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Human Risk - PSY00096M

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  • Department: Psychology
  • Module co-ordinator: Prof. Rob Jenkins
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2024-25

Module aims

The future of life hinges on human thinking and behaviour. This basic insight puts psychology at the crossroads between extinction and flourishing. When the stakes are high and the risks are growing, what does the science have to say? Navigating risks is more than just crunching the numbers. Decades of research in cognitive science has shown that understanding risk involves grappling with individual differences, context, and societal factors. In this module, we will examine these factors, achieving an up-to-date overview on the psychology of risk, and asking how a scientific approach can help us survive the most important century.

Module learning outcomes

  • Discuss the development of rational approaches to risk and their relation to psychological theory
  • Critically evaluate how everyday risk perception deviates from rational risk assessment in systematic and predictable ways
  • Integrate the role of risk at different levels of analysis—brain, person, group, society—and over different timescales
  • Reason about the impact of decisions taken now on the future of humanity.

Module content

  • Origins of risk research
  • Hazards and risk perception
  • Development and individual differences
  • Luck and games
  • Frontiers of forecasting
  • Disaster and risk mitigation
  • Extinction risks

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Essay (self cert) : Human Risk 3000 words		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Essay (self cert) : Human Risk 3000 words		 N/A 100

Module feedback

The marks on all assessed work will be provided on e-vision.

Indicative reading

None specified.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.