Within the realm of psychology, social psychology is concerned with how the behaviour and thoughts of an individual are influenced by the social context, ie other people around them. This course explores a number of differing contexts (small groups, crowds, authority figures) and examines the evidence that seeks to explain how this context shapes what we do and how we think. It has often been claimed that the main focus of psychology is on the way in which psychological processes operate within individuals. The key distinction of ‘social’ psychology is the consideration of how such processes are shaped and influenced by the social contexts that we frequently find ourselves in.

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