Don Crowe, PhD, is a clinical psychologist practicing in Orinda, CA, and has
experience with a variety of areas of psychotherapy. Social psychology deals
with how individuals think about, influence, and relate to others, and how
others do the same with them. It sits somewhere along the border between
sociology and psychology of personality. It is also closely related to
organizational psychology, except that it does not focus on the minds and
behaviors of people in organizations.
Social psychology differs from the
psychology of personality in that it focuses on how external factors,
specifically other people, are perceived by individuals and how this affects
them. It differs from sociology in its focus on the individual; sociology
focuses on the behaviors and beliefs shared by large groups of people, not
individuals or small groups. Where personality oriented psychology would try to
determine underlying reasons for a person's unhappiness, social psychology would
focus on improving their relationships with others utilizing existing strengths.
Whereas sociology would focus on moving the behaviors of a large group in a
positive direction, social psychologists apply science based tools to make the
relationships within that group more solid and healthy. Such approaches are
often used together to gain the most positive outcomes.
experience with a variety of areas of psychotherapy. Social psychology deals
with how individuals think about, influence, and relate to others, and how
others do the same with them. It sits somewhere along the border between
sociology and psychology of personality. It is also closely related to
organizational psychology, except that it does not focus on the minds and
behaviors of people in organizations.
Social psychology differs from the
psychology of personality in that it focuses on how external factors,
specifically other people, are perceived by individuals and how this affects
them. It differs from sociology in its focus on the individual; sociology
focuses on the behaviors and beliefs shared by large groups of people, not
individuals or small groups. Where personality oriented psychology would try to
determine underlying reasons for a person's unhappiness, social psychology would
focus on improving their relationships with others utilizing existing strengths.
Whereas sociology would focus on moving the behaviors of a large group in a
positive direction, social psychologists apply science based tools to make the
relationships within that group more solid and healthy. Such approaches are
often used together to gain the most positive outcomes.