Social Psychology - Essay Example

Social psychology is a “ scientific study of the effects of social and cognitive processes on the way individuals perceive, influence and relate to others” (Smith & Mackie, 2000, p. 3). Different psychologists have tried to explain the impact of society on human being. However, Floyd Allport believed that society does not influence the thinking of human being. Floyd Allport said that , “the individual in the crowd behaves just as he would behave alone, only more so”, as according to him, human being’s behavior in the society is a result of his own thinking, feelings, perception and nature and not the result of society’s influence on him (Allport & Wozniak, 1994, p.295). What Allport suggests is that all the aspects of human behavior and human nature like self identity, attitude, prejudice, discrimination, performance, self image etc.

are results of his own thinking and what he makes out of that thinking. His own thinking pattern and the perception of the social behavior makes him to form a picture of the society. Hence, the aspects of behavior pattern which we think are shaped by the society are in fact shaped by man’s own thinking and feelings. According to Allport (1954), discrimination is the extension of behavior and it makes person use behavioral elements like harsh words, exclusion, avoidance and also physical attack (Lott & Maluso, 1995, p.4). Hence, it can be said that the behavior pattern of prejudice and the discrimination that man practices against people belonging to certain race, class or skin color is not a result of social influence but is a result of his own belief and thinking.

The question is, even if