4). In a more descriptive definition social psychology is a scientific study that focuses on understanding and explaining how humans think about, influence and/or affect, and relate to one another. Social psychology can be summed up and simply defined as the scientific study of social thinking, social influence, and social relations (Myers, 2010). Although there are many different views, experiments, outcomes, and theories that make up social psychology these ideas can be boiled down to just a few central ideas referred to as social psychology's big lessons (Myers, 2010). These big ideas can be categorized under social thinking, social influence, or social relations.
Another difference with the two is that sociology uses survey and correlational research mostly but social psychology understands the importance of experimental research as well (Myers, 2010). However, clinical psychology relies heavily on experimental research just like social psychology in order to verify hypotheses. Than general psychology or known as personality psychology is different than social psychology because they focus on the individual instead of the impact that people have on each other. In order to sum everything up sociology would be on the left for social psychology because of the focus on social interactions, clinical psychology would be to the right of social psychology because of their use of experimental research, and personality psychology would be in the main of social psychology because both want an understanding of people as
Social psychology is the scientific study of the way individuals think, feel, and behave in a social context. Social psychology often emphasizes the power of the situation in affecting people. Social psychology can be distinguished from other disciplines, including sociology, clinical psychology, personality psychology, and cognitive psychology; however, social psychology overlaps with each of these disciplines as well. Social psychology may at first appear to be common sense, but common sense often makes contradictory claims, and many of the findings in social psychology would not be predicted by common sense. A wide range of research methods are used in psychology.
In cultural psychology the mental processes are compared with the society and the individual who has grown up in that society. Comparatively, cross-cultural psychologists systematically research behavior across cultures in different cultural situations (Shiraev & Levy, 2010). Critical Thinking Critical thinking in cross-cultural psychology is important because cross-cultural psychology is about identifying the similarities and differences in individuals and how they function in his or her culture. Critical thinking is about making realistic, valid and reasonable evidence. Critical thinking is described as maintaining an attitude that is open=minded and doubtful (Shiraev & Levy, 2010).
Sociology examines how our behavior individually and in groups is influenced by social processes and what that means. In fact once you start seeing things with a sociological perspective – things will never be the same. It’s knowing how and why we do what we do that engages us with the world around us and makes us more effective agents for social change. However, sociologist C. Wright Mills describes sociology as “the intersection of biography and history?” A lot of you may wonder what he mean: well from my studying and perspectives; The reason why he say sociology is the interception of biography and history is because, Biography: happens to individuals and History: happens to society. For example, every
2. Identify professional disciplines that influence human services. Professional disciplines that influence Human Services are sociology, psychology, and anthropology (Woodside & McClam, 2012, p. 11). Sociology is the assessment of an individual and the broader culture and tries to account for while understanding the differences within human culture. It also helps the professionals understand what affects the living, such as family structure and roles.
Social Psychology Tandy Noonan Learning and Cognition/PSY400 12/19/2011 Dave Brueshoff Social Psychology Definition Paper How do we define Social Psychology and what influences does it have on individuals? When one understands social psychology they will be able to help others in being the best they can. In this paper you will find the definition of social psychology. Along with the definition of social psychology, you will find a discussion on how social psychology is different from sociology. Defining social psychology "Social psychology is a science that studies the influences of our situation, with special attention to how we view and affect one another; social psychology is the scientific study of how people think about; influenced, and relate to one another.
Explain concepts of Interpretivist and Positivism This essay will broadly define the concepts of interpretive and positivist paradigms in social theory. These two differing perspectives often use different approaches to the study of social life, which broadly defined, can be explained as quantitative and qualitative, looking at contrasts, comparatives and criticisms. Positivists believe that it is possible to create a science of society, based upon the same principals and procedures as the natural sciences, such as biology. Further, using methods adopted by the natural sciences would prove that behaviour was governed by principals of cause and effect. Social facts, positivists argue, can be observed, measured, and quantified, (hence why positivism is also known as Quantitative) producing data/statistics which, when analysed can reveal correlations, patterns of behaviour, causes (cause and effect), and ultimately, laws of human behaviour.
The case study has been used as a tool for natural and social sciences as well as psychological research. One type of case study is a “psychobiography” which means a researcher utilizes psychological theory to explain the life of an individual, usually an important historical figure. Reasons to Use Case studies can aid as being valuable for informing of conditions that are considered rare or unusual, thus providing unique data about psychological phenomenon like memory, social exchange, or language. Depending on the purpose, a case study may present an individual’s history, symptoms, characteristic behaviors, reactions to situations, or responses to treatment. Case studies are also useful for testing whether scientific theories and models
Instead of looking at social systems at a larger-scale, such as the entire population of a country or third world countries, interactionism focuses on smaller-scale social interactions, such as the interactions between individuals or small social groups (Interactionism in Sociology: Definition, Examples & Quiz). Interactionism focuses on the way that we act, or make conscious choices regarding our behaviour that proceed from how we interpret situations (Germov, 2009). In other words, it is how people gives meaning, interpret and construct behaviours through interactions with others and how these interactions affect the same people in the society. “Functionalism is one of the major theoretical perspectives in sociology. It interprets each part of society in terms of how it contributes to the stability of the whole society” (Crossman, A, 2011).