Bachelor
2026/2027
Psychology of Communication
ID 1140873
Type:
Elective course (International Programme 'International Relations and Global Studies')
Delivered by:
Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs
When:
2 year, 3, 4 module
Open to:
students of one campus
Instructors:
Ekaterina Vasilieva
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
3
Contact hours:
48
Course Syllabus
Abstract
The discipline "Psychology of Communication" is devoted to the study of human communication, ways of transmitting information, problems encountered in the process of communication and ways to resolve them. The discipline contains material that allows students to learn about interpersonal, group and mass communication, methods of persuasive communication, gain the knowledge necessary to understand and overcome the barriers and difficulties that arise in the communication process, as well as general psychological and socio-psychological knowledge necessary for understanding and analysis the reasons for their occurrence.
Learning Objectives
- to introduce main social psychological concepts, theories, and communication research to enable students to describe, analyze and evaluate communication situations across different contexts to develop basic communication skills and provide the understanding of their appropriate application in a variety of contexts
Expected Learning Outcomes
- student is capable to identify and explain social psychological concepts, mechanisms and patterns of human communication
- student is capable to identify common barriers and biases which hinders communication on interpersonal and group levels
- student is capable to analyze communication situations using social psychological theories
- student is capable to explain how specific personal, social and cultural factors affect communication in social contexts
- student is capable to apply social psychological concepts in persuasive communication
- student is capable to analyze mass communication using social psychological theories
- student is capable to apply social psychological concepts in mass communication
- student is capable to apply basic techniques to improve interpersonal and group communication
Course Contents
- Introduction: communication, theory and research
- Persuasive communication
- Mass communication
- Communication in organizations
- Intercultural communication
- Conflicts and negotiations
- Theory guided communication
Assessment Elements
- Test
- Final examFinal examination is in a form of oral exam, including theoretical questions and case analysis.
- TED-talkStudents make an individual presentations after the topic "Persuasive communication"
- Mini-projectStudents work in small groups of 3-4 p. on the offered topic and prepare an oral presentation. Presentation is evaluated due to preestablished criteria. In case student cannot attend seminar and take part in group work and mini projects due to reasonable circumstances, s/he can individually present the task on the same topic during the last seminar class.
- In-class activity
Interim Assessment
- 2026/2027 4th module0.1 * TED-talk + 0.25 * In-class activity + 0.1 * Test + 0.35 * Final exam + 0.2 * Mini-project
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
- Sanborn, F. W., & Harris, R. J. (2019). A Cognitive Psychology of Mass Communication (Vol. Seventh edition). New York, NY: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1984545
- The social psychology of communication, , 2011
- Theories of human communication, Littlejohn, S. W., 2011
Recommended Additional Bibliography
- Communication and persuasion : central and peripheral routes to attitude change, Petty, R. E., 1986
- Persuasion : theory and research, O'Keefe, D. J., 1990