Pages: 73

No chapter abstract available.

Pages: 9

Social psychology, as an applied branch of the subject psychology, provides the scientific study of the behavior of the individuals in social situations. As an introductory chapter of a social psychology text, here beginning has been made by providing meaning and definitions of the term social psychology. In the second section, then, efforts have been made to throw light on the nature of the subject social psychology by arguing how its nature may be considered as sufficiently scientific. In the third and last section, a useful discussion has been carried out about its scope in the form of first telling about what is generally included in the study of the subject social psychology and then pointing out its uses and applications in our day-to-day life aimed at bettering our life and places, where we live and work.

Pages: 22

For the study of a subject in a meaningful way, it is quite essential to peep through its origin and history. In this connection, the present chapter, in its beginning, tries to pinpoint the fact that the roots of the origin and development of the subject social psychology well lie in both the parent subjects psychology and sociology, studied previously in the forms and shapes of mental philosophy and social philosophy. Later on, it discusses its continual development worldwide during the different time periods such as 1895-1945, 1946-1970 and 1971 onwards. After then, it throws light about its progress and development in the particular reference to India during the different time periods such as development in Ancient India, development in British India and development after gaining Independence in 1947. In its last section, it tries to discuss international social psychology journals published worldwide (print as well as electronic) and the various social psychology associations of the world.

Pages: 15

Social psychology, defined as “psychology of all that which is social in its nature”, owes its existence to two of the major disciplines and fields of social sciences, psychology and sociology. For this reason, it does not only exhibit a considerable relationship with its parent subjects psychology and sociology but also with the related branches of psychology (psycho-social in their nature and application) and sociology-oriented or related social sciences (socio-psychological in their nature and application). For the purpose of throwing light on this aspect, the present chapter, in its former section, tries to discuss the relationship of social psychology with the disciplines and subjects of the study like general psychology, personality psychology, environmental psychology, cultural psychology and evolutionary psychology, and later in the second section it discusses well the relationship of social psychology with the disciplines and study of subjects like sociology, anthropology, economics and social neuroscience.

Pages: 25

Social psychology is concerned with the task of carrying out the scientific research and investigation about the social behavior of individuals and the related social phenomenon. For the purpose of carrying out this task, researchers or investigators make use of a variety of methods such as experimental method, systematic or naturalistic observation method, survey method, correlation method, case study method, ethnography, and documentary or archival analysis. The present chapter tries to throw essential light on the nature and use of all these methods. In addition for helping the researchers and investigators in their task it also carries out useful discussion about the meaning of the term research, goals of social psychology research, the mechanism of quantitative and qualitative data analysis essential for the interpretation of the results of the study from the data collected with the use of research methods. In the end, it focuses on reflecting on the ethical issues in social psychological researches necessary for conducting research studies with utmost sincerity and honesty without hurting the subjects of the study in any harmful way.

Pages: 143

No chapter abstract available.

Pages: 22

Our social cognition - knowing and understanding the social behavior of others - is quite essential for interacting and maintaining relationships with them. The present chapter focuses on this very aspect in an essential detailed way. For this purpose, it first tells what actually happens in the process of our social cognition. It is then followed by the discussion of the major cognitive strategies such as use of schemas and heuristics involved in our social cognition. In such discussion, here, it tries to explain the roles of different schemas like person schemas, self-schemas, event schemas, role schemas and group schemas as well as the roles of different heuristics such as representativeness heuristic, availability heuristic, anchoring or adjustment heuristic and simulation heuristic. After then it tries to throw light on the potential sources of errors in our social cognition in the names of negative and positive biases, counterfactual thinking, thoughtful suppression, the phenomenon of magical thinking, and dominance of intuitive thoughts over the rational. In the end it discusses the mutual relationship existing between one’s social cognition and affect (one’s feelings and emotions).

Pages: 34

Perception about people and their social behavior, known as social perception, carries a wide significance to us for the needed social interaction with them in our social living. The present chapter tries to throw essential light on the so needed social perception on our part. For this purpose, here it first acquaints us with the nature and meaning of social perception and then throws light on the roles of non-verbal communication and attribution (probable causes of others’ behavior) on one’s social perception. It then tells more about the phenomenon of attribution by discussing the various theories of attribution such as Heider’s naïve psychology attribution theory, Kelley’s theory of causal attribution, Jones and Davis’s correspondence inference theory, Shaver’s attribution model, and Weiner’s attribution theory. After then it tries to focus its discussion on attribution biases emerging in our social perception such as fundamental attribution bias, actor-observer bias, and the self-serving attribution bias. In the end, it discusses all about the task of impression formation and management by throwing light on their meaning, the task or process of impression formation and the methods or techniques used for the management of impression.

