Social Psychology Definition Paper
Social 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 is all about life – your life: your beliefs, your attitudes, your relationships.
Definition of Social Psychology Social psychology is a discipline that uses scientific method “to understand and explain how the thought, feelings and behavior of individuals are influenced by the actual, imagines or implied presence of other beings” (Allport, 1985). Social psychology is also the scientific study of how people think about, influence, and relate to one another. Social psychology includes a broad range of social topics, including group, social perception, leadership, non-verbal behavior, conformity, aggression and prejudice. It is important to note that social psychology is not just about looking at social influences. Social perception and social interaction are also vital to understanding social behavior. Some of the main ideas that social psychology seeks to address are: the construction of our social reality, social intuition, how social influences, personal attitudes, personality, and biology shape or behavior, and how social psychology principles can be applied in everyday life (Myers, 2008).
How social psychology differs from other disciplines It is important to understand how social psychology differs from other disciplines. Social psychology is often confused with folk wisdom, personality psychology and sociology. Unlike folk wisdom, which relies on anecdotal observations and subjective interpretation, social
psychology
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 is all about life – your life: your beliefs, your attitudes, your relationships.
Definition of Social Psychology Social psychology is a discipline that uses scientific method “to understand and explain how the thought, feelings and behavior of individuals are influenced by the actual, imagines or implied presence of other beings” (Allport, 1985). Social psychology is also the scientific study of how people think about, influence, and relate to one another. Social psychology includes a broad range of social topics, including group, social perception, leadership, non-verbal behavior, conformity, aggression and prejudice. It is important to note that social psychology is not just about looking at social influences. Social perception and social interaction are also vital to understanding social behavior. Some of the main ideas that social psychology seeks to address are: the construction of our social reality, social intuition, how social influences, personal attitudes, personality, and biology shape or behavior, and how social psychology principles can be applied in everyday life (Myers, 2008).
How social psychology differs from other disciplines It is important to understand how social psychology differs from other disciplines. Social psychology is often confused with folk wisdom, personality psychology and sociology. Unlike folk wisdom, which relies on anecdotal observations and subjective interpretation, social
psychology
References: Allport, G. W. (1985). The historical background of social psychology. In G. Lindzey, and E. Aronson, (Eds.) Handbook of Social Psychology, 1, (3), 1-46. Cherry, K. (2010). What Is Social Psychology? Retrieved on August 26, 2010 from: http://psychology.about.com/od/socialpsychology/f/socialpsych.htm Einwohner, R. L. (1999). The social psychology of collective action: Identify, injustice, and gender. Social Forces, 77 (4), 165. Retrieved August 26, 2010 from: ProQuest Database. Myers, D. (2008). Social Psychology (9th ed.). New York: McGraw Hill.