Social psychology offers valuable insights into how individuals think, feel and behave in relation to others. It is the study of individuals in social situations. The psychologist Gordon Allport defines social psychology as the discipline that uses scientific methods to understand the nature and causes of individual behaviour in social situations.
After knowing the meaning of social psychology, now we will discuss the nature and scope of social psychology.
Nature of Social Psychology
1. Social psychology is scientific in nature.
2. It uses the investigatory approach.
3. It focuses on understanding individuals’ behaviour in a social context.
4. It is interdisciplinary in nature.
5. It is a dynamic and evolving field.
6. It focuses on both intrapersonal and interpersonal processes.
7. It analyses the nature of human and society.
Scope of Social Psychology
The scope of social psychology is vast and diverse. It examines how individuals are influenced by the presence of others. Its scope includes:
1. Attitude
With the help of social psychology, we can understand why an individual acts differently in different situations. For instance, a person can feel joy in a certain situation while another situation can be stressful for him.
2. Group Dynamics
Social psychology helps to understand;
- how individuals behave in groups
- how group processes can shape attitudes and behaviours.
- how individuals perceive and interact with members of other groups and handle situations like discrimination and inter-group conflict.
3. Social behaviour and thought
Social psychology helps to understand the cause of social behaviour and thought by studying various factors such as biological factors, psychological factors, cultural and environmental factors.
4. Conformity
Social psychology helps to understand how individuals change their behaviours in order to fit in the community.
5. Aggressive behaviour
Social psychology helps to understand the aggressive behaviour of an individual by studying various factors such as provocation, frustration, cultural norms etc.
6. Interpersonal relationships
Social psychology helps to understand the interpersonal relationships of an individual such as communication, trust, intimacy, support etc.
7. Communication
Communication allows individuals to exchange information with others. Social psychology helps to understand how communication plays a crucial role in shaping social behaviour.
8. Research
Social psychology research is applied in various fields such as marketing, education and health.
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