Importance of Social Psychology

Social issues are continuously increasing and require specialized knowledge to understand the psychological processes involved in interpersonal relationships (Rodríguez, 2012). Social psychology, as one of the fundamental branches of psychology, demands meticulous and extensive research, prevention, and treatment work. This enables professionals to address situations in which both interpersonal and intrapersonal interactions are essential for achieving optimal personal development (Rodríguez, 2012). Social psychology offers broad research opportunities, as it is concerned with aspects such as social interactions, group dynamics, collectivity, communication processes, decision-making, personality, and social groups (Marcial, 2021). According to Marcial (2021), these areas are crucial for understanding how human relationships contribute to the development of the individual, enabling people to understand, modify, and adapt to society.

Without cooperation among individuals, society is doomed to fail (Vega, 2018). For this reason, the object of study of social psychology focuses on social problems: for example, the mechanisms that bring people together, the reasons why they share a space, and the origins of diverse ideologies. Moreover, this discipline seeks to understand how the environment in which people live affects their perception of reality and how they transmit this perception to others, shaping different types of personal relationships (Vega, 2018). In other words, thanks to the work of social psychologists, individuals can recognize the influence that society exerts upon them (Muñoz, 2018). Likewise, it is crucial to analyze how social and national activities function, such as the formation of political parties, organizations, and cultural associations. According to Muñoz (2018), an important role of social psychologists is to study group dynamics, which allows, through research, the prevention of future conflicts or problems.

Another relevant topic in social psychology is the study of the influence of external stimuli that are not directly related to interactions between individuals (Ticlla, 2020). This includes factors such as territory, urban and rural settings, industry, gastronomy, and climate, among others. Additionally, this discipline is essential for analyzing various societal elements such as organized crime, corruption, the impact of technology on youth social dynamics, immigration, and xenophobia (Ticlla, 2020). In summary, according to Rodríguez (2012), the importance of social psychology lies in the fact that human existence is defined within the context of a society that assigns names, roles, positions, status, and limitations.

One example of the relevance of applying social psychology can be found in the case of Iceland (Vega, 2018). Two decades ago, this country had one of the highest rates of alcohol and drug use among adolescents in Europe. Today, Iceland is recognized for having youth who lead healthy lifestyles. How was this change achieved? Social psychologists identified that the main issue was not the substances themselves, but the social environment of adolescents. Based on research in social psychology, and in line with Vega (2018), professionals worked closely with parents, schools, and communities at all levels, which fundamentally transformed young people’s attitudes.

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References

1. Marcial, J. (2021). Importancia de la psicología social. La Ventana Ciudadana. Recuperado 24 August 2021, a partir de https://laventanaciudadana.cl/importancia-de-la-psicologia-social/

2. Muñoz, E. (2018). Psicólogo social: ¿cuál es su trabajo? - MundoPsicologos.com. Obtenido 8 Noviembre 2020, de https://www.mundopsicologos.com/articulos/psicologo-social-cual-es-su-trabajo

3. Rodriguez, C. (2012). Psicología Social. Retrieved 9 November 2020, from http://fundacionortizavila.com/descargar/340/bc67b32d67716a4ee6dcfbc77e0ef173

4. Ticlla, E. (2020). Importancia de la psicología social en la sociedad. Retrieved 10 November 2020, from https://medium.com/@eticlla.c/importancia-de-la-psicolog%C3%ADa-social-en-la-sociedad-9fb28b7ac582

5. Vega, L. (2018). ¿Cómo afecta la Psicología Social a nuestras vidas?. Obtenido 9 Noviembre 2020, from https://revistadigital.inesem.es/educacion-sociedad/psicologia-social/