Social Psychology

HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES

Course Description
Why do people behave the way they do? What causes us to help or hurt others? Why do smart people sometimes do dumb or irrational things? Social psychology is concerned with how social influences affect how people think, feel, and act. These forces also shape the way we perceive ourselves in relation to the rest of the world. For instance, we might engage in upward social comparison where we rate ourselves against people who are better off than us in some way. Does this behavior serve to motivate or discourage us? Under what circumstances are we most likely to thrive and achieve educational, work, and personal goals, and how can we mold our environment to ensure success?

Students will have the opportunity to think critically about the effects of social influence and persuasion on individual thoughts, emotion, and behavior and to analyze the ways that society shapes their own and others’ behavior. How can we elicit positive reactions and avoid being misled by others? We will explore themes related to individuals and groups, conformity and obedience, intergroup relations, and judgment and decision-making. A central idea of this course is that awareness of the lessons of social psychology can be applied in everyday contexts, allowing us to make better choices.
Grades: 7-9
Time: 7:00pm EST (New York Time)
Category: HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES
Instructor: Cynthia Flores

William Scott

Cynthia Flores, PhD

Lecturer at Stanford University

Cynthia Flores is a lecturer at Stanford University, fostering intellectual curiosity and the development of critical inquiry through rigorous seminars drawing from a range of topics in neuroscience, biology, psychology, ethics, and philosophy. The courses she teaches have supported freshmen in achieving a successful transition to college-level learning within a liberal education framework. Her research interests within cognitive psychology involve memory and learning, face and object processing, and cognitive speed. In the past, she has worked with children from underprivileged backgrounds in the greater Los Angeles area, building meaningful relationships by providing them with a consistent role model to facilitate educational success. Dr. Flores earned her B.A. in psychology and cognitive sciences from UCLA and her M.A. and Ph.D. in Psychological and Brain Sciences from Washington University in St. Louis.

"This class was much better that I expected. We had the chance to make interactive activities and work in collaboration within all the members of the class. Also, we were able to see how the things we learn can be presented in real life situations."

Maria Lopez - Colombia

Program Calendar:
July 19-30, 2021
(Monday – Friday)
Real-Time Classes Duration:
1 hour & 45 minutes long
(with a 15-minute break)
Max Class Group:
Small class size
(20 students max)

Program Courses

Grades 7-9

For grade 9 students all course options are available.

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