Social Processes & Social Issues

This area addresses psychological aspects of social processes and pressing social issues — prejudice, intergroup relations, aggression, and social influence.

Scope

It covers prejudice and discrimination, intergroup conflict and contact, obedience and conformity, and the psychology of social problems.

Sub-topics

• Social Structure & Organization
• Religion
• Culture & Ethnology
• Marriage & Family
• Divorce & Remarriage
• Childrearing & Child Care
• Political Processes & Political Issues
• Sex & Gender Roles
• Sexual Behavior & Sexual Orientation
• Drug & Alcohol Usage\(Legal\)

Core questions

• What are the psychological roots of prejudice?
• How does intergroup conflict arise and reduce?
• Why do people obey authority?
• How can psychology address social problems?

Key concepts

• Prejudice
• Contact hypothesis
• Intergroup conflict
• Obedience
• Conformity
• Social influence

Key theories

The nature of prejudice

Allport analysed the psychology of prejudice and proposed the contact hypothesis for reducing it.

Obedience to authority

Milgram's experiments showed ordinary people will obey authority to harm others.

History

This area applies social psychology to social issues, from Allport's analysis of prejudice and the contact hypothesis to Milgram's studies of obedience, informing work on intergroup relations and social problems.

Debates

Situation versus disposition

Whether harmful social behaviour stems mainly from situations (Milgram) or personal dispositions.

Key figures

• Gordon Allport
• Stanley Milgram

Seminal works

• allport-1954
• milgram-1963

Frequently asked questions

What is the contact hypothesis?

Allport's proposal that, under the right conditions, contact between groups reduces prejudice.