The Psychology of Social Oppression and Liberation

Undergraduate course

Course description

Objectives and Content

Oppression, maintained by dint of violence, violates the personal, interpersonal and social integrity of individuals and societies. It is subtle in its manifestations, often internalised and replicated in behaviours that unwittingly dehumanise the self and others, eschewing the dignity and humanity of both oppressor and the oppressed.

This course aims to broaden the lens of social oppression to encompass both North and South perspectives. It will explore how the experiences of social oppression, in its subtle and overt manifestations impact on the daily lives of all who are drawn into its vortex. It will examine the individual and group complicity in its perpetuation in the contexts of the North and South. The course will invite students to engage critically with existing notions of the dialectical relationship between the oppressor and oppressed, with a particular focus on how one could address and knowledge and processes both internal and external to ameliorate and challenge this dynamic. Possible strategies of changing this pattern for the individual and the wider society will be explored, and actively debated with critical robustness.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this course, the students should have the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge:

The student has an in-depth knowledge of:

    • the various theoretical and praxis focused dynamics that contribute to social oppression in the contexts of the North and South contexts
    • how contemporary society shapes ones positionality and identity as oppressor or oppressed

Skills:

The student has the ability to:

    • critically evaluate how social oppression is produced and perpetuated in societies
    • recognize the intrapersonal, interpersonal and structural violence that maintains a dynamic of oppression

General competencies:

By the end of the course the student has the ability to:

    • identify how one's own experience of overt and covert oppression impacts on one's health and well-being
    • understand and implement strategies that address the dialectics of oppression and to ameliorate these for the self and the other
    • contextualize the process of empowerment that addresses one liberation from the constraints of internalized oppression in service of humanity

ECTS Credits

5 ECTS

Level of Study

Bachelor

Semester of Instruction

Spring

Place of Instruction

Bergen
Required Previous Knowledge
None
Recommended Previous Knowledge
One year of studies in psychology, education, or special education.
Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap
None
Access to the Course
Access to the course requires admission to a bachelor program in psychology, education, or special education at the Faculty of Psychology. Incoming exchange students at UiB have access to the course.
Teaching and learning methods
Lectures and seminars.
Compulsory Assignments and Attendance
  • Lectures, seminars and discussion section attendance are compulsory. Students are required to attend at least 80% of the course lectures and seminars.
  • A short seminar assignment of 600 words (+/- 10%). This will not be graded, but qualitative feedback will be provided. Submission of the assignment is required to write the final exam.
  • Forms of Assessment

    A 72-hour take home exam essay of 2500 words (+/- 10%).

    Please note that ChatGPT and all other AI text generators are not allowed in submitted written work and home exams.

    Grading Scale
    The grading scale used is A to F Grade A is the highest passing grade in the grading scale, and grade F is a fail.
    Assessment Semester
    Spring
    Reading List
    Reading material will be provided to students before the start of the course. Students are also expected to source their own readings for the seminar assignment and final paper.
    Course Evaluation
    The students are expected to evaluate the course at the end of the semester according to procedures set by the Faculty of Psychology.
    Examination Support Material
    Any
    Programme Committee
    Department of Health Promotion and Development (HEMIL).
    Course Coordinator
    Department of Health Promotion and Development (HEMIL).
    Course Administrator
    Faculty of Psychology