PY3SCO-Self Control

Module Provider: Psychology
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites: PY2RM Research Methods and Data Analysis or PY2RMP Research methods in Psychology
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Dr Julia Vogt
Email: j.vogt@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:
Self Control

Aims:
This module aims to enable students to explore existing research and theoretical perspectives on self-control. The option aims to give students experience of critical evaluation of research approaches and theories of self-control; to help them develop the ability to study independently; and to give them experience of current research being undertaken in the department.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module, the student will be able to:

1. Critically analyse research on self-control.


2. Apply their understanding of the processes underlying self-control to sketch interventions and skills that facilitate self-control success.


3. Appraise key theoretical explanations for self-control failure and success, with critical reference to the literature.

Additional outcomes:

Students will gain experience from participating in evaluative discussions of research and theory in large and small groups.Ìý

Outline content:
The module comprises seven 2-hour seminars.

Self-control profoundly contributes to people’s success in life across various domains. Self-control is often considered to be a fixed personality trait but much research shows how it can be trained or facilitated by situational factors. We will look at the causes of self-control failure and how people can successfully identify and battle temptations in self-control conflicts. We will consider the major theories from motivation science and social psychology and critically evaluate the evidence. We will look at various interventions that allow people to prepare for and succeed in self-control conflicts, and discuss the implications of the evidence for policies and interventions.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Seminars involve lectures and interactive discussions.

Summative assessment- Examinations:

This module is assessed through a short answer summer exam (100%)