Pages: 33

For having proper interaction and relationships with others in one’s society and community, one needs not only to have the required social perception of them in terms of their knowing and understanding, but should also have an essential insight into the phenomenon of self-perception - knowing and understanding of his or her self in a proper way. The present chapter tries to focus on this very aspect in a quite detailed way. For this purpose, it first tries to acquaint us with the meaning and concept of the self and then tries to throw light in its essential details over the various aspects or attributes of the self referred to as self-awareness, self-concept, self-esteem, self-efficacy and self-regulation. In its discussion about them it tries to throw light on their meaning, types and ways of developing among the individuals. The other mentionable things of this discussion include the discussion about the various theories of self-concept, measurement of self-esteem, the characteristics of persons having high and low self-esteem and the behavior of those who are self-regulated or controlled in their functioning.

Pages: 33

Our behavior, or to say our entire personality makeup and working, to a great extent depend upon our attitudes towards the things - ideas, persons or objects - existing in our environment. What are these attitudes; how do they affect and influence one’s behavior? The knowing about it is quite essential for us to work and behave properly in our one or the other social setup. The present chapter tries to provide the essential discussion about all the useful aspects related to this important attribute of our behavior. For this purpose, it first tries to acquaint us with their meaning, characteristic features, components and functions and then tells us about their formation, development and maintenance in our mental framework. After then it provides a useful discussion about the link between our attitudes and behavior and talk about the role of persuasion in bringing changes in our attitudes. It then throws light on the mechanism of cognitive dissonance associated with our attitudes with a useful description of the dissonance theories like Heider’s balance theory and Festinger’s cognitive dissonance theory. In its last section, it throws light on the phenomenon of resistance to persuasion and discusses the ways and means of measuring one’s attitudes.

Pages: 19

Based on our own experiences - direct or indirect - we may exhibit certain types of specific attitudes and ways of behaving towards the people belonging to one or the other social groups known by the terms stereotyping, prejudices and discriminations. The present chapter aims to throw light on all these three important aspects of our social behavior. In this concern, in its beginning section, it throws light over the phenomenon of stereotyping by examining its meaning and concept, types and forms, the relationship of stereotypes with prejudices and discrimination, the sources of the emergence of stereotypes, and impact of stereotyping on the well-being of individuals and societies. In its second section, it focuses its discussion on the phenomenon of prejudices by throwing light on their meaning and nature, sources of emergence and their evil impact on our interpersonal relationships. In its third section, it deals with the phenomenon of discrimination by throwing light on its meaning and nature and its evil impacts or consequences. In the end, it tries to suggest the use of various techniques for countering the ill effects of stereotyping, prejudices and discrimination.

Pages: 100

No chapter abstract available.

Pages: 26

The phenomenon of social influence (the influence exercised by an individual/group on others for bringing required changes in their behavior), in the forms and names of conformity, compliance and obedience, carries a lot of significance in the functioning of the individuals in one or the other social setup. The present chapter tries to focus its discussion in its essential details over the various issues associated with these three important social aspects by throwing light on their concepts and meaning, types and forms, and the sources and factors associated with their emergence. While carrying out its discussion on conformity, it properly throws light on Sherif’s classical experiments on private conformity and Asch’s classical experiments on public conformity. In its discussion on compliance related social behavior it provides necessary details about the various techniques of compliance - making people comply in one or the other social situations. In its last section related to the discussion about obedience, it properly highlights Stanley Milgram’s study on obedience and acquaints us with the mechanism of exercising restraint or control over the destructive obedience.

Pages: 28

In our interaction with others we have to get engaged in one or the other type of social behavior governed through a mechanism known as social exchange based on the principle of “give and take”. The present chapter is aimed to provide discussion about the essentials and issues related to this mechanism. In this concern, first it throws light on the meaning and concept of the term social exchange. After then it provides a discussion about a social exchange theory developed by the American sociologist George Homans in 1958 followed by the discussion about the significance of social exchange processes in our social life. In its subsequent sections, it then throws light on the various forms or types of social exchange processes such as cooperation, competition and conflict in their necessary details highlighting their meaning, characteristic features, various types, and their place or significance in our social life. The discussion about the process of conflict here also includes the task of highlighting the various causes of conflicts in our social life and the techniques or methods used for their resolution in a satisfactory way.

