Unpacking Social Psychology

Social psychology … presupposes an approach to experience from the standpoint of the individual, but undertakes to determine, in particular, that which belongs to this experience, because the individual himself belongs to a social structure, a social order. George H. Meade

Do you enjoy spending time socialising with family and friends?

What a question, right?

Of course you do, since we are all social beings.

This applies to people who prefer their own company too. Occasionally, they enjoy having a friend or two over to chat and catch up with.

However, are there occasions when you actually question your social interaction with particular people? That is because social behaviour is not always simple or straightforward. We all realise that we speak or behave differently, depending on the company that we’re in.

Social behaviour has been the object of study, by psychologists, for years as they attempt to answer questions surrounding social interactions.

So,  what is social psychology?

Without any further delay, let’s sink our teeth into how to define social psychology, which books provide the best reference material and which SA-based institutions offer first-rate courses in psychology.

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Social Psychology: What it is

Social psychology analyses the relationships and dealings people have with one another.

Anyone who studies psychology, will soon discover that there are several distinct topics and sub-disciplines which form a part of this fascinating subject. One of these is social psychology.

But, what is the best way to define social psychology?

Encyclopaedia Brittanica provides the following definition:

“ ... the scientific study of the behaviour of individuals in their social and cultural setting. Although the term may be taken to include the social activity of laboratory animals or those in the wild, the emphasis here is on human social behaviour.”

In essence, social psych seeks to understand human behaviour when people are connected to or associated with other people.

This component of psychology covers numerous social phenomena, such as aggression, conformity, group behaviour, non-verbal behaviour, social perception and leadership. Social psychologists concentrate their attention on situations that people encounter regularly and may not be aware of.

For example, have you ever considered why you behave in a particular way in one group and totally differently in another? This is exactly the kind of question that social psychology sets out to answer.

Psychology – A Social Science?

The question arises: is psychology a social science?

Many universities view psychology as a social science. As a discipline, psychology explores facets of human behaviour and gradations of the brain.

It bridges the gap between natural science and social science.

Psychology students major in social behaviour, emotions and human development, which draw on social science methods.

Certain sub-disciplines are more closely allied to the social sciences than others. For instance, social psychology is mainly seen as a social science, whereas subfields like biological psychology and neuropsychology entail more rigorous training in the physical sciences, causing many to class them as STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects.

At the end of the day, it really depends on who you’re talking to, as to whether psychology is a social science or not. However, most practitioners of psychology class all psychology topics as belonging to the field of social science.

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What Are the Top Social Psychology Books?

Even though we live in a digital age, the best way to gain an understanding of academic disciplines, is by reading or consulting books.

So, if you’re studying the basics of social psychology for pleasure or as part of varsity coursework, there are certain texts which are regarded as absolute “must reads”.

The following are widely regarded as some of the finest psychology texts ever published:

• The Social Animal: exquisitely put together by the inspired Elliot Aronson, The Social Animal is an ageless non-fiction classic which expertly explains social psychological features, such as motives and patterns of human behaviour that influence some major topics pertaining to man’s existence – advertising, obedience, conformity, race relations, politics, terrorism and war. Almost all readers of The Social Animal have expressed enormous satisfaction.
• The Tipping Point: authored by the celebrated writer Malcolm Gladwell, The Tipping Point explains sociological changes that take place in our everyday lives. The author analyses three rules in the book: the law of the few, the stickiness factor and the power of context. This book, also, touches on multi-layered topics such as smoking, teen suicide and how rumours are spread in and amongst social groups.
• Influence: Science and Practice: this compelling read investigates some of the most essential characteristics of social psychology. Influence by Robert B. Cialdini is regarded as one of the best psychology books ever written. In it, Cialdini explores why individuals say “Yes” and what causes them to do so.

It goes without saying that there are numerous other psychology texts worth mentioning. If you have the time or inclination, the following books are also worth more than just a peek:

• Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely,
• Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell,
• The Happiness Hypothesis by Jonathan Haidt,
• Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell,
• The Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwartz.

Each one of these texts is available online on Amazon. Reading up on social psych is not an activity reserved solely for varsity students. It can be undertaken by anyone who has the desire to make greater sense of the human condition.

Where Can I Study Psychology in SA?

So, you've decided to study social psych. You’ll be happy to know that there are several education institutions around South Africa that offer either long-term or short-term social psychology degree courses and programmes. Let’s have a look at one or two varsities which offer an undergraduate degree programme in social psychology.

The University of Cape Town (UCT)

Regarded as the leading university in Africa, UCT annually attracts thousands of students, some from as far afield as the USA. The university’s undergraduate courses prepare students to enter both research- and clinical-based post-graduate programmes. UCT’s under-grad psychology degree is internationally recognised and many UCT graduates have gone on to successfully complete post-graduate studies at universities overseas. The BSocSc (Bachelor of Social Science﹛Honours﹜ specialising in Psychology)

Not only is this useful in itself, this honours degree offers a crucial link between the undergraduate programme of study and a number of specialised Master's programmes offered in the field of psychology.

The BSocScHonours programme consists of six semester courses and a research project. The course has three compulsory courses – Philosophical and Theoretical Issues in Psychology, Statistics for Psychological Research and Research Methods in Psychology – as well as three electives which may be selected from a list which includes Social Psychology of Inequality, Developmental Psychology and Psychology and Law.

The University of Pretoria (UP)

The University of Pretoria is one of Africa’s top universities and the largest contact university in South Africa.

Its BSocSci Honours in Psychology programme offers advanced research and academic training in psychology, preparing students to continue with its Master’s programme in any of the academic or professional programmes, enabling them to transfer their skills to a variety of work situations and to contribute to society.

While these two universities have specific psychology degree courses, many other institutions across SA also offer classes in social psychology and sociology. These include the Universities of Witwatersrand, Stellenbosch and Johannesburg, as well as UNISA.

After graduating, social psychology graduates can seek employment as lecturers, researchers, business managers, human resource managers or political strategists.

Consider a Tutor for Social Psychology Courses

Psychology is a pretty interesting and absorbing subject to pursue at university level; however, it is definitely not the easiest.

Depending on the discipline studied, there are tons of case studies and theories that have to be carefully reviewed.

To better understand some of these intriguing social psychology topics, reach out to an experienced private tutor. The benefits include:

• During private, one-to-one sessions, the learning content will be customised to suit the learning goals and needs of the student.
• Private tutors offer you their undivided attention, since you are not in a group setting.
• Because many psych tutors are pretty experienced, they will share little nuggets of wisdom, insights and revision tricks and tips.

Now that you’ve made up your mind to pursue a course in social psychology, where can you find a tutor to do virtual or in-person classes? You could start with Superprof. The site hosts the ads of qualified tutors across SA and. around the world.

Refining your social psychology skills and extending your knowledge on the subject with the help of Superprof is a top idea. Here are some reasons why:

• A wide variety of tutors with different teaching styles
• You can learn either online or in-person
• Most tutors offer the first lesson free
• Psychology tutors are available at an affordable price

A private social psychology tutor is strongly recommended for curious learners and varsity students.

To conclude, social psychology studies how people act and how different people impact on one another in social settings.

If you wish to work as a psychologist or simply wish to research social psych, it is our sincere hope that this article has helped you answer the question: what is social psychology?