Social Psychology
What is Social Psychology?
Social psychology is a discipline that uses scientific methods to study social influence, social perception and social interaction. Learn more about the history of social psychology and what makes it different from other disciplines.
Social Psychology Basics
Social psychology is a branch of psychology concerned with how social phenomena influence us and how people interact with others. Learn more about the basic aspects of social behavior that play a large role in our actions and how we see ourselves.
What Are the Major Perspectives in Social Psychology?
There are a number of different perspectives in social psychology. Each perspective has a different approach to explaining social behavior. Find out more about the major perspectives in social psychology.
Research Areas in Social Psychology
There are a number of different research areas in social psychology. Learn more about some of the topics studies by social psychologists.
Research Methods in Social Psychology
Researchers use a number of different methods to study social psychology. These research methods include experiments, surveys, observations, and more. Learn more about research methods used in social psychology.
Person Perception
In social psychology, the term person refers to the different ways that we form impressions of other people. This includes not just how we form these impressions, but the different conclusions we make about other people based upon our impressions. Learn more about the process of person perception.
The Actor-Observer Bias
People tend to attribute their own actions to outside variables, while attributing other people's actions to internal factors. In social psychology, this phenomenon is known as the actor-observer bias.
Attitudes
Attitudes have a powerful influence on behavior. Learn more about how attitudes form, how they change and how they influence the way we behavior.
Effects of Group Size on Problem Solving
A new study suggests that groups of three, four, and five perform better on problem solving tasks than do individuals working alone. Read more about this study and find information on additional resources.
Attribution
In social psychology, attribution involves making inferences about the behaviors of others as well as events around us. Learn more about the types of attributions as well as some of the biases that influence attribution.
Social Cognition
Social cognition is an important topic within social psychology focused on how we store, process, and use information about other people.
What Is Groupthink?
People often strive for consensus in groups, a phenomenon known as groupthink. Learn more about groupthink and how it impacts human behavior.
What Is Reciprocal Determinism?
Reciprocal determinism is a model developed by psychologists Albert Bandura that described how the individual, the environment, and behavior influence one another. Learn more about how this process works.
10 Quick Facts About Social Psychology
Social psychology reveals a great deal about the behavior of groups and individuals in social situations. Here are ten quick facts you should know.
What Is the Halo Effect?
The halo effect is a psychological phenomenon that can influence how we view other people. Learn more about this fascinating effect and how it colors our perceptions of others.