WMJ01301 Current Directions in Social Psychology

Hiroshima University Syllabus

Japanese

Academic Year 2026Year School/Graduate School Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Master's Course) Division of Humanities and Social Sciences Integrated Arts and Human Sciences Program

Lecture Code WMJ01301 Subject Classification Specialized Education

Subject Name 社会行動論

Subject Name
（Katakana）シャカイコウドウロン

Subject Name in
English Current Directions in Social Psychology

Instructor SAKATA KIRIKO,KOMIYA ASUKA,KITAKAJI YOKO

Instructor
(Katakana) サカタ　キリコ,コミヤ　アスカ,キタカジ　ヨウコ

Campus Higashi-Hiroshima Semester/Term 1st-Year, Second Semester, 3Term

Days, Periods, and Classrooms (3T) Tues1-4：IAS K110

Lesson Style Lecture Lesson Style
(More Details) Face-to-face, Online (on-demand)

The course will be conducted primarily in an on-demand format, but some sessions are scheduled to be held in person. A guidance document describing the format of each class session will be posted on Moodle, so please read it carefully and attend the course accordingly.x｀

Credits 2.0 Class Hours/Week 4 Language of Instruction J : Japanese

Course Level 5 : Graduate Basic

Course Area（Area） 24 : Social Sciences

Course Area（Discipline） 06 : Psychology

Eligible Students

Keywords human behavior, groups, culture, mutual influence processes, gaming

Special Subject for Teacher Education 　 Special Subject 　

Class Status
within Educational
Program
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Criterion referenced
Evaluation
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)

Class Objectives
/Class Outline To date, psychology and other fields within the behavioral sciences have sought to clarify human behavior in social and group contexts. In this course, drawing in particular on findings from social psychology, we will examine how society and groups influence human behavior, and how individuals’ actions in turn affect groups and society. The course will explain the interdependent relationship between human behavior and groups/society. It aims to equip students with theoretical and conceptual frameworks for analyzing and understanding social behavior in an increasingly diverse society from a behavioral science perspective, as well as with methodological foundations for conducting empirical research.

Class Schedule The section of cultural psychology (8 lessons, Komiya)
Lesson 1: Introduction: What is cultural psychology?
Lesson 2: Culture and Self
Lesson 3: Self-consistency
Lesson 4: Motivations
Lesson 5: Perception and Cognition
Lesson 6: Emotions
Lesson 7: Guest Talk
Lesson 8: Summary and Discussion
The section of cooperative behavior (7 lessons, Kitakaji)
Lesson 9: Introduction to Human Cooperative Behavior
Lesson 10: Cooperation and Rationality
Lesson 11: What is the Evolution of Cooperation?
Lesson 12: Mechanisms of the Evolution of Cooperation
Lesson 13: Altruism and Social Preferences
Lesson 14: Cooperative Behavior and Institutions
Lesson 15: Summary and Discussion

A report will be assigned on one of the following themes: “Culture and Human Behavior” or “Cooperative Behavior.”

Text/Reference
Books,etc. No textbook.

PC or AV used in
Class,etc. Handouts, Audio Materials, Visual Materials, Microsoft Stream, moodle

(More Details) Handouts, PowerPoint

Learning techniques to be incorporated Discussions, Quizzes/ Quiz format, Post-class Report

Suggestions on
Preparation and
Review Please review the content of each class session (including the discussions) so that your understanding will deepen.

Requirements

Grading Method Final report (70%), Participation in discussion (30%)

Practical Experience

Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it

Message Tuesday, October 27 is scheduled to be an in-person class.

This course is taught each year by combining two of the following three themes: Culture and Humans, Human Cooperative Behavior, and Groups and Humans. In AY 2026, the course will cover “Culture and Humans” (Komiya) and “Human Cooperative Behavior” (Kitakaji). In AY 2027, it is scheduled to cover “Groups and Humans” (Sakata) and “Culture and Humans” (Komiya).

