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Social psychology studies the relationship between the mind and social phenomena. It attempts to understand how the thoughts,
feelings and behaviors of individuals are influenced by the actual, imagined or implied presence of others. (Allport 1968, p. 3
[orig. 1954]). This includes social perception (how we perceive others), social interaction (how we behave with others), and
social influence (the relationship between perception and behavior).
Social psychology involves the experimental study of social behavior and psychological processes associated with social cognition, social behavior, and
groups. One of the most famous experiments in social psychology was the Milgram experiment, which studied how assigned role influences behavior. Social psychology combines
sociological and psychological theories and research methods. It bridges the gap between the sociological paradigm of symbolic interactionism and the study of psychology. However, despite the interdisciplinary nature of the subject, most social psychologists consider
themselves either sociologists or psychologists, but not both.
Some of the basic questions are:
- How do small group dynamics impact cognition and emotional states?
- How do social groups control or contribute to behavior, emotion, or attitudes of the individual members?
- How does the group impact the individual?
- How does the individual operate within the social group?
- How do conformity and diversity interact?
- How does persuasion work to change behavior, emotion or attitudes?
Social psychology is often seen to be closely associated with personality psychology.
See also
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