IR5070 Leaders, Psychology and Foreign Policy

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 11

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Available to students studying on campus MLitt programmes in the School of International Relations.

Planned timetable

Thursday 11am - 2pm

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr R K Beasley

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr Ryan Beasley

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

Research in the field of Foreign Policy Analysis takes seriously the impact individual leaders can have on foreign policy and international relations. Political Psychology focuses on the characteristics of individuals and how this influences political processes and outcomes. Political psychologists who focus on political leaders have examined in detail the ways in which leaders’ personalities, beliefs, and information processing affect their decision-making and their conduct of foreign policy and other politically important behaviours (organising political violence, heading international organisations, commanding wars, etc.). This module will examine psychological approaches to the study of political leaders, focusing primarily on social scientific methods and findings. Students will have the opportunity to conduct political personality profiles of leaders, including the use of automated computer software to analyse leaders’ speeches and writings.

Assessment pattern

100% coursework

Re-assessment

100% Written Examination

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 Lecture (X11 weeks); 1 Seminar (X11 weeks); 1 Tutorial/Laboratory (X11 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours

33

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

253

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Explain the dominant approaches to the study of the psychology of foreign policy leaders.
  • Assess the political conditions influencing the impact of individual leaders on foreign policy.
  • Evaluate decision-making practices and their impact on foreign policy.
  • Conduct a personality profile of a political leader using content analysis software.