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Mar 6, 2024 · The major research areas in social psychology are an ideal starting point to investigate as part of a psychology research project. These key focus areas within social psychology can be compelling psychology research topics: 1. Attitudes and attitude change
- Overview
- Social Cognition
- Attitudes and Attitude Change
- Violence and Aggression
- Prosocial Behavior
- Prejudice and Discrimination
- Self and Social Identity
- Group Behavior
- Social Influence
- Interpersonal Relationships
This article discusses some of the major areas of research in social psychology. It also explores some examples of the types of research that social psychologists might conduct within these subject areas.
Social cognition is concerned with the processing, storage, and application of social information. For example, research in this area of social psychology may focus on the development and use of social schemas.
Schemas are our general ideas about the world, how things are, and how things work. In the case of social schemas, these ideas relate to how we expect people to behave in different situations.
These mental categories allow us to function without constantly stopping to interpret everything around us. We also develop associations between related schemas, which play an important role in the thought process and social behavior.
One area of social cognition research concerns person perception, which is how people form impressions of others.
Another major research area in social psychology involves the study of attitudes. Social psychologists are interested in the components of attitudes, how attitudes develop, and how attitudes change.
Attitudes are evaluations of people, objects, or issues. They can be positive (e.g., "I like chocolate") or negative (e.g., "I dislike taxes"). Various factors contribute to the development of attitudes, including upbringing and experiences, although genetics also appears to play a role in shaping them.
Researchers have identified three core components of attitude: an affective component, a behavioral component, and a cognitive component. Often referred to as the "ABCs of attitude," these elements describe how we feel, behave, and understand.
Some other characteristics of attitudes that researchers may be interested in include:
•How they are best measured: Some attitudes can be measured through self-report questionnaires, but others might be better measured using tools like facial expression or arousal levels.
•Factors that affect their strength: Attitudes can vary considerably in terms of their intensity. The strength of these attitudes directly impacts the degree to which they will guide their actions. Direct experiences and frequent exposure to the attitude can impact its strength.
What causes violence and aggression? While many different factors play a role, social psychologists are interested in understanding the social influences that shape violent behavior.
Research in this area looks at numerous social factors that may cause aggression, including:
•Situational variables that might contribute to aggression
•Non-physical types of aggression such as name-calling or gossiping
•How aggression is learned via modeling, such as witnessing adults or children engage in aggressive or violent behaviors
•How violence in the media affects behavior in the real world
Prosocial behavior is another major research area in social psychology. Prosocial behaviors are those that involve helping and cooperating.
Researchers often look at why people help others, as well as why they sometimes refuse to help or cooperate. The bystander effect is an example of a social phenomenon in the subject area of prosocial behavior.
Much of the research in the area of bystander effect was prompted by the murder of a young woman named Kitty Genovese. This case captured national attention when reports suggested that neighbors had witnessed her attack and murder but failed to call the police for help.
Later reviews of the case indicate that few (if any) of the neighbors had a clear view of the scene and were unaware of what was happening. Nevertheless, the case became mythologized in psychology textbooks and prompted a surge of interest in prosocial behaviors.
Prejudice, discrimination, and stereotypes exist in any social group. Social psychologists are interested in the origins, causes, and effects of these attitudes and social categorizations.
Some questions that social psychologists explore include:
•How does prejudice develop?
•Why are stereotypes maintained in the face of contrary evidence?
•How can prejudice be measured?
•What factors contribute to the formation of prejudice and discrimination?
Our perceptions of social identities and ourselves are another important research area in social psychology. Some of the questions that researchers explore include:
•How do people come to know and understand themselves?
•How do these self-perceptions affect our social interactions?
•How does belonging to different social groups shape individual identity?
•How do intersecting group members influence self-perception and self-identity?
Social psychologists are interested in learning more about how this inner life influences our outer lives and social world. Self-awareness, self-esteem, self-concept, and self-expression are only a few factors that influence our social experience.
Group behavior is defined as the actions, feelings, or thoughts of a collective of people. Such groups involve two or more people who share something in common such as identity, purpose, and belief.
The behavior of groups is one of the largest research areas in social psychology. Most people realize that groups tend to behave differently than individuals. These group behaviors are sometimes beneficial but can also be detrimental.
Social psychologists often look at topics such as:
•Group dynamics
•Leadership
•Group decision making
Social psychologists are also interested in the role of social influence on behavior and decision-making. Topics such as the psychology of persuasion, peer pressure, conformity, and obedience are only a few of those studied in this area of social psychology.
One example of research in this area of social psychology was Milgram's obedience studies conducted during the 1960s. The experiments found that when ordered by an authority figure, participants were willing to deliver what they believed were dangerous and painful electrical shocks to another person. While the shocks were staged, the research suggested that many people were willing to go to great lengths to obey authority.
Social relationships play a major role in shaping behavior, attitudes, feelings, and thoughts. Social psychologists study how these interpersonal relationships affect people by looking at attachment, liking, love, and attraction.
Some research questions that social psychologists might explore include:
•How important are interpersonal relationships to individual well-being?
•What factors play a role in attraction?
•How do interpersonal relationships influence helping behaviors in groups?
•How do close relationships affect individuals?
Jan 7, 2024 · Social psychology topics can provide a great deal of inspiration for further research, whether you are writing a research paper or conducting your own experiment. In addition to some of the social psychology topics above, you can also draw inspiration from your own curiosity about social behavior or examine social issues that you see taking place in the world around you.
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One, the headings alone describe, at a broad level, the kinds of topics covered in the field of social psychology. Looking at the overarching categories, one can see that social psychology studies cognition (thought) and action, helpful and hurtful behaviors, emotions and decisions, culture and evolution, the self and social relationships, as ...
Choosing Social Psychology Research Topics. Selecting the right social psychology research topic is a crucial step in your academic journey. It can mean the difference between a project that excites and challenges you, and one that feels like a chore. Here's how to navigate this important decision-making process: Steps to Select a Research Topic
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