided which will be covered by the topics in the module sessions. The assignment will require: - Literature review of the topic area, including any gaps in knowledge - Analysis of the problem and possible issues - Development of intervention, with rationale - Details of how success of the intervention will be assessed Guidance on the assignment will be provided in sessions, and a clear structure for students to use will be outlined. Students will be given the opportunity to develop the skills required for this assignment during the course, and will receive preparation sessions specifically aimed at its completion. Word count: 3000

Please note that for the 2022/23 Academic Year programmes may be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there may be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 30 April 2024