Pages: 23

In the process of social interaction with others it is not unusual for us to feel a strong sense of liking or attraction towards someone (interpersonal attraction) and then see it to be developed into a bond of love and social relationship (interpersonal relationship). The present chapter focuses its discussion in necessary details over these two important aspects of our interpersonal interaction. For this purpose, in its first section, it starts by throwing light on the meaning and nature of the term interpersonal attraction. It is then followed with the discussion about the various theories of interpersonal attraction: evolutionary theory of attraction, linear theory or reinforcement model, exchange theory of attraction, equity theory of attraction and balance theory of attraction. After then a useful discussion has been carried out about the various determinants of interpersonal attraction and relationship. In its second section, it deals with a variety of aspects and issues related to interpersonal relationships, such as early family relationships, close friendships and various types of romantic relationships and love including passionate love, compassionate love, romantic love and marriage relationship.

Pages: 21

There are people who come forward to provide a timely help to victims at the time of their need. It is this helping behavior of these people that is termed as pro-social behavior. A more refined form of this behavior, when performed with no intention of getting personal benefit of any kind, is known by the term altruistic behavior and the motivation for its performing is known as altruism. This chapter provides a quite detailed description of the various aspects and issues related to altruism and pro-social behavior. For this purpose, it first tries to throw light on the meaning and nature of pro-social and altruistic behavior. After then it tries to differentiate among the terms helping behavior, pro-social behavior and altruistic behavior and throws light on the concept “bystanders intervention in an emergency”. It then discusses the perspective or theories explaining the pro-social behavior in the name of empathy-altruism, negative state relief, empathic joy, competitive altruism and kin selection theories. In its subsequent sections, it then provides useful discussion about the personality variables associated with the pro-social behavior of the helpers, the characteristics of those being helped, how people may feel in receiving others’ help, and the causes or determinants of the pro-social behavior.

Pages: 59

No chapter abstract available.

Pages: 23

All of us as social beings need to be equipped with an adequate level of our social development referred to as socialization for our proper living and behaving in one or the other social setup. What is this socialization? The present chapter tries to throw light on the various aspects and essentials of the mechanism of socialization. For this purpose, it first tries to explain the concept of socialization by throwing light on its meaning and nature. After then it provides necessary descriptions about the various perspectives or theories of socialization in the names of psychoanalytic theory of socialization, Erikson’s theory of socialization, social learning theory of socialization and the moral development perspective of socialization provided by Piaget and Kohlberg. In the end, it provides the necessary description about the roles of different agents or agencies helpful in one’s socialization, namely parents and family, neighborhood, peers and playing mates, school, social and religious institutions, religious and political organizations, community and clubs, and means of entertainment, information and communications, mass media and smart appliances.

Pages: 25

Change is the law of nature and thereby all things in our world always remain in a state of flux. However, changes do not occur only in the physical aspects of our environment. Thereby, we may witness significant changes taking place constantly in the structure and functioning of the society, the social behavior and relations, social norms and values, and even in the attitudes and beliefs of the individuals. All of such changes occurring in the fabric of the society are usually referred to as social changes. The present chapter is aimed to provide necessary descriptions about the mechanism of this social change. For this purpose, in its beginning, it tries to throw light on the meaning, nature, characteristics and forms or kinds of social change. After then it tells about the factors causing the social change. In its later section, then, it provides a necessary description about the various theories of social change named as evolutionary or linear theory of social change (available in the forms of the theory of unilinear evolution, universal evolution and multi-linear evolution), cyclical theory of social change and conflict theory of social change.

Pages: 9

It is a hard reality that every society or nation needs to have an adequate spirit of integration in its societal organization and functioning for its smooth functioning and proper development. What this social integration is and how it can be ensured or promoted in a society, the present chapter tries to focus its discussion on this very aspect in its essential detail. For this purpose, here, the chapter begins by throwing light on the meaning and concept of social integration. After then it provides a useful discussion about the various measures used for achieving or promoting the needed social integration. In reference to our own country, here, it provides a useful mention about the types of legislative means and administrative measures employed for achieving the required social integration and throws proper light on its attainment by bringing changes in the attitudes, beliefs and values of the people.

Pages: 47

No chapter abstract available.

