Introduction to Social Psychology

Unit 12 – Social
Psychology

,Social Psychology
• Social psychology – the study of how people affect one another’s
thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
• Social psychology studies topics at both the intra- and interpersona
levels
• Intrapersonal topics (those that pertain to the individual) – emotio
and attitudes, the self, and social cognition (the ways in which we
think about ourselves and others)
• Interpersonal topics (those that pertain to groups) – helping behav
aggression, prejudice and discrimination, attraction and close
relationships, and group processes and intergroup relationships

,Social Psychology
• Behavior is a product of both factors of a situation and a person’s
personality
• Situationism – our behavior and actions are determined by our
immediate environment and surroundings
• Dispositionism – our behavior is determined by internal factors

, Traits vs States
• A trait is an aspect of someone’s personality that doesn’t change
• A state is associated with a person’s mood that changes depending
the situation