Social psychology deals the study of human behavior, his activities in society, interactions with other people.
Every component of this branch of science is important for understanding the development of the individual as a whole, its perception of the surrounding world.
Concept
What is social psychology?
This term is understood section of psychology, which includes the study of the behavior of the individual in society, as well as mental phenomena and processes that occur during the interaction of several individuals.
Scientists believe that people influence each other in the process of communication, help to make decisions.
Based on the opinions of others, events in society, a person makes a decision. Social psychology takes into account intrapersonal and external, social moments.
Their relationship extends to all people, taking part in personal development. It is constantly changing, changing attitudes and preferences.
Story
This branch of science has evolved over several decades. There are phenomena that continue to be studied by expertshypotheses are proposed, experiments are conducted.
Formation and development
Was born in the second half of the 19th century, united in itself the accumulated knowledge from psychology and sociology.
The appearance of this field of knowledge was preceded by a long period, which was based on information about a person and society.
At first, scientists proposed ideas corresponding to such sciences as philosophy, anthropology, ethnography, but after a while they began to sink into a person. For this reason, ideas of a psychological or sociological nature began to appear.
Early works on this topic were written in ancient times. Plato and Aristotle, but how science appeared only in the 19th century. Its formation is attributed to the creation in Germany in 1859 of the "Journal of ethnic psychology and linguistics." Its authors are G. Steinthal and M. Lazarus.
In 1908, an English scientist W. McDougall published the work "Introduction to social psychology." This is not just a story about science in general, but also the systematization of accumulated knowledge.
Western experts believe that it was from this year that social psychology officially began to exist as a science.
The 20th century brought many discoveries to the industry, which were obtained through experiments, analyzing the behavior of people. It was possible to distinguish sections and subsections of science.
One of the main achievements of the time - recognition of the existence of the psychology of the individual. Before that, it was believed that it exists only within the framework of society. But scientists have proven that it applies primarily to the individual and changes throughout his life.
Place in the system of sciences
This area includes knowledge from sociology and psychology. She settled on the border of these two sections, combining information obtained from both. But besides this, this industry is closely connected with anthropology, philosophy, and physiology.
It consists of many aspects that are somehow related to other scientific fields. This is due to the continuous development of a person’s personality, its changes, personality traits.
Applied social psychology, psychology of social interaction, psychoanalysis stand out among the sciences. They especially important for modern science, allow us to find out a lot of unexplored details.
Development of domestic
This science appeared in Russia simultaneously with the western: at the end of the 19th century. The industry has received development thanks to the work of sociologists and their works.
Outstanding representatives of the time are: P. L. Lavrov, N. I. Kareev, Μ. M. Kovalevsky, N. K. Mikhailovsky. They developed mass social movements, including revolutionary ones, and discovered intrapersonal processes.
At the beginning of the 20th century, there were discussion schools, meetings of specialists were held where they discussed the hypotheses put forward, confirmed or refuted theories.
One of the main directions of the time was the study of groups, public opinion, work and interaction of groups of people.
In 1962 there was a real breakthrough: the first in the country was organized laboratory of social psychology at the Leningrad State University.
Since then, discoveries have become increasingly frequent and significant, young professionals have been attracted for cooperation. Famous scientists of the time: L. I. Bozhovich, V. A. Yadova, A. L. Zhuravleva, A. A. Bodalev, B. F. Lomov, B. D. Parygin.
Currently, this science is in demand, takes part in all spheres of human activity. It solves the problems of modern society, helps to find out the smallest details of the successful interaction of individuals.
Structure
Modern science consists of several important aspects, which are the key to the knowledge of human psychology.
An object
They are the personality, group, or the process of studying the personality, its interaction with other people. For scientists it is important to understand how the object behaves in different situationshow it manifests its qualities, traits of character that it undertakes for this.
Subject of study
This includes massive psyche phenomena.
Studied associations of individuals: study classes, hobby groups.
The values of associations are taken into account, especially when it comes to ethnographic associations.
