Elective Course - Group Processes and Intergroup Relations

This course is concerned with human interactions within groups as well as relations between groups. On the one hand, members of groups face trade-offs between individual and collective outcomes. On the other hand, people often identify strongly with groups to which they belong. These two broad perspectives of interdependence and identity will guide our exploration of theoretical and empirical insights on (a) how human groups are constituted, (b) what promotes (and undermines) cooperation within groups, (c) causes and consequences of conflict between groups, and (d) how to reduce group-based discrimination. Though rooted in social psychology, the course takes a broad, interdisciplinary behavioural science perspective. Examples come from research on organisations, sports teams, political behaviour, and armed conflicts, among others. The classes will consist of short lectures, reading-based discussions, in-class activities, and work on a group research project.