Other

Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes.
Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

Academic Year	2026Year	School/Graduate School	Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Master's Course) Division of Humanities and Social Sciences Integrated Arts and Human Sciences Program
Lecture Code	WMJ01301	Subject Classification	Specialized Education
Subject Name	社会行動論
Subject Name （Katakana）	シャカイコウドウロン
Subject Name in English	Current Directions in Social Psychology
Instructor	SAKATA KIRIKO,KOMIYA ASUKA,KITAKAJI YOKO
Instructor (Katakana)	サカタ　キリコ,コミヤ　アスカ,キタカジ　ヨウコ
Campus	Higashi-Hiroshima	Semester/Term	1st-Year, Second Semester, 3Term
Days, Periods, and Classrooms	(3T) Tues1-4：IAS K110
Lesson Style	Lecture	Lesson Style (More Details)	Face-to-face, Online (on-demand)
The course will be conducted primarily in an on-demand format, but some sessions are scheduled to be held in person. A guidance document describing the format of each class session will be posted on Moodle, so please read it carefully and attend the course accordingly.x｀
Credits	2.0	Class Hours/Week	4	Language of Instruction	J : Japanese
Course Level	5 : Graduate Basic
Course Area（Area）	24 : Social Sciences
Course Area（Discipline）	06 : Psychology
Eligible Students
Keywords	human behavior, groups, culture, mutual influence processes, gaming
Special Subject for Teacher Education		Special Subject
Class Status within Educational Program (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Criterion referenced Evaluation (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Class Objectives /Class Outline	To date, psychology and other fields within the behavioral sciences have sought to clarify human behavior in social and group contexts. In this course, drawing in particular on findings from social psychology, we will examine how society and groups influence human behavior, and how individuals’ actions in turn affect groups and society. The course will explain the interdependent relationship between human behavior and groups/society. It aims to equip students with theoretical and conceptual frameworks for analyzing and understanding social behavior in an increasingly diverse society from a behavioral science perspective, as well as with methodological foundations for conducting empirical research.
Class Schedule	The section of cultural psychology (8 lessons, Komiya) Lesson 1: Introduction: What is cultural psychology? Lesson 2: Culture and Self Lesson 3: Self-consistency Lesson 4: Motivations Lesson 5: Perception and Cognition Lesson 6: Emotions Lesson 7: Guest Talk Lesson 8: Summary and Discussion The section of cooperative behavior (7 lessons, Kitakaji) Lesson 9: Introduction to Human Cooperative Behavior Lesson 10: Cooperation and Rationality Lesson 11: What is the Evolution of Cooperation? Lesson 12: Mechanisms of the Evolution of Cooperation Lesson 13: Altruism and Social Preferences Lesson 14: Cooperative Behavior and Institutions Lesson 15: Summary and Discussion A report will be assigned on one of the following themes: “Culture and Human Behavior” or “Cooperative Behavior.”
Text/Reference Books,etc.	No textbook.
PC or AV used in Class,etc.	Handouts, Audio Materials, Visual Materials, Microsoft Stream, moodle
(More Details)	Handouts, PowerPoint
Learning techniques to be incorporated	Discussions, Quizzes/ Quiz format, Post-class Report
Suggestions on Preparation and Review	Please review the content of each class session (including the discussions) so that your understanding will deepen.
Requirements
Grading Method	Final report (70%), Participation in discussion (30%)
Practical Experience
Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it
Message	Tuesday, October 27 is scheduled to be an in-person class. This course is taught each year by combining two of the following three themes: Culture and Humans, Human Cooperative Behavior, and Groups and Humans. In AY 2026, the course will cover “Culture and Humans” (Komiya) and “Human Cooperative Behavior” (Kitakaji). In AY 2027, it is scheduled to cover “Groups and Humans” (Sakata) and “Culture and Humans” (Komiya).
Other
Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes. Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

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