Social psychology

Social Psychology is a science that studies the influences of our situations, with special attention to how we view and affect one another. More precisely, it is the scientific study of how people think about, influence, and relate to one another.

Social psychology lies at psychology’s boundary with sociology. Compared with sociology (the study of people in groups and societies), social psychology focuses more on individuals and does more experimentation. Compared with personality psychology, social psychology focuses less on individuals’ differences and more on how individuals, in general, view and affect one another.

Social psychology studies our thinking, influences, and relationships by asking questions that have intrigued us all. For example: Does our social behavior depend more on the objective situations we face or how we construe them? Would people be cruel if ordered? To help or to help oneself? (Cited from David Myers, Social Psychology, 11th Edition)