How do social inequalities arise in the heads of individuals? Why do some people defend a system that disadvantages them? And what exactly makes a charismatic leader charismatic?
Society is made up of individuals, but social sciences often forget to examine what is happening in their heads. Psychology, on the other hand, examines how people think, but rarely talks to other disciplines. In this course, we will connect both – we will look at how cognitive processes in the brain of each of us shape large-scale social phenomena.

We will focus on 3 main topics:

1. Difference and categorization
– The world constantly bombards us with stimuli – how can we even orient ourselves in it?
– How does our mind sort people into „us“ and „them“ categories and why is this process inevitable?
– What are the impacts of categorization, and when does a healthy shortcut become discrimination? And why might it be problematic to claim that people who categorize are simply evil?

2. Inequality: Its experience and justification
– What are the types of inequality? Which are more visible, and which less?
– How do people react to inequality? How do those who cause it justify it – and how do those who experience it cope with it?
– Why do those who are disadvantaged by the system defend it just as often?

3. Culture, charisma, and social change
– Inequality and frustration can lead to social change – but how does it occur?
– Do societies go through predictable cycles of stability and chaos? Where are we now?
– Why do we allow personalities like Donald Trump, Viktor Orbán, or Andrej Babiš into power?

We will explore the answers to these questions together in the form of debate seminars and lectures. The course assumes no prior knowledge and is suitable for everyone – from students leaning towards STEM to those drawn to the social sciences. It is designed to pass on (subjectively) the best that sociology and psychology have to offer to understand what is happening to our society globally, and perhaps even what is yet to happen.