Social psychology


is the scientific study of how the thoughts, feelings, and behaviours of individuals are influenced
by the actual, imagined, and implied presence of others

Social psychologists typically explain human behaviour as a result of the relation between mental
state and social situation, studying the factors/conditions under which certain behaviour, actions,
and feelings occur. Social psychology is thus concerned with the way these feelings, thoughts,
beliefs, intentions, and goals are cognitively constructed and how these mental representations, in
turn, influence our interactions with others.


Traditionally, the emergence of this discipline bridged the gap between psychology and sociology.
During the years immediately following World War II, there was frequent collaboration between
psychologists and sociologists. However, the two disciplines have become increasingly specialized
and isolated from each other in recent years, with sociologists generally focusing on more macro
features (e.g., social structure), whereas psychologists may be more concerned with more micro
features.

There has also been a difference in emphasis between American and European social psychologists, as
the former traditionally have focused more on the individual, whereas the latter have generally
paid more attention to group-level phenomena.


Some of the phenomena studied by social psychology:

Attitude – is defined as learned, global evaluations of a person, object, place, or issue that
influence thought and action. In other words, attitudes are basic expressions of approval and
disapproval, or likes and dislikes.

Persuasion – is an active method of influence that attempts to guide people toward the adoption of
an attitude, idea, or behaviour by rational or emotive means. Persuasion relies on "appeals" rather
than strong pressure or coercion.

Self-concept – is a term referring to the whole sum of beliefs that people have about themselves.

Social influence – describes the persuasive effects people have on each other. It overlaps
considerably with research on attitudes and persuasion. The three main areas of social influence
include: conformity, compliance, and obedience. Social influence is also closely related to the
study of group dynamics, as most principles of influence are strongest when they take place in
social groups.

A special kind of social influence is the self-fulfilling prophecy. This is a prediction that, in
being made, actually causes itself to become true.

Group dynamics – is a system of behaviours and psychological processes occurring within a social
group (intragroup dynamics), or between social groups (intergroup dynamics).

A group can be defined as two or more individuals that are connected to each another by social
relationships. Groups tend to interact, influence each other, and share a common identity. They are
distinguished from aggregates.

A social aggregate is a social unit, whose members met by chance, unplanned, do not know each other
and probably do not meet again in the same composition.
They are divided into clusters, i.e. groups of up to 40 people, and crowds. People group together
in a certain place on the basis of the same stimulus. Clusters and crowds can be socially
structured because they have a planned formation, or random, i.e. they have an unplanned formation.
The so-called crowd psychosis arises in the crowd. The person in the crowd suppresses his own
individuality, primitive impulses are enforced, and the feeling of responsibility disappears. The
crowd evokes a feeling of anonymity and security. One can behave in a way that one would never
behave oneself.