Social Psychology

•Social psychology is the scientific study of how people

think about, influence, and relate to one another. A scientific
way in which people are affected by society. An attempt to
understand and explain how the thought, feeling and
behaviour of individuals are influenced by the actual,
imagined or implied presence of others.
•According to Otto Klineburg social psychology is the
scientific study of the activities of the individual influenced
by the individuals. These others may exert their effect singly
or in group.
•Social psychology is concerned with the interplay among
people: how they feel about eaqchother, how they influence
one another, how they form beliefs, work together, make
good and bad impressions and how they survive with a little
help from their friends, the stress and disasters of life. Social
psychology is primarily interested in how people interact
with each other.
 Social influence
Our social environment consisting of other people-
profoundly affects how we feel, think and
behave. How the power of situations influences
task performance,conformity,obedience and
anti-social behaviour.How people form
impressions of one another, and then explore
the nature helping behaviour and aggression
etc.
• Presence of others
• Social Norms: Rules of Society
• Obedience
 Formation of Group
When two or more persons are in a state of interaction it can be called a group.
These are the following essentials of a group described below:
• There should be at least two or more persons for constituting a group.
• There must be a communication among individuals. Physical contacts are
not essential for interaction, e.g.; when we listen to anyone on TV or radio,
the process of communication is going on.
• Persons who have interests with one another and make a group, they share
common interests among themselves.
• There is a social structure which regulates the activities of the group under
normal conditions.
• The members of the group must perceive themselves as part of the group
and generally be perceived by others as a part of the group.
• There must be shared goals and norms about appropriate behaviour.
• There must be interdependence of fates.
 Joining of Group
• Groups vary in size and degree of intimacy from
family to a society. This family, peer and
friendship groups are some the examples of
small group. Among the reasons that people join
group are: to satisfy their needs, to promote their
self-identity, to achieve goals that they could not
achieve alone, to receive rewards etc from
group. Groups are central part of our everyday
life, we are born in a group, we live, study, play,
and work in a group. At one time an individual
belong to different types of group which may
increase or decrease accordingly.
 Primary Group
• Throughout the history the basic group of individual’s life
is primary groups tends to be small, with frequent face to
face interaction among members. The interaction
involves high degree of intimacy. Members develop a
strong sense of group identity a “WE” feelings. And
rather than to serve one special purpose they meet for
different purposes. The most important primary group is
one’s family. other primary groups includes children’s
playgroup and teenage friends, some neighbourhood
circles and those who are close to the most fundamental
unit of human society is primary group.
• The concept originated from Charles Horton Cooly.He
used primary to mean the family as primary group
because this is the principle agent of socialization.
 Secondary Group
• A secondary group is composed of special relationship which
involves:
• Limited face to face interaction
• Weak personal identity
• Weak ties of affection
• A group whose purpose is to achieve practical goals and whose
members are linked by limited relationship. They involve only a
limited meeting among members related to some work and include
office workers, colleagues in university departments etc.These
members often communicate indirectly through memos or
telephone. Sometimes they are called special interest groups
moreover they do not necessarily depend on face to face
interaction. Easily recognizable are nation, political members of a
party, trade unions etc.
 In and Out Groups
In Group: The group to which a person belongs
and feels loyal, as distinct from an out group.
These members have special feelings of loyalty
towards each other. There is a high degree of
identification with the group name, the group
goals and the various means of attaining goals.
Out Group: The out group or others group is an
association of persons towards whom we feel a
sense of avoidnance,dislike,aggression,fear or
threat. There is no sense of loyalty, sympathy or
co-operation among group members
 Leadership
• A leader can be defined as any person who is
intelligent,dynamic,has the ability to carry a
responsibility and is able to direct a group. A
person who influences a group.
• Leadership is a process of
directing,initiating,guiding,regulating and co-
ordinating group activity. Leadership is a
complex social relationship in which leaders are
affected by followers as well as they exert
influence on them.
 Qualities of a Good Leader
• Awareness of the problem of the group
• Power of decision
• Emotional Stability
• Power of Foresight
• Self-Confidence
• Flexibility
• Physically Healthy
• Popular among Group
• Ability to Organize
• Not a Dictator
• Not a Selfish person
 Types of Leaders
• Authoritative: Holds every power and
makes decisions individually/stays away
from the group members.
• Democratic: Share his views with other
members and accepts their decisions as
well/close to group members.