Social Psychology An Individual - 1117 Words

Abstract In this essay the meaning of social psychology will be introduced. The differences and similarities social psychology shares with certain fields of psychology will be clarified throughout this essay. Specific subjects such as attitudes, group behaviors, and other related sources will be cited throughout this essay. Some of the research methods used in social psychology to determine how individuals affect groups or how groups affect an individual will be discussed in this essay. Keywords: group behaviors, social cognition, attitudes, prejudice and discrimination Social Psychology Social psychology is the branch of psychology which studies the behavior of an individual in the society. Social Psychology is a scientific study, which tells society what people think about, how they influence one another, and how they relate to each other, as an individual. Through experimental research, social psychologists are able to tell us how our social interactions affect us as individuals. Definition of Social Psychology â€Å"Social psychology is a science that studies the influences of our situations, with special attention to how we view and affect one another† (Myers, 2010). Therefore, it is a scientific study of how individuals think about, relate to, and influence each other (Myers, 2010). Components of social psychology include social influences, social relations, and social thinking. Social influences include an individual’s culture and pressure of conforming. SocialShow MoreRelatedSocial Psychology And Its Impact On Individual Behavior1262 Words   |  6 PagesSocial psychology has evolved through history and its developments and contributions have been remarkable. This specialized area of psychology studies various topics that are significant for human beings (Ross, Lepper, Ward, 2010). This paper presents with an overview of social psychology by addressing its central themes, strengths, limitations, relevance, and the significance of cultural considerations. Central themes Three central themes are apparent in social psychology research. These themesRead MoreSocial Psychology : How An Individual s Thoughts, Feelings, And Behaviors937 Words   |  4 PagesSocial Psychology is the study of how an individual’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the actual or imagined, implied presence of others. Social Psychology deals with the factors that lead us as individuals to behave in a given way when around others, and looks at the conditions under which certain behaviors, actions and feelings occur. Throughout Social Psychology there are many concepts that help to explain these ideas and how they are influenced. Many concepts that are withinRead MoreSocial Psychology And Its Impact On Individual Behavior, Attitudes, Perceptions, And Motives Essay2094 Words   |  9 PagesIntroduction What is social change? It is a change within a community; a change in the social relationships. For a society to exist there has to be social relationships. Therefore, for change to exist for the entire society it would have to be within those relationships. When observing and studying social change it is generally a type of psychology termed â€Å"social psychology.† According to the American Psychological Association, social psychology is defined as, â€Å"the branch of psychology that studies theRead MoreSocial Psychology : How The Thoughts, Feelings And Behaviors Of Individuals Are Influenced By Other People2525 Words   |  11 PagesSocial psychology is the scientific attempt to explain how the thoughts, feelings and behaviors of individuals are influenced with the presence or implied presence of others. This classic definition of social psychology expresses that people are influenced by other people to do things they would not normally do if alone. For example, a pers on may be more encouraged to do strange things if others are doing it as well. Stage hypnotism is a form of entertainment found in parties and other social eventsRead MoreUnderstanding Social Psychology And How Relationships With Others Can Influence An Individual s Thoughts And Behaviors966 Words   |  4 PagesWhen studying social psychology, it is essential for one to understand social groups, how they work, and how relationships with others can influence an individual’s thoughts and behaviors. For this reason, a full understanding of cooperation is necessary for social psychologists. Defining Cooperation Cooperation has several components, and therefore must be broken down when being defined. Most importantly, it involves multiple people in any sort of beneficial relationship; that is, the outcomeRead More Social Psychology Essay1687 Words   |  7 Pagesorigins of modern social psychology. It is therefore important to consider that social psychology cannot be traced back to one single source of origin (Burr, 2003). Hence, this is the reason why there are debates of what social psychology is. Allport (1985) described social psychology as the study an individual’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviours which are influenced by the actual, imagines, or implied presence of others. As seen from this definition there is a direct link between social science and theRead MoreSocial Psychology Definition Paper1122 Words   |  5 PagesSocial Psychology Definition Paper Sinthia Brye PSY/ 400 August 30, 2010 Joyce Willis Social Psychology Introduction Social psychology it observes as the influence of our situations with special attention on how we view and affect one another. Social psychology perceives the way we think, influence people, and relates to others. Social psychology lies at psychology’s boundary with sociology, which sociology is the study of people in groups and societies? Social psychology isRead MoreThe Study of Human Behavior in Given Situations1613 Words   |  7 PagesPsychology is a social science study that covers diverse subject topics and carries out different forms of research in order to understand the development and function of human beings. It is a scientific study that focuses on peoples mind and its functions especially those affecting behavior in a particular context. Psychology is divided into different branches, and each branch addresses its own form of content in relation to mental processes and behavior. Social psychology is one of the psychologyRead MoreEvolution of Social Psychology Essay1668 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Social Psychology is one of the younger sub disciplines within the field of Psychology. In the short span in which social psychology has existed, began with the work of the Norman Triplett in the late 1890s. Tripletts work at Indiana University was primarily experimentation with people in competitive settings. Gordon Allport followed Tripletts experimentation with his observations the attitudes of individuals and the study of the self. While these contributions to the history of social psychologyRead MoreSocial Psychology: The Study of Influences Essay1420 Words   |  6 Pagesthat has been explored. Psychology, or the study of â€Å"why†, has been attempting to answer such questions for centuries. Although there are many answers (reflected in the number of schools of psychology), Social psychology attempts to explain the environmental factors that lead to a person behavior. By definition, Social Psychology is â€Å"the study of the manner in which the personality, attitudes , motivations, and behavior of the individual influence and are influenced by social groups† (Merriam-Webster