Pages: 29

People may be seen to behave quite differently in a group from what they would otherwise do. It happens so because in a social group, the people’s behavior rests on a different psychic level and is governed by a unique force referred to as group dynamics. The present chapter focuses its discussion on the working of the social groups and mechanism of the group dynamics. In this concern, it first throws light on the meaning, concept and basic assumptions of group dynamics. After then it provides essential details about the meaning and characteristics and types of groups, explains how groups are formed, what makes us to join a group and how a group functions. In the subsequent section, it then focuses its discussion on the performance of individuals in the presence of others and highlights the phenomenon of social facilitation and inhibition with the help of various useful theories. After then, it provides essential details about the phenomenon of social loafing, and de-individuation (mob or crowd behavior). In its last section it provides a useful discussion about the task of decision making in groups and points out the potential dangers and pitfalls in the group decision making. In the end it discusses the phenomena of group polarization and groupthink and tells about their impact on group decision making.

Pages: 16

Every group, whether formal or informal, spontaneous or organized, has a leader. The groups get integrated and flourish or get disintegrated and perish as a result of the efficient or inefficient leadership. The leaders and their leadership thus have a unique significance in the functioning of a group. The present chapter provides an essential discussion about the leaders and their leadership. For this purpose, in the beginning attempts have been made to provide the meaning and definitions of the term leadership, and tell about the various traits or qualities of leadership. After then the discussion has been focused on the types of leaders and their styles of leadership such as task-oriented authoritarian style of leadership and the relationship-oriented democratic leadership style, transformational and transactional leaders and their leadership. After then, the question of what makes one to function as a leader has been answered on the basis of various theories named as universal trait theory, universal behavior theory, situation specific trait theories and situation specific behavior theories of leadership (such as path goal theory and life cycle theory). In its last section, then, it describes the functions of leaders in essential detail.

Pages: 91

No chapter abstract available.

Pages: 34

Aggression and violence prove quite harmful for the welfare of individuals and societies. Knowledge about what these are and how and why they emerge is quite beneficial for having protection from their fallout. The present chapter tries to provide essential details on this account. For this purpose, in the beginning, attempts have been made to throw light on the meaning of the term aggression or aggressive behavior and types of aggression in the form of hostile and instrumental aggression. After then, discussion has been focused on defining and distinguishing the term violence from the term aggression and telling about the different forms of violent behavior prevalent in our social world specifically in the name of bullying, spectator violence in sports and workplace violence. After then focus of discussion is centered on the description of various theories of aggression such as genetic theory, neurological theory, hormonal theory, psycho-analytical instinct theory, evolutionary theory, frustration theory, social learning theory and The General Aggression Model: A Modern Theory of Human Aggression. In its last section, it then provides essential discussion about the causes or determinants of aggression and violence followed by the possible ways and means for their prevention and control.

Pages: 20

It is not unusual to see that a number of people indulge in antisocial and undesirable behavior, such as alcoholism, drug addiction, delinquency and crime, harmful to them and the society in one or the other ways. The present chapter tries to discuss them in their essential details. For this purpose, in its first section of dealing with the problem of alcoholism, it tries to throw light on the concept and meaning of the term alcoholism, the process of becoming habituated to alcoholism, the effects of alcoholism, and the possible causes and treatment of the alcoholics. In its second section, it then focuses on the problem of drug addiction by discussing its concept and meaning, use of different types of drugs by the drug addicts and their damaging effects, the causes of drug addiction and the prevention and treatment of the drug addicts. In its last third section, it then focuses its discussion on the criminal behavior of the people in the name of delinquency and crime by throwing light on their meaning, concept and nature, pointing out the underlying causes for such type of behavior and discussing the ways and means for their prevention and treatment.

Pages: 35

Apart from the problems related to alcoholism, drug addiction and criminal behavior the world societies at the global and regional level are now facing a number of other social problems and burning issues. The same is equally true with our country. The discussion carried out in the present chapter is aimed to throw necessary light on these problems and issues, some of which are quite specific and products of the things happening in the Indian communities. For this purpose, in its beginning section it tries to discuss the hard realities and problems faced by our country in the name of poverty, corruption and unemployment by throwing light on their nature, ill consequences, causes and efforts being done for dealing with them. In its second section, it tries to throw necessary light on the various types of aggression and violence prevalent in our society in the name of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual violence, and the violence committed by Naxalites and terrorists. In its third and final section, it then tries to discuss some contemporary social issues and problems facing the Indian society in the names of same gotra and intra-khap marriages, inter-caste marriages, inter-religion marriages, same sex marriages, and transgenders and their rights.