Social Psychology Flashcards, test questions and answers

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What is Social Psychology?

Social psychology is the study of how individuals interact with others and how their behavior can be influenced by social situations. It examines the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of individuals in various contexts such as family, friends, school, workplace and larger society. This discipline looks at factors such as group dynamics, attitudes, persuasion techniques and leadership to understand why people behave a certain way in certain situations.Social psychologists aim to explore why people do not always act or think rationally that is, why they sometimes make decisions that run counter to their own best interests. They also seek to explain why certain groups are discriminated against or experience prejudice. By doing so, researchers hope to improve conditions for different groups of people who may face social disadvantages due to gender or ethnicity. In addition to exploring individual behavior within a group setting or context, social psychologists also study collective behaviors such as those exhibited during riots; for example, understanding when crowds become violent or turn into mobs. Finally this branch of psychology attempts to explain how stereotypes develop and are perpetuated throughout society by examining phenomena such as racism and sexism among other issues related to diversity and inclusion. Overall, the purpose of social psychology is twofold: First it seeks to advance our understanding of human behavior in various settings; second it aims at applying this knowledge towards making life better for all individuals regardless of race gender identity etc.