General provisions

The Hugo Valentin Centre, Uppsala University, is responsible for the course. The course was approved by the board of Hugo Valentin Centre 2010-10-12.

Entry requirements

A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen, from an internationally recognised university. Proficiency in English.

Learning outcomes

After completing the course the student will be able to:

• Critically discuss and evaluate psychological theory of some of the main behavioural and social-cognitive tendencies in relation to genocidal violence.
• Describe and critically analyse the relationship between theoretical explanations of individual psychology that focus on personality dispositions, situational causes and the interaction between the two.
• Discuss some of the implications that identity theory has for understanding the psychology of violence.
• Understand and explain the psychological, cultural and social dynamics in relations between perpetrators, victims, bystanders.
• Apply the theoretical arguments on empirical examples of genocide and other forms of mass violence.

Content

The purpose of the course is to provide students with knowledge of the psychological factors that affect individual behaviour during outbreaks of genocide and other forms of mass violence. Different theoretical perspectives will be discussed, with an emphasis on their understanding of the psychology of perpetrators, victims, helpers/rescuers and bystanders. Social, psychological and cultural dimensions will be considered, and in particular the potentially destructive relationship between individual behaviour and how it is affected by groups and leaders.

Instruction

The teaching include lectures, seminars and oral presentations.

Assessment

Continuous oral and written examination, as well as the writing of an essay. The final exam must be handed in before deadline in order to be considered during the grading process. Students who have not submitted obligatory assignments have until the end of the semester to do so according to teacher instructions.