Chapter.1 : Introducing Social Psychology
1.1 : What is Social Psychology and How is it Different ?
Defining Social Psychology :
- Social psychology is the study of the way in which people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are
influenced by the presence of people.
o Social Influence is mostly direct attempts at persuasion where someone tries to change
another’s behavior or attitude.
o The study of direct attempts at social influence is a major part of social psychology.
o Social influence also includes our thoughts and feelings which are affected by our
surroundings.
o Social psychology focuses on social influence and understanding how environments shape an
individual.
Social Psychology, Philosophy, Science, and Common Sense :
- Philosophers are part of the foundation of contemporary psychology.
o Psychologists looked to philosophers for insights into the nature of consciousness and how
people form beliefs about the social world.
o They also disagreed in some points. Ex. Aristippus & Spinoza about love.
o Psychologists address same questions as philosopher but look at it scientifically.
- People are often unaware of the reasons behind their own response and feelings.
o Therefore, to explain a tragedy, scientific & empirical methods are used instead of relying on
opinions and personal sources.
- To find answer to questions :
o 1st Task : Make an Educated Guess called hypothesis.
o 2nd Task : Design Well-Controlled Experiments that results in an outcome to test hypothesis.
- The goal of the science of social psychology is to discover universal laws of human behavior making
cross-cultural research essential.
How Social Psychology Differs from Its Closest Cousins :
- Asking and answering about people’s behaviors in terms of traits is work of personality psychologists
who focus on individual differences.
o Individual Differences : aspects of personalities that make them different for other people.
o Explaining behavior through traits ignore the role played by social influence.
- Social psychology is related to disciplines in social science :
o Biologists’ level of analysis is genes, hormones, etc.
o Personality and clinical psychologists level of analysis is individual.
o Social Psychologist level of analysis is individual in social situation.
o Sociology focuses on society, social class, structure, and institutions.
1.1 : What is Social Psychology and How is it Different ?
Defining Social Psychology :
- Social psychology is the study of the way in which people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are
influenced by the presence of people.
o Social Influence is mostly direct attempts at persuasion where someone tries to change
another’s behavior or attitude.
o The study of direct attempts at social influence is a major part of social psychology.
o Social influence also includes our thoughts and feelings which are affected by our
surroundings.
o Social psychology focuses on social influence and understanding how environments shape an
individual.
Social Psychology, Philosophy, Science, and Common Sense :
- Philosophers are part of the foundation of contemporary psychology.
o Psychologists looked to philosophers for insights into the nature of consciousness and how
people form beliefs about the social world.
o They also disagreed in some points. Ex. Aristippus & Spinoza about love.
o Psychologists address same questions as philosopher but look at it scientifically.
- People are often unaware of the reasons behind their own response and feelings.
o Therefore, to explain a tragedy, scientific & empirical methods are used instead of relying on
opinions and personal sources.
- To find answer to questions :
o 1st Task : Make an Educated Guess called hypothesis.
o 2nd Task : Design Well-Controlled Experiments that results in an outcome to test hypothesis.
- The goal of the science of social psychology is to discover universal laws of human behavior making
cross-cultural research essential.
How Social Psychology Differs from Its Closest Cousins :
- Asking and answering about people’s behaviors in terms of traits is work of personality psychologists
who focus on individual differences.
o Individual Differences : aspects of personalities that make them different for other people.
o Explaining behavior through traits ignore the role played by social influence.
- Social psychology is related to disciplines in social science :
o Biologists’ level of analysis is genes, hormones, etc.
o Personality and clinical psychologists level of analysis is individual.
o Social Psychologist level of analysis is individual in social situation.
o Sociology focuses on society, social class, structure, and institutions.
