The Object of Study of Social Psychology

Social psychology is a discipline that uses different scientific methods to understand and explain how the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of each individual are affected by the real, implied, or imagined existence of other people (Rodriguez, 2018). In short, according to Rodriguez (2018), this discipline seeks to understand how each person's behavior is modified by the surrounding environment.

From here, in correspondence with Paez (2003), the more individualistic approaches argue that the social is reduced to the presence of an other, whereas, the more holistic approaches argue that what influences thought processes is the social structure, i.e., group power relations, status and ideology.

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Object of Study of Social Psychology

The object of study of social psychology is the influence of social relationships on the behavior and psychological state of people (Regader, n.d.). Thus, social psychology seeks to establish theories about human behavior that serve to predict behaviors before they occur, and thus, to be able to intervene (Muelas, 2021). For example, in recent years, one of the most concerning areas of social psychology is to understand why adolescents start smoking or drinking despite being aware of the dangers of these behaviors (Rodriguez, 2018). Then, according to Muelas (2021), if it is known what factors promote certain behaviors, intervention on those factors could change the final behaviors.

Therefore, to analyze the form, quality and scope of the links, it starts with the study of communication and learning (Rodriguez, et al. 2005). Similarly, it includes research on the influence of personal attitudes and social thoughts (Regader, n.d.). And, of course, in correspondence with Regader (n.d.), another factor that social psychology has to consider is the historical background of the occurrence of psychological events, since behavior always takes place on a series of material and symbolic precedents that affect the behavior of all human beings.

References

1. Muelas, R. (2021). ¿Sabes qué es la psicología social y por qué es tan importante?. La Mente es Maravillosa. Recuperado 19 August 2021, a partir de https://lamenteesmaravillosa.com/sabes-que-es-la-psicologia-social-y-por-que-es-importante/

2. Páez, D. (2003). Obtenido 4 Noviembre 2020, de https://www.ehu.eus/documents/1463215/1504276/Capitulo+I_Manual+Psic+Soc_2004.pdf

3. Regader, B. (s.f.) ¿Qué es la Psicología Social?. Obtenido 1 Noviembre 2020, de https://psicologiaymente.com/social/psicologia-social

4. Rodriguez, A. (2018). Psicología social: historia, objeto de estudio y áreas - Lifeder. Obtenido 1 Noviembre 2020, de https://www.lifeder.com/psicologia-social/

5. Rodriguez, C., et al. (2005). Psicología Social - Polimodal. Obtenido 1 Noviembre 2020, de https://bdigital.uncu.edu.ar/objetos_digitales/1373/psisocpolimodal.pdf