Social Psychology Definitions Flashcards

Key Concepts in Social Psychology

• Psychological Social Psychology (PSP): Examines individual behaviors influenced by social contexts.
• Symbolic Interactionism (SI): Focuses on how individuals interact through symbols and shared meanings in society.
• Group Processes and Structures (GPS): Studies how groups function and how structure influences behavior within a group.
• Social Structure and Personality (SSP): Analyzes how social structures impact individual personalities and behaviors.

Core Definitions

• Agency: The ability of individuals to act independently and make choices despite societal constraints.
• Constraint: Societal influences shaping individual perceptions and actions.
• Delinquency: Deviant behaviors typically displayed by adolescents aged 12-18.
• Deviant Behavior: Activities that violate societal norms, which may or may not be illegal.

Social Dynamics

• Diffusion of Responsibility: Tendency for individuals to feel less responsible to act in emergencies when others are present.
• Doing Gender: Performance of behaviors that align with societal gender expectations during social interactions.
• Ethnic Group: A group identified by shared cultural traits such as language, customs, and heritage.
• Gender: Socially constructed roles, behaviors, and expectations related to being male or female.

Multidimensional Perspectives

• Intersectionality: A concept highlighting how various social categories (class, race, gender) intersect and impact experiences and identities.
• Macro-level Analysis: Examines societal-level phenomena, focusing on broad social dynamics affecting collectives.
• Micro-level Analysis: Investigates individual behaviors and attributes and their effects on emotions and actions.

Fundamental Social Constructs

• Psychology: The scientific study of mental processes and behavior.
• Race: A socially constructed category reflecting perceived genetic distinctions, emphasizing that it lacks biological validity.
• Sex: Biological classification of individuals as male or female based on physical attributes.

Socioeconomic Context

• Social Class: Measured through socioeconomic indicators such as education, income, and job prestige.
• Social Facts: Collective properties that are not contingent on individual perceptions or behaviors.
• Social Norms: Societal rules that dictate expected behaviors and promote conformity.
• Social Psychology: An interdisciplinary field studying how societal contexts influence individual thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Social Structures and Systems

• Social Stratification: Hierarchical arrangement of groups based on access to resources like wealth, power, and prestige.
• Socioeconomic Status: The ranking of individuals based on educational level, income, and occupational status.
• Sociological Perspective: An approach that contextualizes individual experiences within broader social and historical frameworks.
• Sociological Social Psychology: Integrates various theories, including SI, SSP, and GPS, to explore social influences on psychology.

Analytical Frameworks

• Status: A recognized position that individuals hold within the social hierarchy.
• Status Characteristics: Dimensions like race, gender, and class that contribute to societal stratification.
• Unit of Analysis: Defines the level (micro or macro) at which research focuses.
• Values: Fundamental beliefs and ideals held by individuals or groups.