For instance; we are able to learn how stereotypes are formed, why there is racism, and also how a person’s behavior changes in different types of situations. Social psychology differs from other forms of psychology because it uses a scientific method and the empirical study of social phenomenon. General and clinical psychologies both rely on anecdotal observations and subjective interpretations. Psychologists focus on different situations and the different variables that may affect social behavior. Sociology differs from social psychology because sociology specifically looks at the different social behaviors and the surrounding influences at more of a broader view.
Unfamiliar is not the same as abnormal, distinction between these two is vital to understanding psychopathology and those affected by mental illness. As abnormal psychology evolves and progresses in treatments, therapies, and research the central theme of the six core concepts continues to guide researcher. These six concepts define and provide understanding of abnormality. The concepts also illustrate the range between normal and abnormal behavior of individuals experiencing personality disorders. Another concept is studying cultural and historical relativism in defining and classifying abnormality in relation to environment.
Social Psychology PSY/400 University of Phoenix Social Psychology Social psychology is taking the theories and applications of psychology and applying it, not on an individual alone in the world, but on how that individual interacts, thinks, feels, and behaves in a particular social situation. There are plenty of things that an individual might not have done if he or she had not been in the situation he or she were in with the people he or she were in it with. The way that most individuals interact with the world has to do with the perceptions others around them have about them, and the perception he or she have of themselves. Social psychology seeks to understand how this social dynamic makes a difference in psychology. Define
This science has allowed for collected data and theories to be tested and proven on the effects of exterior motives that implement individual behavior. Define social psychology Social psychology concentrates on individual behavior in a social context. Baron, Byrne & Suls (1989) define social psychology as “the scientific field that seeks to understand the nature and causes of individual behavior in social situations”. (p. 6). Social psychologist observe human behavior and significance of influence by outside sources such as people, society, environment, and culture.
The ‘world’ of mental health briefly consists of people, services, policy, and legislation. For the individual involved in the ‘world’ of mental health their experiences of mental distress may vary in relation to the services they are part of, and what role they have within those services. The course model places the individual at the centre, with social, environmental, economic, and political influences surrounding them, and the wider factors of ethics and values surrounding these. These elements can influence each other, and all provide a framework to explore the meaning of mental distress for the individual. There have been many attempts at defining mental health or illness, each using different terminology depending on the perspectives.
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.
Historical Perspectives of Abnormal Psychology Abnormal psychology is defined as the study of psychological characteristics that often deviate outside of the norm (Cherry, 2005). This perspective generally encompasses an array of perspectives ranging from disorders to altered mental patterns that affect the normal functioning of an individual as part of society. Typically, this type of impairment is accompanied by behavior, either disruptive or of a distorted nature. There are several approaches used in abnormal psychology in addition, it is important to examine the origin of abnormal psychology in an effort to rationalize the evolution of this scientific discipline (Cherry, 2005). To understand the basis of abnormal psychology, it is essential to recognize that the individuals who make up these categories fall very far at the other end of the normal spectrum.
That is where child development theories come in to give us guidance. There are many different developmental theories available that provide guidance and concepts that describe and explain human development, but three so called “grand theories” proposed by Sigmund Freud, Erik Erikson, and Jean Piaget are probably the most widely known and elements from each theory are still useful today. A grand theory in psychology is one that seeks to describe all human development as whole rather than specific parts. Many consider the theories of Freud, Erikson, and Piaget as outdated and that Freud’s development theory is actually sexist, but psychologists and researchers still use these as a basis for research and exploration along with modern theories. This paper will explore these theories by detailing each one, provide examples of their use in the mental health treatment of children, and compare and contrast them beginning with Sigmund Freud’s theory.
However in today's society, psychologists have been able to do research on the way human’s behaviour react in different situations with different participants to be able to get a generalized result but to do so they must first distinguish if the participant is showing social or personal identities. Unlike in early psychology when it was focused on an individual, researchers have now found the most effective way of finding results is looking at the social context when studying behaviour. To be able to get an indiscriminate result, psychologists have to look at what groups their participants belong too. This means the age, sex and nationality among many other things. When we belong to certain groups, most of the time we are unaware of how the socially derived structure actually affects us in the way which we behave.
Psychodynamic Theories Psychodynamic theories are those propounded by Sigmund Freud, which further describe the conflict among instincts, reasons, and conscience. Although many different psychodynamic theories exist, they all emphasize unconscious motives and desires, as well as the importance of childhood experiences in shaping personality. Psychodynamic theory is a view that explains personality in terms of conscious and unconscious forces, such as unconscious desires and beliefs. Psychoanalytic Theory The psychoanalytic theory focuses on the role of experiences, the unconscious, and emotions that shape one’s personality. It is based on three main assumptions: 1.