Group and Decision Psychology
A.Y. 2026/2027
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with basic knowledge of the main concepts, models and empirical findings in the psychology of groups, with particular attention to decision-making processes within groups, teams and organizations.
The course introduces the study of social and organizational groups by analysing inclusion, social identity, group formation, cohesion, structure, influence, power, performance, teamwork, conflict and the role of the physical and social context. Specific attention will be paid to decision making in groups: phases of the decision-making process, quality of discussion, use of information, cognitive and social biases, group polarization, groupthink, majority and minority influence, power dynamics and the conditions that support more accurate, participatory and responsible decisions.
In line with the objectives of the Bachelor's Degree Programme in Management, Governance and Innovation in Public and Health/Social Care Services, the course aims to develop knowledge and tools useful for understanding and analysing group dynamics and decision-making processes in public, health, social care, organizational and third-sector contexts. Particular attention will be paid to teamwork, conflict management, prevention of decision-making errors and the psychological factors that may facilitate or hinder the effectiveness of work groups.
The course introduces the study of social and organizational groups by analysing inclusion, social identity, group formation, cohesion, structure, influence, power, performance, teamwork, conflict and the role of the physical and social context. Specific attention will be paid to decision making in groups: phases of the decision-making process, quality of discussion, use of information, cognitive and social biases, group polarization, groupthink, majority and minority influence, power dynamics and the conditions that support more accurate, participatory and responsible decisions.
In line with the objectives of the Bachelor's Degree Programme in Management, Governance and Innovation in Public and Health/Social Care Services, the course aims to develop knowledge and tools useful for understanding and analysing group dynamics and decision-making processes in public, health, social care, organizational and third-sector contexts. Particular attention will be paid to teamwork, conflict management, prevention of decision-making errors and the psychological factors that may facilitate or hinder the effectiveness of work groups.
Expected learning outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
Knowledge and understanding
· Describe the main concepts of group psychology: belonging, social identity, cohesion, norms, roles, status, influence, power, performance, teams, conflict and context.
· Understand the main phenomena that influence decision-making processes in groups, with particular reference to collective discussion, biases, polarization and groupthink.
· Recognize the role of group dynamics and decision-making processes in organizational, public, health, social care and third-sector contexts.
Applying knowledge and understanding
· Apply the basic concepts of group psychology to the guided analysis of simple organizational cases.
· Recognize, in group situations, some factors that may facilitate or hinder cooperation, participation, decision quality and conflict management.
· Connect the main models studied in the course to examples drawn from teams, work groups, public services and health/social care contexts.
Making judgements
· Critically identify some recurring group dynamics, such as conformity, social influence, power asymmetries, conflict and decision-making risks.
· Formulate simple evaluations of the quality of a group decision-making process, based on the concepts learned.
Communication skills
· Use the basic terminology of group psychology and decision-making processes.
· Present concepts, examples and simple case analyses related to group dynamics clearly and coherently in written form.
Learning skills
· Study the textbook and teaching materials autonomously.
· Use in-person, synchronous and asynchronous activities to consolidate understanding of the concepts and prepare for the final examination.
Knowledge and understanding
· Describe the main concepts of group psychology: belonging, social identity, cohesion, norms, roles, status, influence, power, performance, teams, conflict and context.
· Understand the main phenomena that influence decision-making processes in groups, with particular reference to collective discussion, biases, polarization and groupthink.
· Recognize the role of group dynamics and decision-making processes in organizational, public, health, social care and third-sector contexts.
Applying knowledge and understanding
· Apply the basic concepts of group psychology to the guided analysis of simple organizational cases.
· Recognize, in group situations, some factors that may facilitate or hinder cooperation, participation, decision quality and conflict management.
· Connect the main models studied in the course to examples drawn from teams, work groups, public services and health/social care contexts.
Making judgements
· Critically identify some recurring group dynamics, such as conformity, social influence, power asymmetries, conflict and decision-making risks.
· Formulate simple evaluations of the quality of a group decision-making process, based on the concepts learned.
Communication skills
· Use the basic terminology of group psychology and decision-making processes.
· Present concepts, examples and simple case analyses related to group dynamics clearly and coherently in written form.
Learning skills
· Study the textbook and teaching materials autonomously.
· Use in-person, synchronous and asynchronous activities to consolidate understanding of the concepts and prepare for the final examination.
