What is Social Psychology? Explained.

An Introduction

The study of how people interact with, think about, and influence one another is known as social psychology. In the early 20th century, it came into being at the intersection of psychology and sociology. Sociology examines the nature of society, whereas psychology studies the nature of humans. On the other side, social psychology examines how people interact with one another and with society as a whole. Social psychology has a humanistic and individualistic perspective. It is the investigation of the individual in social context. This social situation may involve interactions between individuals, between individuals and groups, or between one group and another group.

The last century has seen the emergence of new sciences and specialised fields for a variety of purposes, along with technological advancements that have altered the landscape of education and knowledge. New social realities brought forward new issues. The world was undergoing a major upheaval when social psychology first emerged. Numerous data in the disciplines of linguistics, anthropology, ethnography, and archaeology need interpretation.

The two disciplines that are considered the parents of social psychology, psychology and sociology, were born out of this need.

Societies take shape as a result of human activity, interaction, and communication, which in turn influences how people behave. The study of social psychology enables us to comprehend the dynamics of human behavior in social contexts, as well as the effects that these situations have on people as individuals and the ways that people's behavior affects these situations.

Social psychology interferes with social interactions by offering helpful advice in a variety of contexts. The rising demand for effective management in the fields of business, education, health, mass communication, the fight against anti-social behaviour, public services, sports, etc., has expanded the practical needs of the discipline.

Nature of Social Psychology. 

1-Social psychology is based on science.

The approach that social psychology takes to the variety of subjects it covers is scientific. We can learn about interpersonal relationships, love, jealousy, violence, altruism (helpful behaviour), and the roles of individuals in communities from a variety of literary works and common sense explanations. The method that a social psychologist uses makes a difference. A three-step basic approach has been used in all of the scientific methodologies, which we shall explore in more detail below (McDavid and Harari, 1994):

  1. The grouping of meticulous observations. Gathering knowledge about pertinent problems and processes is necessary for careful observation, along with a healthy dose of scepticism.
  2. The systematic synthesis of these findings and the formulation of overarching principles.
  3. Utilizing these general principles to anticipate upcoming observations
We can use the adage "people tend to discredit those who ask the important public questions on being emotional, it is a ploy to avoid debate" as an example. 1 How do we check the statement's veracity moving forward? First, we must consider the major domestic or international concerns that raise issues of greater concern, such as the eviction of residents of a specific area because of construction projects. After that, we must choose a sample group that is representative and ask people for their perspectives. How many people view it as a major or minor issue? Why do they believe what they do? After that, a social psychologist might examine the underlying reasons and the sociopsychological effects.

2-The study of human experience and behaviour is known as social psychology.
Human behaviour is often explained by social psychologists in terms of the interaction between mental states and current social circumstances. Behavior can be viewed as a function of the person and the environment, according to Kurt Lewin's (1951) famous heuristic formula, B = f (P, E), i.e., behaviour is a function of person and environment.

The first query concerns overt behaviour, or behaviour that is open to direct observation. Concerning an emotional condition is the second. Both visible behaviours and intangible emotions and thoughts are studied by social psychology.

3-Causes of Social Behaviour and Thought

Social psychology investigates individual behaviour as well as theorises about the origins and circumstances that may underpin a particular behaviour or phenomenon.
The following five social interaction elements have received the greatest attention (Baron and Byron 1995)
  1. Others' actions and qualities
  2. Memory, reasoning, belief, ideas, and judgments about others are all basic cognitive processes.
  3. Ecological Variables: direct and indirect physical environment affects l Cultural Context: cultural norms, participation in diverse groups
  4. Biological factors of human behaviour and genetic heredity as they relate to social behavior
Social psychology studies the causes of social behaviour and the elements that influence our feelings, behaviour, and thoughts in social interactions. The core premise is that "accurate and meaningful knowledge on even the most complicated aspects of social behaviour and social thought may be obtained via the use of basic scientific methods" (Baron & Byron 1995; 13).
Thus, social psychology is the scientific study of human behaviour in a social and cultural framework. It describes and analyses the causes of behaviours that may be related to one or more of the criteria listed above.

Reference 

  • Andreyeva, Galina (1990) Social Psychology. Prgress Publication: Moscow 
  • Baron, R. A. and Byrne, D. (1997). Social Psychology, 8th edition. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon
  • Tajfel, H. and Israel J. (ed.) (1972) The Context of Social Psychology. Academic Press: London and New Yor


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