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Prosociality and Cooperation

Module description

Humans are social animals – we depend on others’ help or willingness to cooperate. And we ourselves often have the tough choice between acting in our own self-interest or in the interest of others. In this module, we look at the moral, physiological, and situational underpinnings of prosociality and cooperation. How do our individual moral values and preferences, what we regard as ethically right and wrong, shape prosocial behaviour? Who gets our help and who does not, who is seen as deserving our consideration and who is not – and why? What physiological factors play a role in our decisions whether or not to act prosocially and to cooperate? And in which situations are we more likely to act in favour of others and of collective goals, and which situations are likely to make us selfish? 

Module aims - intentions of the module

In this interactive module, we will take a broad, interdisciplinary approach to different facets of prosociality and cooperation. Our aim will be to discover the fundamental, underlying processes that guide our behaviour in the social context. With that, the module will allow you to study ‘big picture’ questions about human nature. The aim will be to examine the contribution that social psychological theory and research – but also moral philosophy and neurobiological approaches – can make to understanding such behaviours.

Through attending the weekly seminars and participating in class discussions and exercises, interactive demonstrations, presentations, and debates you will develop your ability to:

• think rationally and develop reasoned arguments, approach and solve problems in a rigorous and systematic way (linking theory to methods, developing your own ideas with confidence, being able to respond to novel and unfamiliar problems)
• develop interdisciplinary skills (learn other disciplines can inform social psychology, and vice versa)
• manage structure (identifying key demands of the task, setting clearly defined goals, responding flexibly to changing priorities)
• develop time management skills (managing time effectively individually and within a group)
• collaborate (respecting the views and values of others, taking initiative and leading others, supporting others in their work, maintaining group cohesiveness and purpose)
• present to an audience of your peers (presenting ideas effectively in multiple formats, persuading others of the importance and relevance of your views, responding positively and effectively to questions)

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Describe and evaluate approaches to the study of prosociality and cooperation
• 2. Explain underlying psychological processes driving prosociality and cooperation in different contexts

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. Review and critically evaluate research and identify the strengths and weaknesses of this work and structure this literature to present logical, coherent and sustained arguments to support conclusions at an advanced level
• 4. Address systematically complex problems which may be framed within unpredictable contexts, think critically, creatively, and independently and fully appreciate the complexities of the issues at an advanced level
• 5. Understand and apply essential principles in designing novel research, critically evaluate and analyse empirical evidence and assess the reliability of empirical evidence using a range of defined techniques at an advanced level

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 6. Interact effectively and supportively within a learning group
• 7. Describe your own criteria of self-evaluation and challenge received opinion and reflect on your actions, and seek and make use of feedback
• 8. Engage effectively in debate in a professional manner and produce detailed and coherent written work
• 9. Identify with confidence and flexibility complex problems and apply appropriate knowledge and methods for their solution
• 10. Manage time effectively to meet deadlines

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

• Module overview and introduction
• Fundamental principles of prosociality and helping
• When do we help and when not?
• Whom do we help and whom not?
• Fundamental principles of cooperation
• When do we cooperate and when not?
• Summary and synthesis

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Two assessments are required for this module. Where you have been referred/deferred in the examination you will have the opportunity to take a second examination in the August/September re-assessment period. Where you have been referred/deferred in the report you will be required to resubmit the report. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%; deferred marks are not capped.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Chapter 10 “Prosocial Behaviour” (by Mark Levine and Rachel Manning) in the book “An Introduction to Social Psychology, 6th Edition” (edited by Miles Hewstone, Wolfgang Stroebe, and Klaus Jonas)

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE page: http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=3251

Key words search

Psychology, social psychology, prosociality, cooperation