Why Study Social Psychology?

If everyone is already a social psychologist, why should anyone wish to study social psychology? If we already have an understanding, if we are able to predict successfully the behavior of others, if we can therefore coordinate our own behavior with theirs, then it might appear that we could spend our time more fruitfully doing other things than studying social psychology formally. There are, however, several good reasons why it seems useful to study social psychology:

1.                       Although we are all social psychologists, we are imperfect social psychologists. We can be surprisingly accurate in understanding and predicting the behavior of others, but there are obviously many instances when we are inaccurate. Have you ever brought together two mutual friends who have common interests and similar personalities, predicting that they would really “hit it off,” only to discover later that neither one could tolerate the other? Our divorce courts are packed with couples whose problems can often be traced to a gross failure in their ability to predict and understand their behavior and interaction. Many social programs whose aim is to relieve poverty, reduce prejudice and crime, and develop harmony among people, have been catastrophic failures because their originators had a woefully inadequate understanding of the basic principles of social interaction.

It is true that, even without a formal study of social psychology, some individuals are more effective social psychologists than others. The examples that we have presented, together with many others, embody extremely well the application of many social-psychological principles. However, these models and their behavior will be more meaningful if we can formally abstract the social-psychological principles and relate them to a formal body of theory and research. However, even the most skillful, practicing social psychologist must admit to gross errors and an inability to deal with many critical social events. Kennedy, although he was lauded for his skills in applying social-psychological principles to the Cuban missile crisis, admitted to gross errors in predicting and understanding human behavior in the abortive invasion of Cuba at the Bay of Pigs (Janis, 1982). Moreover, it appears that the Reverend Jim Jones was not able to understand the effects of social power on the power holder—a misunderstanding that eventually was tragic for him and for his movement.

Would these people have been even more effective had they been knowledgeable about formal social-psychological theory and research? We would like to think so. In any event, we can all gain greater insight into both the successes and the failures of these people by applying to them some of the concepts of the discipline of social psychology.

2.                       Even if one could be accurate in understanding and predicting the behavior of a given individual, understanding social behavior is much more difficult because of interaction. Knowing separate individuals is not the same as knowing how these individuals will interact. When two persons come together, they may use their separate knowledge and skills to outsmart one another, or their mutual concern may lead to an imperfect outcome for both (as illustrated in O. Henry’s Gift of The Magi). When three persons interact, prediction and understanding are even more difficult: two persons can form a coalition against the third, or one person can play the other two off against each other, or the three can unite or compete in any of various combinations. How many times have small retail stores failed because each owner tried to increase profits by lowering prices, thereby starting a price war and a pattern of accelerating mutual loss? How many lifeboats lowered from a sinking ship have capsized because too many passengers—each acting in desperation—tried to climb on board? Many committees made up of relatively mediocre persons have produced a superior product, while other committees made up of outstanding persons have produced disasters. To understand these successes and failures, some of the tools provided by social-psychological theory and research are helpful.

3.                       The fact that some people are more effective than others in understanding and predicting social behavior is a matter of considerable political and social importance. There is always the danger that those who acquire great social-psychological skills will use them selfishly or to harm others. At times, such social-psychological skills are misused by a manipulator who mistakenly believes he or she is acting in the best interests of everyone. Machiavelli, either to gain personal favor or to benefit the greatest number, offered his remarkable social insights to his beloved prince—who, in turn, used this knowledge to strengthen his own power at the expense of others. Often, social-psychological knowledge is most readily available to those with the greatest resources, because they can offer the most for it. It has been demonstrated that, with proper financing and effective use of social-psychological principles, a luckluster political candidate can be “packaged” and “sold” to the electorate, and a jury can be persuaded to acquit a defendant who would otherwise probably have been judged guilty. Another reason for studying social psychology is thus to acquire a better understanding of the methods used by more powerful or knowledgeable individuals and groups to influence others. By developing a systematic statement of our social-psychological knowledge—using scientific data—we can encourage the widespread sharing of social skills for the benefit of all.

4.                       Finally, a great deal of satisfaction can be gained by developing a clear statement of how people affect one another—giving structure and substance to our understanding of one another. We hope that a careful presentation of social-psychological theory and research can offer some of the same satisfaction that comes from an exciting novel, a well executed painting, or a carefully constructed musical composition that provides beauty, pleasure, and fresh insight.

(Source: Raven, Bertram H., Rubin, Jeffrey Z. SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY. 1983. John Wiley & Sons, Inc: United States of America. 2nd Edition)

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