Psychology and Sustainable Society
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| PSGY3052 | Psychology | 3 | 10 | Spring Malaysia |
- Code
- PSGY3052
- School
- Psychology
- Level
- 3
- Credits
- 10
- Semesters
- Spring Malaysia
Summary
The 21st century as a whole is characterised by change, complexity, and acceleration. While humans benefit from the fast development of various technologies, the well-being of individuals and society are at risk. Accordingly, the United Nations has proposed 17 sustainable development goals which underline the importance of increasing opportunities for progress and promoting the development while putting well-being as the central element. This module will explore how psychology plays a critical role in meeting the recent challenges in terms of achieving these sustainable goals (e.g. sustainable cities, climate action, good health, partnerships to achieve the goals) with a human-centric perspective. Psychological theories, concepts, and cases of application in the context will be examined. Further, students will learn how to work as a psychologist in a multidisciplinary setting.
Target Students
BSc Psychology / BSc Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience students at UNM. Students from DOAP can take this module. The module would also be suitable for psychology postgraduate research students
Classes
- One 30-minute un assigned each week for 11 weeks
- One 1-hour-30-minute lecture each week for 11 weeks
Assessment
- 50% Research Proposal: Write a maximum of 2000 words research proposal.
- 50% Exam (1-hour): Choose 1 out of 3 questions to write an essay.
Assessed by end of spring semester
Educational Aims
To expose students to various public issues that could be solved with insights from psychology. To introduce the ways psychologists work on the topics of sustainable development of society, such as liveable city, climate action, good health and well-being, and building partnerships for the goals. To offer students an opportunity to apply their psychological knowledge and skills to solve the on-going public issues concerned with sustainable society. Students will be encouraged to think critically about empirical evidence, evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different theoretical arguments and develop their own opinions and solutions.Learning Outcomes
1) Knowledge and understanding – Students will explore and gain knowledge on the applicability of various psychological theories in the public spheres, and be able to demonstrate in-depth understanding of these psychological theories and the methodological approaches used in the context of creating sustainable society.
2) Intellectual skills – Students will be able to critically evaluate and integrate the literature within and beyond the discipline of psychology under the topics of sustainable society.
3) Professional/practical skills – Students will be able to think flexibly about given public issues and be able to apply various psychological concepts and theories to solve the problems. Students will also demonstrate their ability to communicate ideas and arguments clearly by participating in small-group discussions of research and theory.
4) Transferable skills – Students will develop skills in critical thinking, working in small groups and scientific writing. They will also demonstrate the ability to work in a multidisciplinary setting.
Conveners
- Dr Eun Hee Lee