The Psychology of Intergroup Relations

Description

This course is designed to provide an advanced overview of theories and empirical research on the psychology of intergroup relations. Over the course of the semester, the course will investigate five related themes from this increasingly popular area within psychology. First, we will explore the blatant, subtle, and unconscious ways in which biases manifest themselves and discuss the tools used to study these biases (e.g., self-report, reaction times, brain imaging, etc.). Second, we will examine the motivational, cognitive, affective, ideological, and evolutionary factors that underlie intergroup bias and conflict. The course will then transition to discussing research on how intergroup biases impact the identity and self-conceptions of members of stigmatized social groups. The course will then offer insight into the ways in which intergroup bias and conflict can be reduced in nation states to achieve greater social harmony in an increasingly multicultural world. And finally, we will examine how the psychology of intergroup relations can be applied to areas as diverse as business, education, law, and politics.