Lesson period: Third trimester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Third trimester
Course syllabus
The course includes the following topics:
1. Introduction to group dynamics
Definition of group, varieties of groups, group characteristics, dynamic processes, development over time, value of groups and applications to organizational contexts.
2. Inclusion and identity
Need to belong, inclusion and exclusion, individualism and collectivism, cooperation, social self, personal identity and social identity, social identity theory.
3. Group formation
Joining a group, individual characteristics, affiliation, social comparison, stress and affiliation, interpersonal attraction.
4. Cohesion and development
Sources of cohesion, social cohesion, task cohesion, collective, emotional and structural cohesion, models of group development, consequences of cohesion on satisfaction, influence, productivity and decision making.
5. Group structure
Social norms, roles, socialization, role stress, status, relationships among members, communication and social networks. Implications of group structure for information flow and decision quality.
6. Influence in groups
Conformity and independence, majority influence, minority influence, informational, normative, implicit and interpersonal influence. Effects of social influence on judgment, discussion and collective choices.
7. Power and status
Obedience to authority, Milgram's experiments, bases of social power, status in groups, hierarchies and status stability. Effects of power and status on participation, members' voice and group decisions.
8. Group performance
Social facilitation, social loafing, Ringelmann effect, collective effort model, task types, process gains and losses, group creativity and brainstorming. Conditions that facilitate or hinder performance and the production of decision alternatives.
9. Teams and collaborative work
Definition of team, types of teams, teams as systems, team composition, diversity, interdependence, coordination, goals, adaptive structures, performance assessment. Multidisciplinary teams, professional teams and work groups in public and health/social care contexts.
10. Decision making in groups
Phases of the decision-making process: orientation, discussion, decision and implementation. Obstacles to discussion, quality of information exchange, judgment biases, shared information bias, group polarization, groupthink, symptoms and causes of groupthink, alternative models and strategies to prevent dysfunctional decisions.
11. Conflict in groups
Roots of conflict, competition, resources, power, task, process and relationship conflict, escalation, negotiation, mutual understanding, cooperative tactics, value of conflict. The role of conflict in decision quality and critical review of alternatives.
12. Groups in context
Places, spaces, territories, sense of place, stressful places, personal space, seating arrangements, territoriality in groups. Effects of the physical and social context on interaction, participation, communication and decision-making processes.
Throughout the course, topics will be connected to examples and cases drawn from public administrations, health and social care services, non-profit organizations, multidisciplinary teams, work groups, decision-making settings, co-design processes and organizational innovation.
1. Introduction to group dynamics
Definition of group, varieties of groups, group characteristics, dynamic processes, development over time, value of groups and applications to organizational contexts.
2. Inclusion and identity
Need to belong, inclusion and exclusion, individualism and collectivism, cooperation, social self, personal identity and social identity, social identity theory.
3. Group formation
Joining a group, individual characteristics, affiliation, social comparison, stress and affiliation, interpersonal attraction.
4. Cohesion and development
Sources of cohesion, social cohesion, task cohesion, collective, emotional and structural cohesion, models of group development, consequences of cohesion on satisfaction, influence, productivity and decision making.
5. Group structure
Social norms, roles, socialization, role stress, status, relationships among members, communication and social networks. Implications of group structure for information flow and decision quality.
6. Influence in groups
Conformity and independence, majority influence, minority influence, informational, normative, implicit and interpersonal influence. Effects of social influence on judgment, discussion and collective choices.
7. Power and status
Obedience to authority, Milgram's experiments, bases of social power, status in groups, hierarchies and status stability. Effects of power and status on participation, members' voice and group decisions.
8. Group performance
Social facilitation, social loafing, Ringelmann effect, collective effort model, task types, process gains and losses, group creativity and brainstorming. Conditions that facilitate or hinder performance and the production of decision alternatives.
9. Teams and collaborative work
Definition of team, types of teams, teams as systems, team composition, diversity, interdependence, coordination, goals, adaptive structures, performance assessment. Multidisciplinary teams, professional teams and work groups in public and health/social care contexts.
10. Decision making in groups
Phases of the decision-making process: orientation, discussion, decision and implementation. Obstacles to discussion, quality of information exchange, judgment biases, shared information bias, group polarization, groupthink, symptoms and causes of groupthink, alternative models and strategies to prevent dysfunctional decisions.
