APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
J. Francisco Morales Domínguez - Alexandra Vázquez Botana -
Alejandro Magallares Sanjuán (2013)
Summary:
INTRODUCTION
The application of psychosocial knowledge obtained in research to improve living conditions has been a constant in our discipline
since its inception. Lewin, recognized as a practical theorist, established institutes such as the Commission for Community
Interrelations and the Research Center for Group Dynamics, with the aim of integrating research and practical application.
Although these efforts were cut short after Lewin's premature death, other social psychologists continued to conduct similar
studies in areas such as prejudice modification, changes in political orientations, criminal behavior, and mental health. This focus
on applications was maintained and intensified during the expansion of Social Psychology between 1950 and approximately 1978,
known as the classical era.
Despite this, the question of applications became the subject of intense debate among social psychologists.
THE CLASSICAL PERIOD OF THE DISCIPLINE AND THE DEBATE ON PSYCHOSOCIAL APPLICATIONS
In this period, we have seen an increase in the number and quality of applications of psychosocial knowledge obtained in research.
Lindzey, in editing the Handbook of Social Psychology, marked a significant break with Murchison's previous tradition, focusing on
making him the leading reference in the discipline. The 1954 and 1968-69 editions devoted several chapters to emerging
psychosocial applications in areas such as health, education, work, politics, economics, and interpersonal relationships.
Pioneering applications such as environmental design, modification of racial attitudes and prejudices, mental health interventions,
and social skills training for teachers are highlighted. There was also notable activism among social psychologists in favor of racial
desegregation in the United States, evidenced in studies of authoritarianism and dogmatism, such as those of Adorno, Frenkel-
Brunswick, Levinson, and Sanford, as well as Rokeach.
This period was characterized by a growing connection between research and application, influenced by new theories such as
attribution, persuasive communication, and the theory of reasoned action. However, a debate arose about the relevance of these
applications within Social Psychology, known as the "crisis", which pointed to a lack of attention to everyday problems that affect
people. This debate, led by McGuire and Ring, highlighted the crucial importance of applications for the discipline and the need to
delve deeper into their meaning and effectiveness in order to reach a more complete understanding of its role in research and
theorizing.
THE EMERGENCE OF APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
In 1973, the first meeting of social psychologists in Mallorca was crucial to start the field of Applied Social Psychology. This event
led to the publication of the first manual edited by Deutsch and Hornstein in 1975, with the participation of prominent
psychologists such as Kelley, Schachter, Singer, Deutsch, Maslach and several Europeans. This period saw an explosion in the
publication of manuals and publishing series, with names such as Fisher, Rodrigues, Oskamp and Weyant standing out. The
inclusion of dedicated chapters in Lindzey and Aronson's Handbook and the emergence of journals such as "Basic and Applied
Social Psychology" marked a significant shift towards a more applied and relevant Social Psychology.
A NEW APPROACH
Around 1980, an original approach in Social Psychology emerges that is characterized by several key points:
1. Psychosocial applications are integrated in a coherent way with the theoretical and research activities of the discipline, moving
from simple "applications" to a structured "Applied Social Psychology".
2. There is a collective reflection among social psychologists on the concept of application, breaking with previous methods to
focus not only on applying, but on how to do it optimally and considering its consequences.
1
Made by MatyBuda
, 3. The relationships between theory, research and application are reassessed, exploring how applications can actively contribute
to theory and psychosocial research.
4. Psychosocial applications are subject to more rigorous standards, such as those proposed by Shelley Taylor, ensuring that they
are based on lines of psychosocial research, act in areas of social relevance, use appropriate methodologies and empirically
demonstrate their effectiveness.
THE MODELS OF RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PSYCHOSOCIAL APPLICATION, THEORY AND RESEARCH
To fully understand the innovative approach to psychosocial applications, it is essential to examine the models of relationship
between application, theory, and research that emerged around 1980. These models seek to integrate these three activities of the
discipline to establish a true "Applied Social Psychology". Several authors have proposed models of this type, such as Varela,
Deutsch, Bickman, Proshansky and Fisher, all of them exhaustively reviewed by Sánchez Vidal.
However, three models have been especially accepted and enduring over time: Lewin's "action research" model, Cialdini's "full
cycle" model, Mayo, and LaFrance's "applicable social psychology" model.
MODEL OF "RESEARCH-ACTION"
The model proposed by Lewin in 1946 is still relevant in areas such as education and community and has been an enduring
inspiration for social psychologists in their applied work. This approach is based on a sequence of three major activities in
psychosocial application. First, there is psychosocial theorizing, which provides the general principles. Then comes the analysis of
the specific reality on which the application is focused, followed by the intervention itself. Each of these phases is internally
complex and connected in a feedback loop that allows the application to be nourished by both theoretical knowledge and practical
experiences.
