What is Social Psychology? Term Paper by Nicky

An overview of the field of social psychology.
# 151136 | 1,579 words | 4 sources | APA | 2012 | US
Published on May 23, 2012 in Psychology (Social)


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Description:

The paper explains that the realm of social psychology covers both the individual and social influences on the human psyche, by weaving together cognitive structures with social constructs. The paper describes how the genre of social psychology is incredibly varied and how it has provided evidence based answers to some of the most abstract of questions.

From the Paper:

"The genre of social psychology is incredibly varied. It is interdisciplinary in its basic construction and is divided between those who take more influence from traditional psychology, and those who identify more a position within sociology. Having this synergy of psychologists and sociologists, the genre is then allowing researchers to cover a wider range of disciplines with the conventions of social psychology. Some of the most popular major theories of development in psychology share elements of the social influence upon the human psyche. Even the psychological extreme, Freud's psychoanalytic theory still presents a strong interaction between the individual and the social world. This is seen in such elements as the Oedipus complex, which pits the infant against his social male rival within the context of the family. The moral reasoning seen in the development of the psyche within Jean Piaget's Cognitive theory also represents social influences even within the most seemingly staunch psychological conceits. At the other extreme is Behaviorism, which posits the idea that all human traits are socially inspired. This thought presents the idea that any behavior can be trained through reinforcements. People are then completely moldable to and by external influences. Other socially dominant theories include such thoughts as Symbolic Internationalism and Role Theory (Smith & Mackie 2009)."

Sample of Sources Used:

  • Haslam, Nick & Laham, Simon M. (2009). Ten years on: does graduate student promise predict later scientific achievement? Current Research in Social Psychology. 14(10):143-147.
  • Kearl, Michael C. (2009). Social psychology. Trinity University. Retrieved 28, October 2009 at http://trinity.edu/~mkearl/socpsy.html
  • New York University (2009). Infants able to identify humans as source of speech. Science Daily. Retrieved October 28, 2009 at http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091019162919.htm
  • Smith, Eliot R. & Mackie, Diane M. (1999). Social Psychology. Routledge Press.

Cite this Term Paper:

APA Format

What is Social Psychology? (2012, May 23) Retrieved September 24, 2023, from https://www.academon.com/term-paper/what-is-social-psychology-151136/

MLA Format

"What is Social Psychology?" 23 May 2012. Web. 24 September. 2023. <https://www.academon.com/term-paper/what-is-social-psychology-151136/>

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