Social Psychology - Psychology Definition of the Week

Definition: According to psychologist Gordon Allport, social psychology is a discipline that uses scientific methods "to understand and explain how the thought, feeling and behavior of individuals are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of other human beings."

Social psychology looks at a wide range of social topics, including group behavior, social perception, leadership, nonverbal behavior, conformity, aggression, and prejudice. It is important to note that social psychology is not just about looking at social influences. Social perception and social interaction are also vital to understanding social behavior. Read more...

Want to learn more about social psychology?

• The Bystander Effect
• The Milgram Obedience Experiment
• Persuasion Techniques