Social psychology

Social psychology ‘attempts to understand and explain how thoughts, feelings or behaviour of individuals are influenced by the actual imagined or implicit presence of others’ (Allport, 1985).
Issues studies by social psychologists range from intrapersonal processes (e.g. person perception, attitude theory, social cognition) and interpersonal relations (e.g. aggression, interdependence) to intergroup behaviour.

Literature: Allport (1985), Fiske & Taylor (1991), Frey & Greif (1987), Gardner & Elliot (1985), Manstead & Hewstone (1995), Stroebe, Hewstone, Codol & Stephenson (1990)

Entry by: Susanne Abele

November 10, 1997
Direct questions and comments to: Glossary master