11. Conflict in groups
Roots of conflict, competition, resources, power, task, process and relationship conflict, escalation, negotiation, mutual understanding, cooperative tactics, value of conflict. The role of conflict in decision quality and critical review of alternatives.
12. Groups in context
Places, spaces, territories, sense of place, stressful places, personal space, seating arrangements, territoriality in groups. Effects of the physical and social context on interaction, participation, communication and decision-making processes.
Throughout the course, topics will be connected to examples and cases drawn from public administrations, health and social care services, non-profit organizations, multidisciplinary teams, work groups, decision-making settings, co-design processes and organizational innovation.
Prerequisites for admission
There are no specific prerequisites other than those required for admission to the degree programme.
Prerequisites are the same for attending and non-attending students.
Prerequisites are the same for attending and non-attending students.
Teaching methods
The course is delivered in blended mode, with 50% of activities taking place in person and 50% online.
The online component will include synchronous and asynchronous activities. Approximately two thirds of the online component will be delivered synchronously and one third asynchronously.
In-person teaching will include interactive lectures, case discussions, individual and small-group exercises, simulations of decision-making processes, conflict analysis, team dynamics analysis and applications to public, health, social care and organizational contexts.
Synchronous online teaching will include dialogic lectures, thematic sessions, guided discussion of examples, instant polls, collaborative exercises, analysis of decision-making cases and clarification of course contents.
Asynchronous online teaching will include guided study materials, possible short video or audio lectures, formative quizzes, forums, individual exercises, e-tivities and self-assessment activities.
The blended format supports the course objectives by integrating theoretical knowledge, application to cases, individual reflection, peer discussion and the experience of group dynamics and collective decision making.
Attendance is not compulsory but is strongly recommended.
Students are considered attending students if they participate in at least 60% of the overall course activities, including in-person classes, synchronous online meetings and completion of the required asynchronous activities.
The online component will include synchronous and asynchronous activities. Approximately two thirds of the online component will be delivered synchronously and one third asynchronously.
In-person teaching will include interactive lectures, case discussions, individual and small-group exercises, simulations of decision-making processes, conflict analysis, team dynamics analysis and applications to public, health, social care and organizational contexts.
Synchronous online teaching will include dialogic lectures, thematic sessions, guided discussion of examples, instant polls, collaborative exercises, analysis of decision-making cases and clarification of course contents.
Asynchronous online teaching will include guided study materials, possible short video or audio lectures, formative quizzes, forums, individual exercises, e-tivities and self-assessment activities.
The blended format supports the course objectives by integrating theoretical knowledge, application to cases, individual reflection, peer discussion and the experience of group dynamics and collective decision making.
Attendance is not compulsory but is strongly recommended.
Students are considered attending students if they participate in at least 60% of the overall course activities, including in-person classes, synchronous online meetings and completion of the required asynchronous activities.
Teaching Resources
Compulsory textbook
Titolo: Psicologia dei gruppi
Autore: Donelson R. Forsyth
Curatori edizione italiana: Stefano Livi, Fridanna Maricchiolo, Cristina O. Mosso, Giorgia Paleari
Luogo: Milano
Anno: 2022 (prima edizione, 10 febbraio 2022)
Casa editrice: Edra
Chapters included in the programme: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15.
Additional teaching materials, such as slides, case studies, exercise guidelines, formative quizzes, asynchronous activity materials and possible further readings, will be made available on the course online platform.
Additional materials supporting autonomous study may be provided for non-attending students. The examination contents are the same for attending and non-attending students.
Titolo: Psicologia dei gruppi
Autore: Donelson R. Forsyth
Curatori edizione italiana: Stefano Livi, Fridanna Maricchiolo, Cristina O. Mosso, Giorgia Paleari
Luogo: Milano
Anno: 2022 (prima edizione, 10 febbraio 2022)
Casa editrice: Edra
Chapters included in the programme: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15.
Additional teaching materials, such as slides, case studies, exercise guidelines, formative quizzes, asynchronous activity materials and possible further readings, will be made available on the course online platform.
Additional materials supporting autonomous study may be provided for non-attending students. The examination contents are the same for attending and non-attending students.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The examination consists of a written test including:
· 15 multiple-choice questions;
· 3 open-ended questions.
The multiple-choice section is assessed first. In order to access the assessment of the open-ended questions, students must pass the multiple-choice section with a minimum mark of 18/30.