Then the values are customs, traditions, cultural characteristics. For scientists, it is important to clarify their formations.
Principles
The principles include:
- the study of sociological problems that regularly affect the individual;
- identifying the specific features of the laws that form the social reality;
- the creation of an ideal image of reality, which is formed by a person, reveals its features;
- determining the impact of society on the preferences, opinions and mood of the individual;
- study of the peculiarities of the interaction of people in the negotiation process, discussion of important business and professional issues.
This science is trying to find unity between intrapersonal processes and events in the environment.
Key areas and industries
The main ones are:
- Psychoanalytic. Based on the works and views of Freud. The direction suggests that interpersonal communication is necessarily associated with biological needs. For example, all individuals seek to live among people, like others, to find representatives with similar views and interests.
- Neo-bewitching. Created on the basis of the facts of observations, the specific properties of the behavior of the individual are excluded. It is important the degree of adaptation of the organism to new conditions, events.
- Contivivist. It includes features of cognitive processes that affect its attitudes, opinions, opinions on various issues.
- Interactionist. We study the social norms, rules, attitudes, the role of people. The conceptual apparatus is investigated.
Sections
The sections of this science include:
- Psychology of Personality. The nature of the personality, its process of adaptation in society is investigated. Its inclusion in different groups and associations.
- Psychology of communication. We consider the means of communication between people, finding a compromise, the ability to negotiate, work together.
- Group psychology. Covered group phenomena and processes, intergroup relations.
For this science, it is important not only to find the features of the psychology of one person, but also of the whole group, changes of individuals during associations, the ability to express themselves.
Goals, objectives and functions
Purpose This science is the study of human psychology, its behavior in society, adaptation in society and development.
For scientists, the importance of the process of the impact of others on the individual.
Tasks briefly:
- consideration of the various stages of individual socialization;
- the study of human behavior in large and small groups, the identification of differences and similarities;
- identification of leadership issues;
- creation of methods for the correction of human behavior in society.
Functions are:
- Theoretical and methodological. The principles of interaction of the essence of the investigated phenomena are revealed.
- Worldview. The study of the formation of the correct ideas about the world.
- Regulatory. The ways, forms of management of social processes are considered.
- Prognostic. Evaluates and reveals the dynamics, the speed of development of relations between individuals.
- Axiological. The values of both the individual and society are revealed.
Research methods
The methodology is aimed at a comprehensive study of the phenomena that are present in relations between people. They differ in character, significance.
There are several practical methods:
- observation;
- document analysis method;
- experiment;
- polls;
- testing;
- sociometry.
Each method allows obtain the necessary information for science, advance in learning.
Theories
Experts identify several important theories:
- Over "I". Z. Freud says that a person takes the ideal of parents' behavior, tries to improve it, so that it resembles their behavior.
It can take years, but the image of ideal parents remains in the mind.
- The theory of the personality of C. Jung creates the structure of the psyche, highlights the most significant psychosocial moments. In his opinion, a person sometimes hides his real "I" that to improve relations with other people, to avoid conflicts, adapts to their opinion.
- Social sharing. D. Homans suggests that there should be a strong link between costs and rewards. If a person tried to adapt in a team, to find friends, then he will have to achieve the goal as soon as possible. Without cost it is impossible to get the desired result.
Personality problem
Scientists view a person as part of society, an independent unit, but without society, it cannot manifest itself in full, it is revealed, it shows its features only in the circle of people.
For professionals it is important to identify human development at different stages, since childhood. They are convinced that without society a person would not have become herself.
In contact with other individuals, she finds herself, becomes useful to others, learns from her mistakes, strives for the desired results.
To adapt to society, a person has to make efforts, become flexible, be polite, and be able to negotiate.
Sometimes she has to give up your beliefs to prevent a quarrel. Requires continuous improvement.
Social Psychology - a complex, meaningful section, which includes many questions and nuances that help to know both the individual and the society as a whole, its changes, interests.
Thanks to this science, leaders who are absent are identified, various human roles are being tried on.
What does social psychology study? Find out from the video:
