Sociology and Criminology

Identity, Violence and Transgression

Module code: L4103A
Level 5
15 credits in autumn semester
Teaching method: Seminar
Assessment modes: Essay

How do we understand ourselves? How closely is our sense of self related to other people? What happens to a person’s self-conception when their sense of self is systematically attacked and undermined? How do people respond to experiences of trauma and personal loss, and what kind of psychological strategies of survival do they rely on to continue living a meaningful life?

On this module, you’ll explore:

• the main social psychological theories of the self and self-awareness
• the darker side of the self, such as in the work of Erich Fromm and David Riesman
• a range of social theorists 
• a diverse range of modern perspectives on the formation and maintenance of self-identity in modern society
• why some individuals choose to engage in behaviour that crosses boundaries
• how people respond when their sense of identity is systematically attacked and undermined
• a wide range of up-to-date research to cover a variety of theoretical perspectives.

Module learning outcomes

• Demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of interdisiplinary research on identity
• Apply theoretical arguments on identity to empirical examples
• Demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of empirical research on identity
• Critically evaluate recent theoretical arguments on the nature of self and identity, including understanding the limits of these arguments.