For the multiple-choice section, points are awarded as follows:
· +2 points for each correct answer;
· -0.5 points for each wrong answer;
· 0 points for each unanswered question.
The raw score of the multiple-choice section is then converted into a mark out of 30. The multiple-choice section is considered passed with a mark of at least 18/30. Only students who reach this threshold will have their open-ended questions assessed.
The multiple-choice questions assess knowledge and understanding of the concepts, theoretical models and main empirical findings presented in the course and in the textbook, including the key concepts related to decision-making processes in groups.
The open-ended questions assess the ability to explain and connect concepts, apply theoretical models to cases or organizational situations, analyse group and decision-making processes, identify biases and critical issues in collective decisions, use disciplinary terminology correctly and formulate coherent arguments.
The final grade is expressed out of 30 and is calculated as a weighted average of the two sections:
· the multiple-choice section accounts for one third of the final grade;
· the open-ended questions account for two thirds of the final grade.
The 3 open-ended questions are assessed out of 30 according to the following criteria: conceptual accuracy, completeness of the answer, ability to connect concepts and cases, critical analysis, ability to analyse group decision-making processes, clarity of exposition, appropriate language and correct use of disciplinary terminology.
Attending students may receive a bonus of up to 2 points, to be added to the written examination grade only if the examination is passed. The bonus is distributed as follows:
· up to 0.5 points for participation in in-person and synchronous online activities;
· up to 0.5 points for completion of the required asynchronous activities;
· up to 1 point for active participation in exercises, case discussions and applied classroom activities.
The bonus cannot be used to reach the minimum passing grade in the multiple-choice section or the overall minimum passing grade of the written examination: it is applied only after the examination has been passed. The final grade cannot exceed 30/30; honours may be awarded, at the discretion of the examination board, in the case of an excellent and complete examination.
Non-attending students take the examination with the same structure and on the same course contents
· 15 multiple-choice questions;
· 3 open-ended questions.
The multiple-choice section is assessed first. In order to access the assessment of the open-ended questions, students must pass the multiple-choice section with a minimum mark of 18/30.
For the multiple-choice section, points are awarded as follows:
· +2 points for each correct answer;
· -0.5 points for each wrong answer;
· 0 points for each unanswered question.
The raw score of the multiple-choice section is then converted into a mark out of 30. The multiple-choice section is considered passed with a mark of at least 18/30. Only students who reach this threshold will have their open-ended questions assessed.
The multiple-choice questions assess knowledge and understanding of the concepts, theoretical models and main empirical findings presented in the course and in the textbook, including the key concepts related to decision-making processes in groups.
The open-ended questions assess the ability to explain and connect concepts, apply theoretical models to cases or organizational situations, analyse group and decision-making processes, identify biases and critical issues in collective decisions, use disciplinary terminology correctly and formulate coherent arguments.
The final grade is expressed out of 30 and is calculated as a weighted average of the two sections:
· the multiple-choice section accounts for one third of the final grade;
· the open-ended questions account for two thirds of the final grade.
The 3 open-ended questions are assessed out of 30 according to the following criteria: conceptual accuracy, completeness of the answer, ability to connect concepts and cases, critical analysis, ability to analyse group decision-making processes, clarity of exposition, appropriate language and correct use of disciplinary terminology.
Attending students may receive a bonus of up to 2 points, to be added to the written examination grade only if the examination is passed. The bonus is distributed as follows:
· up to 0.5 points for participation in in-person and synchronous online activities;
· up to 0.5 points for completion of the required asynchronous activities;
· up to 1 point for active participation in exercises, case discussions and applied classroom activities.
The bonus cannot be used to reach the minimum passing grade in the multiple-choice section or the overall minimum passing grade of the written examination: it is applied only after the examination has been passed. The final grade cannot exceed 30/30; honours may be awarded, at the discretion of the examination board, in the case of an excellent and complete examination.
Non-attending students take the examination with the same structure and on the same course contents
PSIC-03/A - Social Psychology - University credits: 6
Asynchronous teaching: 8 hours
Synchronous online teaching: 12 hours
Lessons: 20 hours
Synchronous online teaching: 12 hours
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Guglielmetti Chiara
Professor(s)
Reception:
Monday 2.30PM 5.30PM (on request, write an email)
Teams or, on request, Room 1 (Building AULA 11-12) second floor, Via Conservatorio 7 Milano