PSY 335 - Psychology of Social Influence Credits: 3

Effective until Spring 2020: Introduction to principles of social influence. These principles applied to understanding topics such as attitude change, recruitment and retention in religious cults and other cult-like groups, product advertising, political advertising, fundraising techniques, public service campaigns, initiations and group loyalty, brainwashing.

Effective Spring 2020: Social Influence involves one’s intentional or accidental persuasion of another resulting in changes to beliefs, attitudes, and/or behaviors. We will examine aspects of social influence related to advertising, marketing, propaganda, and indoctrination, as well as compliance, group initiation, and obedience, etc., as they relate to interpersonal and professional relationships.

Prerequisite(s): PSY 270 with minimum grade of C or permission of instructor.