Social psychology is a branch of psychology that studies how social factors affect human behavior. This field is vast, encompassing a wide range of disciplines and fields of study. Many people use the principles of this branch of psychology without even realizing it when they try to control a group, influence someone’s opinion, or explain why someone behaves in a certain way.
In the late 1800s, when psychology as a discipline was thriving in Europe, the foundations of social psychology were laid. As a result of the migration of many psychologists to the United States during World War I, social psychology emerged as a distinct discipline in the 1920s. Kurt Lewin, dubbed the “father” of social psychology by some, was a major influence; other notable social psychologists include Zimbardo, Asch, Milgram, Festinger, Ross, and Mischel.
Individuals and groups’ attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors are studied by a social psychologist. Interpersonal interaction is also studied in this field, with researchers looking at how people interact with one another, whether individually or in groups. Cultural influences such as advertisements, books, films, television, and radio are also studied in social psychology to see how they influence human behavior.
Social psychologists, like many scientists, prefer to conduct research in their fields using empirical methods. Experiments are frequently used in these methods, which can raise complex ethical issues. The Stanford Prison Experiment was one of the most well-known social psychology experiments, but it was eventually shut down due to its out-of-control nature. In order to avoid repeating questionable experiments, social psychologists rely on ethics committees and review panels to ensure that their work is ethically permissible.
The study of social psychology can explain why people form mobs, how groups make decisions, which social circumstances can lead to abnormal behavior, and much more. Social psychologists are always learning more about human behavior and the science behind human interactions, examining everything from why people fail to help those in need to what motivates people to conform, even in ethically questionable situations.
If you’re interested in learning more about this field of psychology, you might be able to enroll in an introductory course at a local college.