Introduction to Social Psychology

definition of social psychology

“the scientific attempt to explain how the thoughts, feeling and behaviours of individuals are influences by actual, imagined or implied presence of other human beings” Allport 1954

what are the 4 key areas?

1. social thinking (the self, social beliefs and attitudes)

2. group and identities (social categorisation, identity, change and prejudice)

3. social relations (attraction, helping and aggression)

4. social influence (persuasion, conformity and obedience)

what is a major criticism of social psychology?

western-centric perspectives

traditional influences = Scottish and German philosophers, French scientists and American psychologists

less than 10% of internationally indexed social psychology journals publish in another language

limits generalisability and ignores non-western understandings

what are some alternative perspectives to the western-centric approach?

1. ubuntu (Africa) - focuses on relationships and community

2. confucianism (East Asia) - emphasises social roles, harmony and interdependence

what is social reality?

refers to things that exist because people collectively agree they exist and continue to act as though they are real

examples = money, gender roles, laws

what is social constructionism?

argues that:

1. people engage in certain behaviours

2. these become habits

3. habits become social norms

4. new members learn them

5. begin to seem natural and inevitable

what is critical social psychology?

recognises that research is influenced by social and historical context

encourages reflexivity

uses more qualitative methods

seek social change

what is a major debate in social psychology?

individual- or group-focus

what is the North American tradition and the European tradition?

North American = focuses on the individual

European = focuses on groups (group is more than the sum of its individual members)

what are the levels of explanation?

1. societal

2. social

3. interpersonal

4. intrapersonal/ individual

5. biological

what is reductionism?

occurs when complex social issues are explained at only one level