The model implies that each application attempt advances theoretical knowledge, since the evaluation at the end of the
intervention informs about its success and confirms or refutes the initial theory. This creates a spiral of continuous progress where
theorizing advances with each evaluation, opening the way for more effective future interventions. In short, the "action-research"
model combines theory, research, and action in a cyclical process that drives progress.
"FULL CYCLE" MODEL
Cialdini proposed a model that addresses the transition from experimental research in social psychology to the real world. He
recognizes the difficulty of applying laboratory findings to everyday life and suggests conducting field tests to verify the
effectiveness and validity of the processes discovered. These tests allow the initial findings to be adjusted and refined in the
laboratory, closing a cycle that repeats itself in a spiral of progress.
This approach does not focus directly on practical applications but provides a fundamental foundation for them. An illustrative
example is the work of Boen and colleagues in Belgium, which links the display of political support in households to election results.
This study demonstrates the generalization of processes discovered in experimental contexts to real-world situations, thus
validating their usefulness. Although not directly applicable, this type of research offers valuable insights for policy strategy.
MODEL OF "APPLICABLE SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY"
The model proposed by Mayo and LaFrance in 1980 is the most complex among those formulated in applied social psychology at
the time. It introduces two significant innovations compared to the Lewin and Cialdini models. First, it highlights the concept of
quality of life as the central driver of psychosocial application, emphasizing that any intervention must seek to improve it. The
second innovation is the introduction of "adapters", which facilitate the integration and harmonization of the phases of the model.
This model follows a sequence that begins with quality of life, goes through the construction of adequate knowledge, and
culminates in the use and intervention, using adapters that facilitate the transition between each phase. It is a cyclical model that
evaluates the success of the intervention to verify if it has really improved the quality of life, restarting the process, as necessary.
However, the model is normative and idealistic, making it difficult to fully implement due to its complexity. It requires the use of
six adapters in total, distributed in pairs, which adds significant coordination and planning difficulties. For example, to address
improving the quality of life of a specific group of African Americans with problematic health problems and habits, a thorough
analysis of the social, economic, and legal system around them would be needed.
2
Made by MatyBuda
J. Francisco Morales Domínguez - Alexandra Vázquez Botana -
Alejandro Magallares Sanjuán (2013)
Summary:
INTRODUCTION
The application of psychosocial knowledge obtained in research to improve living conditions has been a constant in our discipline
since its inception. Lewin, recognized as a practical theorist, established institutes such as the Commission for Community
Interrelations and the Research Center for Group Dynamics, with the aim of integrating research and practical application.
Although these efforts were cut short after Lewin's premature death, other social psychologists continued to conduct similar
studies in areas such as prejudice modification, changes in political orientations, criminal behavior, and mental health. This focus
on applications was maintained and intensified during the expansion of Social Psychology between 1950 and approximately 1978,
known as the classical era.
Despite this, the question of applications became the subject of intense debate among social psychologists.
THE CLASSICAL PERIOD OF THE DISCIPLINE AND THE DEBATE ON PSYCHOSOCIAL APPLICATIONS
In this period, we have seen an increase in the number and quality of applications of psychosocial knowledge obtained in research.
Lindzey, in editing the Handbook of Social Psychology, marked a significant break with Murchison's previous tradition, focusing on
making him the leading reference in the discipline. The 1954 and 1968-69 editions devoted several chapters to emerging
psychosocial applications in areas such as health, education, work, politics, economics, and interpersonal relationships.
Pioneering applications such as environmental design, modification of racial attitudes and prejudices, mental health interventions,
and social skills training for teachers are highlighted. There was also notable activism among social psychologists in favor of racial
desegregation in the United States, evidenced in studies of authoritarianism and dogmatism, such as those of Adorno, Frenkel-
Brunswick, Levinson, and Sanford, as well as Rokeach.
This period was characterized by a growing connection between research and application, influenced by new theories such as
attribution, persuasive communication, and the theory of reasoned action. However, a debate arose about the relevance of these
applications within Social Psychology, known as the "crisis", which pointed to a lack of attention to everyday problems that affect
people. This debate, led by McGuire and Ring, highlighted the crucial importance of applications for the discipline and the need to
delve deeper into their meaning and effectiveness in order to reach a more complete understanding of its role in research and
theorizing.
