Social Psychology

Unit 1 – Introduction to Social Psychology

Unit 2 – Research Methods in Social Psychology

Unit 3 – Social Cognition

Unit 4 – Self and Identity

Unit 5 – Social Perception and Attribution

Unit 6 – Attitudes and Attitude Change

Unit 7 – Conformity and Obedience

Unit 8 – Group Dynamics

Unit 9 – Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination

Unit 10 – Interpersonal Attraction & Relationships

Unit 11 – Prosocial Behavior and Altruism

Unit 12 – Aggression and Antisocial Behavior

Unit 13 – Social Influence and Persuasion

Unit 14 – Cultural Influences on Social Behavior

Unit 15 – Applied Social Psychology

## What do you learn in Social Psychology

Social Psychology explores how people think, feel, and behave in social situations. You'll study topics like attitudes, prejudice, conformity, attraction, and group dynamics. The course covers research methods, social influence, self-concept, and interpersonal relationships. You'll also learn about cognitive biases, social perception, and how culture shapes behavior.

## Is Social Psychology hard?

Social Psych isn't typically considered one of the harder psych courses. The concepts are pretty relatable to everyday life, which makes them easier to grasp. That said, there's a lot of terminology and theories to remember. The trickiest part is often applying the concepts to real-world scenarios on exams. Overall, it's manageable if you keep up with the readings and participate in discussions.

## Tips for taking Social Psychology in college

1. Use [Fiveable Study Guides](https://fiveable.me/cram-mode) to help you cram 🌶️
2. Connect concepts to real-life examples - it helps with retention
3. Pay attention to current events and try to analyze them using social psych theories
4. Form a study group to discuss and debate topics like cognitive dissonance or social influence
5. Watch classic social psych experiments on YouTube (like the Stanford Prison Experiment)
6. Read "The Social Animal" by Elliot Aronson for a deeper dive into the subject
7. Keep a journal of social interactions and try to analyze them using course concepts
8. Practice explaining theories to friends - if you can teach it, you know it

## Common pre-requisites for Social Psychology

Introduction to Psychology: This course provides a broad overview of the field of psychology, covering basic concepts and major theoretical perspectives. It's usually required before taking more specialized psych courses.

Statistics for Social Sciences: This class teaches you how to analyze and interpret data in psychology research. You'll learn about probability, hypothesis testing, and statistical methods used in social science studies.

## Classes similar to Social Psychology

Personality Psychology: Focuses on individual differences in behavior, thought, and emotion. You'll explore various theories of personality and how they develop over time.

Cognitive Psychology: Examines mental processes like perception, memory, and problem-solving. It's all about understanding how we think, learn, and make decisions.

Cultural Psychology: Investigates how culture influences human behavior and mental processes. You'll learn about cross-cultural differences in cognition, emotion, and social behavior.

Evolutionary Psychology: Explores how evolutionary processes have shaped human behavior and cognition. It applies principles of natural selection to understand why we think and act the way we do.

## Majors related to Social Psychology

Psychology: Focuses on understanding human behavior and mental processes through scientific study and practical applications. Students learn about various subfields like clinical, developmental, and cognitive psychology.

Sociology: Examines human society, social relationships, and institutions. Students study social structures, inequalities, and how groups interact within societies.

Anthropology: Explores human diversity across cultures and time. Students learn about cultural practices, human evolution, and how societies develop and change.

Communication Studies: Investigates how people create, share, and interpret messages. Students study interpersonal communication, media effects, and persuasion techniques.

## What can you do with a degree in Social Psychology?

Human Resources Specialist: Manages employee relations, recruitment, and training in organizations. They apply social psychology concepts to improve workplace dynamics and employee satisfaction.

Market Research Analyst: Studies market conditions and consumer behavior to help companies make informed decisions. They use social psychology principles to understand consumer attitudes and preferences.

Public Relations Specialist: Manages the public image of organizations or individuals. They apply social influence and persuasion techniques to shape public opinion and manage crisis situations.

Social Worker: Helps people cope with and solve problems in their everyday lives. They use social psychology knowledge to understand client behavior and provide effective interventions.

## Social Psychology FAQs

How is Social Psychology different from Sociology? Social Psychology focuses more on individual behavior in social contexts, while Sociology examines broader social structures and institutions. Social Psych is typically more experimental, while Sociology often uses observational methods.

Can I use Social Psychology in my personal life? Absolutely! The concepts you learn can help you understand your own behavior and improve your relationships. You'll gain insights into things like persuasion, attraction, and group dynamics that apply to everyday situations.

Is there a lot of math involved in Social Psychology? There's some basic statistics involved, especially when learning about research methods. However, it's not as math-heavy as some other areas of psychology, like cognitive psych or neuroscience.

Psychology

1.1 Defining Social Psychology

1.2 Historical Development of Social Psychology

1.4 Relationship to Other Fields of Psychology

1.3 Key Theories and Perspectives in Social Psychology

2.1 Experimental and Correlational Methods

2.2 Observational and Survey Techniques

2.3 Ethical Considerations in Social Psychological Research

3.1 Information Processing and Social Schemas

3.3 Automatic and Controlled Processing

3.2 Heuristics and Biases in Social Judgment

3.4 Social Memory and Decision Making

4.2 Self-Presentation and Impression Management

4.1 Self-Concept and Self-Esteem

4.4 Cultural Influences on Self and Identity

4.3 Social Identity Theory

5.1 Person Perception and First Impressions

5.4 Nonverbal Communication and Social Perception

5.3 Biases in Social Attribution

5.2 Attribution Theory and Processes

6.1 Attitude Formation and Structure

6.3 Persuasion and Attitude Change Theories

6.4 Cognitive Dissonance and Attitude Change

6.2 Attitude Measurement and Behavior Prediction

7.1 Types of Social Influence: Conformity, Compliance, and Obedience

7.2 Factors Affecting Conformity and Obedience

7.3 Classic Studies in Conformity and Obedience

8.1 Group Formation and Development

8.4 Intergroup Relations and Conflict

8.2 Group Decision Making and Performance

8.3 Leadership in Groups

9.1 Formation and Maintenance of Stereotypes

9.3 Discrimination: Individual and Institutional

9.2 Prejudice: Causes and Consequences

9.4 Reducing Prejudice and Discrimination

10.1 Theories of Interpersonal Attraction

10.2 Love and Intimate Relationships

10.3 Relationship Maintenance and Dissolution

10.4 Social Exchange in Relationships

11.2 Theories of Altruism and Prosocial Behavior

11.3 Bystander Effect and Intervention

11.1 Factors Influencing Helping Behavior

12.2 Factors Influencing Aggressive Behavior

12.3 Media Violence and Its Effects

12.1 Theories of Aggression

12.4 Reducing Aggression and Violence

13.2 Persuasion Techniques and Strategies

13.1 Principles of Social Influence

13.4 Media and Technology in Social Influence

13.3 Resistance to Persuasion

14.1 Cultural Dimensions and Social Behavior

14.2 Cross-Cultural Differences in Social Processes

14.3 Acculturation and Intercultural Relations

15.2 Environmental Psychology

15.1 Health and Well-being

15.4 Organizational Behavior and Consumer Psychology

15.3 Legal and Criminal Justice Applications

Browse all Social Psychology Key Terms

About Us

Resources

Stay Connected

© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.

About Us

Resources

© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.

Back

Next