SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY ASSIGNMENT
SUBMITTED TO:
DR. SWATI SINGH
SUBMITTED BY:
SRISHTI SHARMA(SSPS-94)
KOMAL JOSHI(SSPS-95)
ISHITA SAHNI(SSPS-96)
KANIKA VARSHNEYA(SSPS-97)
ARUSHI LEKHWAR(SSPS-98)
DEFINATION
” The scientific field that seeks to understand the nature and causes of individual behavior,
feelings, and thought in social situations.”(Baron&byrnne)
Social psychology is the scientific study of “how we feel about, think about and behave
toward the people around us and how our feelings, thoughts, and behaviours are influenced
by those people in the social context” (Kassin, Fein, & Markus, 2017).
NATURE OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
1.Social Psychology Applies Scientific Methods of Study:
Social psychology is regarded as scientific because systematic observation and description as
well as measurement are used to study human behaviour in social contexts. Experiments or
direct observation is used to collect data to guarantee accuracy and replicability. The field
concentrates on three main activities which are describing social behaviour and explaining
social behaviour and predicting social behaviour. Social psychology provides scientific
accounts based on direct observation: it challenges common beliefs. The formation of
theories predicts behaviour and guides it in desirable directions because it explains why
people behave in specific ways in certain social situations. These theories manage social
behaviour, and they do so effectively.
2. Social Psychology Studies Individuals’ Thought, Feeling and Behaviour:
The varied issues of the field of social psychology include- individuals’ thought, feeling and
behaviour. Cognition is referred as the way people process information. Social psychology
studies cognition that relates to social activities and that helps us in understanding and
predicting our social behaviours. Social psychology also studies the feelings we experience as
an individual in our social lives. What we think or feel in the social context is finally
expressed through our behaviours in social interactions. Social psychology studies these
behaviours in the forms of cooperation, helping behaviour, conflict, aggression, etc.
3. Social Psychology Studies Individuals’ Behaviour in Social Contexts:
Social psychology studies individuals’ thoughts, feelings, and behaviours in the social
contexts. This component of social psychology refers that our behaviour is influenced by the
presence of other people and we also influence other people’s behaviour.
SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY AND OTHER DISCIPLINES
SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY AND SOCIOLOGY
Social psychology and sociology both study human behavior in social contexts: they differ in
their focus and methods. Social psychology studies how other people influence people'
thoughts and feelings and behaviors and it concentrates on attitudes and group behavior and
social influence. The researchers employ both experimental techniques and observational
methods to gather thorough data that improves their understanding of the subject. Sociology
studies larger social structures and institutions such as class and race and social change while
using qualitative and quantitative methods like surveys and ethnography. Social psychology
examines how people interact on a micro-level while sociology explores the macro-level
patterns and social systems. Both fields complement each other, and they offer a broader
understanding of human behavior in social setting.
SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY
Anthropology originated as a discipline in the Darwinian revolution of the middle of the
nineteenth century. Underpinning all the anthropological works is the concern of mapping
human variation (biological, behavioural and cultural) and to explain, interpret and
understand the directions in the development of human behaviour. It includes majorly topics
like primitive societies, cultural relativism, unity of human species, human diversity and
human evolution. Social psychology can make good use of the theories about cultures and
societies which might assist in the explanation of the individual behaviour in a particular
society. Anthropology gives a clear picture of the cultural and social context to a social
psychologist.
KEY ASSUMPTION OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
1) BEHAVIOUR IS THE JOINT PRODUCT OF PERSON AND SITUATION:
First key assumptions of social psychology is that behavior is the joint product of
person and situation This means that a person's thoughts, feelings, and actions are
shaped not only by their internal characteristics, such as personality and past
experiences, but also by external social influences, including the presence of others,
societal norms, and situational factors.
2) BEHAVIOUR DEPEND ON SOCIALLY CONSTRUCTED VIEW OF REALITY:
Another assumption of social psychology is that behavior depends on an individual's
socially constructed view of reality. This means that people interpret and respond to
the world based on their perceptions, which are shaped by social interactions, cultural
norms, and shared beliefs. These constructed realities influence how individuals
perceive situations, others, and themselves, ultimately guiding their behavior in social
contexts.
3) BEHAVIOUR IS STRONGLY INFLUENCED BY OUR SOCIAL COGNITION:
A third assumption of social psychology is that behavior is strongly influenced by our
social cognition. Social cognition refers to the way we perceive, interpret, and make
sense of the social world around us, including how we understand others' intentions,
emotions, and behaviors. Our thoughts and beliefs about ourselves and others shape
our actions, interactions, and responses to various social situations. Thus, how we
process social information directly impacts how we behave in social contexts .
4) BEST WAY TO UNDERSTAND SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR IS TO USE SCIENTIFIC
METHOD:
This approach involves systematic observation, experimentation, and analysis to
gather objective data and test hypotheses about how individuals behave in social
contexts. By using the scientific method, social psychology seeks to provide reliable,
evidence-based explanations of human behavior, minimizing biases and ensuring
findings are valid and replicable.
(SRISHTI SHARMA)
