This free course, The social nature of being human, will introduce you to several of the social aspects of humanity and being human. Some of these are obvious, as, during the course, you will think about crowd behaviour and consider traditional dilemmas of being in crowds. Others will be less obvious, such as the seemingly intimate and private act of charitable giving to the homeless. Yet the focus of the course will at all points be how the 'social' permeates our day-to-day conduct, and often in ways we are not necessarily aware of it. We are in the presence of others, not just when they clearly chant with us or step on our feet, but, more controversially, even when during our most private dreams, fantasies and other ruminations.

During a campaign interview, Theresa May speculated on why people might visit foodbanks. The OU's Dr Dave Middleton asks if there's a balance between respectfully giving, and giving respect.

The homeless and especially those who are rough sleepers, comprise a disproportionate number of people in prison in England and Wales. Dr David Scott looks at why prisons and the streets are not a replacement for a true home.

While so much progress has been made regarding the rights of the LGBTQ community, it might come as a surprise that young people in this community are at considerable risk of becoming homeless. Dr Mathijs Lucassen explores this issue and how we can overcome it.

You can judge a society by how it treats those most in needs. The last 200 years or so of criminalisation of the homeless doesn't reflect that well on the UK.