Psychology vs Social Psychology

Psychology vs Social Psychology

• Psychology is a scientific study of individual human mind and behavior.
• Social psychology, a branch of psychology, focuses on societal influences on individual behavior.
• Major areas under psychology include personality, positive, and developmental psychology.
• Social psychology examines how behavior, emotions, and mental processes are impacted by social environments.

Introduction to Social Psychology

• Defined as a scientific field that investigates the causes of individual behavior and thought in social contexts.
• Explores influence of social environment on thoughts, feelings, and actions (Robert A. Baron).
• Engages in the scientific study of interactions and relationships between individuals.

Scientific Nature of Social Psychology

• Social psychology is scientific due to four core values:
  • Accuracy: Information should be precise and error-free.
  • Objectivity: Analysis must be unbiased.
  • Skepticism: Verification of results is crucial for accuracy.

Historical Background

• Early exploration emerged from humanity's quest to measure thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
• Norman Triplett initiated social psychology with his 1895 study on performance in the presence of others, revealing increased speed in cyclists when competing together.
• Mc Dougall's "Introduction to Social Psychology" (1908) marked the first formal book on the subject; he emphasized the individual as the primary unit of analysis.

Development of Social Psychology (1935-1960s)

• Post-WWII period ignited interest in understanding group behaviors.
• Key research on extreme obedience was spurred by historical events (e.g., Hitler’s influence).
• Notable publications introduced new concepts, such as Thibaut & Kelly's 1959 work on group dynamics, and Milgram's 1963 obedience studies.

Maturing Field (1970s-1990s)

• Emergence of diverse topics in social psychology:
  • Attribution theory explored the understanding of behavior causes (1972).
  • Developments in gender studies, notably Bem's Sex Role Inventory (1974).
  • Exploration of cultural influences on self-concept (Markus & Kitayama, 1991).

Research Methodology in Social Psychology

• Systematic observation aims to support or refute hypotheses through various techniques:
  • Naturalistic observation.
  • Surveys to gather data on behaviors and attitudes.
• Correlational studies identify relationships between variables, classified as positive, negative, or none.

Conducting Ethical Research

• Social psychology research balances experimental procedures and ethical considerations:
  • Deception may be employed to conceal study purposes, raising ethical concerns addressed through informed consent and debriefing.
• Informed consent ensures participants are adequately informed about the study before participation.
• Debriefing provides participants with a full account of the study's purpose and any deception post-participation.

Steps for Conducting Research

• Select a meaningful research topic to explore psychological effects.
• Review existing literature to understand prior findings.
• Develop hypotheses predicting the outcomes of the study.
• Choose subjects using random sampling to ensure diversity and equity.
• Data collection includes self-reports, observations, and archival analysis.
• Analyze and share data findings to contribute to the field.

Common Sense vs Social Psychology

• Social psychology investigates behaviors beyond logical reasoning, focusing on complexities of human actions and social contexts.