Interpersonal Skills 2


In this module, you’ll continue to explore conceptual and empirical findings from social psychology – but focusing specifically on those relating to interpersonal and group processes. The aim is to combine knowledge of psychology with insights into relationships between people, drawn from counselling and psychotherapy. You’ll be encouraged to reflect on personal, real life interactions to examine habitual patterns of behaviour.

What does the module cover?

Become proficient in the individual-group system: membership, roles, personhood, and identity.  Learn the processes involved in negotiating and sustaining boundaries.  Become familiar with basic principles underling group-work therapy.  Develop critical thinking in analysing the role of groups in shaping our personal and social being.  Learn the importance of identifying the nature and management of anxiety.  Gain practical skills to organise and integrate knowledge from psychology and counselling pertinent to group relations.

More Information


Module Code:
PY2910

Key topics include:

•    The individual-group system
o    Conceptual issues
o    Developmental issues

•    Relating with others / relating within groups
o    Personal space boundaries
o    Inter-personal and group boundaries
o    Losing and sustaining individuality within a group

•    Anxiety in groups
o    Social and personal anxiety (e.g., dependency, trust, shame and guilt)
o    Defensive strategies (e.g., projection, collusion, conformity, bullying)
o    Managing anxiety differently: introduction to social skills group-work  

Pre-requisites

None

Number of credits & study time

20 credits / 200 hours

Assessment

You’ll be required to complete two assessments – a theoretical coursework essay, counting towards 40% of your grade, plus a coursework essay on the analysis of a reflective incident, counting towards 60% of your grade.  In this second essay, you will be asked to reflect on an incident from personal experience, and articulate its features in relation to both psychological and counselling theory introduced in this module, making sure to identify and discuss various relevant interpersonal skills at play.