THE EMERGENCE OF APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
In 1973, the first meeting of social psychologists in Mallorca was crucial to start the field of Applied Social Psychology. This event
led to the publication of the first manual edited by Deutsch and Hornstein in 1975, with the participation of prominent
psychologists such as Kelley, Schachter, Singer, Deutsch, Maslach and several Europeans. This period saw an explosion in the
publication of manuals and publishing series, with names such as Fisher, Rodrigues, Oskamp and Weyant standing out. The
inclusion of dedicated chapters in Lindzey and Aronson's Handbook and the emergence of journals such as "Basic and Applied
Social Psychology" marked a significant shift towards a more applied and relevant Social Psychology.
A NEW APPROACH
Around 1980, an original approach in Social Psychology emerges that is characterized by several key points:
1. Psychosocial applications are integrated in a coherent way with the theoretical and research activities of the discipline, moving
from simple "applications" to a structured "Applied Social Psychology".
2. There is a collective reflection among social psychologists on the concept of application, breaking with previous methods to
focus not only on applying, but on how to do it optimally and considering its consequences.
1
Made by MatyBuda
, 3. The relationships between theory, research and application are reassessed, exploring how applications can actively contribute
to theory and psychosocial research.
4. Psychosocial applications are subject to more rigorous standards, such as those proposed by Shelley Taylor, ensuring that they
are based on lines of psychosocial research, act in areas of social relevance, use appropriate methodologies and empirically
demonstrate their effectiveness.
THE MODELS OF RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PSYCHOSOCIAL APPLICATION, THEORY AND RESEARCH
To fully understand the innovative approach to psychosocial applications, it is essential to examine the models of relationship
between application, theory, and research that emerged around 1980. These models seek to integrate these three activities of the
discipline to establish a true "Applied Social Psychology". Several authors have proposed models of this type, such as Varela,
Deutsch, Bickman, Proshansky and Fisher, all of them exhaustively reviewed by Sánchez Vidal.
However, three models have been especially accepted and enduring over time: Lewin's "action research" model, Cialdini's "full
cycle" model, Mayo, and LaFrance's "applicable social psychology" model.
MODEL OF "RESEARCH-ACTION"
The model proposed by Lewin in 1946 is still relevant in areas such as education and community and has been an enduring
inspiration for social psychologists in their applied work. This approach is based on a sequence of three major activities in
psychosocial application. First, there is psychosocial theorizing, which provides the general principles. Then comes the analysis of
the specific reality on which the application is focused, followed by the intervention itself. Each of these phases is internally
complex and connected in a feedback loop that allows the application to be nourished by both theoretical knowledge and practical
experiences.
The model implies that each application attempt advances theoretical knowledge, since the evaluation at the end of the
intervention informs about its success and confirms or refutes the initial theory. This creates a spiral of continuous progress where
theorizing advances with each evaluation, opening the way for more effective future interventions. In short, the "action-research"
model combines theory, research, and action in a cyclical process that drives progress.
"FULL CYCLE" MODEL
Cialdini proposed a model that addresses the transition from experimental research in social psychology to the real world. He
recognizes the difficulty of applying laboratory findings to everyday life and suggests conducting field tests to verify the
effectiveness and validity of the processes discovered. These tests allow the initial findings to be adjusted and refined in the
laboratory, closing a cycle that repeats itself in a spiral of progress.
This approach does not focus directly on practical applications but provides a fundamental foundation for them. An illustrative
example is the work of Boen and colleagues in Belgium, which links the display of political support in households to election results.
This study demonstrates the generalization of processes discovered in experimental contexts to real-world situations, thus
validating their usefulness. Although not directly applicable, this type of research offers valuable insights for policy strategy.
MODEL OF "APPLICABLE SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY"
The model proposed by Mayo and LaFrance in 1980 is the most complex among those formulated in applied social psychology at
the time. It introduces two significant innovations compared to the Lewin and Cialdini models. First, it highlights the concept of
quality of life as the central driver of psychosocial application, emphasizing that any intervention must seek to improve it. The
second innovation is the introduction of "adapters", which facilitate the integration and harmonization of the phases of the model.
This model follows a sequence that begins with quality of life, goes through the construction of adequate knowledge, and
culminates in the use and intervention, using adapters that facilitate the transition between each phase. It is a cyclical model that
evaluates the success of the intervention to verify if it has really improved the quality of life, restarting the process, as necessary.
However, the model is normative and idealistic, making it difficult to fully implement due to its complexity. It requires the use of
six adapters in total, distributed in pairs, which adds significant coordination and planning difficulties. For example, to address
improving the quality of life of a specific group of African Americans with problematic health problems and habits, a thorough
analysis of the social, economic, and legal system around them would be needed.
2
Made by MatyBuda
