Psychology as a Social Science
o Psychology as a social science studies the behaviour of human beings in sociocultural contexts.
o It focuses on human beings as social beings, examines their thoughts, emotions,
behaviours as well as how they interact with one another in group settings.
o The goal of this field of psychology is to advance our understanding of human
behaviour as well as address and fix problems in society.
o The main technique used by psychologists to study this field is the scientific method.
o Psychologists gather and analyze data through surveys, interviews, experiments etc.
and test their hypotheses to further their understanding of the human behaviour.
o Due to the broad nature of the psychological field, psychology as a social science
draws on concepts and theories from other disciplines of psychology, such as
philosophy, biology, anthropology, and sociology.
o Psychology as a social science has various practical applications, especially in fields
such as education, business, and healthcare. For instance, psychologists in schools
may utilize their understanding and knowledge of social psychology to provide
counselling and advice to students. They can become marketing advisors/consultants
for a particular firm or even provide psychotherapy to patients with mental illnesses.
o Currently, the topics of interest in social psychology include the role of social media
in shaping today’s youth, effects of technology on mental health, and the impact of
loneliness on mental health.