Prof. Dr. Bilal Semih Bozdemir
Published:
Total Pages: 463
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Social psychology, a vibrant and evolving field, occupies a unique niche within the broader domains of psychology and social sciences. It promises a profound understanding of how individual thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are shaped by social influences. This chapter will delineate the definitions of social psychology, explore its core scope, and illustrate its significance in understanding human interactions. **Definition of Social Psychology** At its core, social psychology is the scientific study of how individuals perceive themselves in relation to others, how they are influenced by the social context, and how their behaviors are shaped by the presence of others, whether those others are real, imagined, or implied. Allport (1954) defined social psychology as the “scientific attempt to understand and explain how the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of individuals are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of other human beings.” This definition encapsulates three essential components of social psychology: the individual, the social context, and the interaction between the two. Furthermore, social psychology is distinguished from other branches of psychology by its emphasis on the social environment. While other psychological disciplines such as clinical or developmental psychology may focus on individual differences, social psychology seeks to understand how social situations and group dynamics shape behaviors universally. The field investigates phenomena ranging from interpersonal relationships and group behavior to organizational dynamics and cultural differences.