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CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
A. Background
Today the term psychology seems to have become one of the terms that
is quite popular among ordinary people. Psychology is generally known as the
study of human behavior and humans themselves. A general definition that is
widely heard in the ears of ordinary people. Psychology itself comes from the
Greek word psyche which means soul and logos which means word. If it is
interpreted as free, psychology is a science that studies the human soul or
mentality (Rahman, 2017). Psychology is not a science that has one definite
answer to every question. Conversely, psychology is an uncertain science that
does not only have one answer and one cause and effect. It is difficult to observe
with the naked eye without careful thought because in psychology we study the
soul which is invisible to our senses of sight, therefore psychology is limited to
the expression of the soul, namely in the form of behavior and also the process
of carrying out these activities. To be able to observe human behavior as an
expression of an invisible soul, psychology uses various approaches such as
observation or observation, interviews, and also questionnaires given to the
subject to be analyzed.
Sociology according to Roucek and Warren, sociology is a science that
studies human relations in groups while according to Soemardjan and Solaeman
Soemardi sociology is a social science that studies social structure, social
processes and social change.
Social psychology is a branch of psychology that studies individual
behavior as a result of social stimuli around it (Shaw and Ostanzo, 1970). This
means that social psychology has become a branch of science that unites
different fields of science to achieve human welfare. Social psychology itself
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will later intersect a lot with interactions, whether it be intrapersonal
interactions, namely individual relationships with oneself, interpersonal,
namely individual relationships with other individuals, intragroup, namely
individual relationships within certain groups, and intergroup, namely group
relationships with other groups.
Even though social psychology is not very popular among the public
when compared to other fields of psychology, social psychology has indirectly
influenced human life as individuals from its findings.
B. Formulation of the problem
The formulation of the problem from this paper is as follows:
1. What is meant by social psychology?
2. What are the scopes of social psychology?
3. What is the history of the development of social psychology?
4. What is the position of social psychology among other psychology?
5. What methods are used in social psychology research?
C. Objective
The aims of this paper are:
1. Know the meaning of social psychology.
2. Know the scope of social psychology.
3. Know the history of the development of social psychology.
4. Knowing the position of social psychology among other psychology
sciences.
5. Know the methods commonly used in social psychology research.
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CHAPTER II
DISCUSSION
A. Definition of Social Psychology
Psychology is a science that is generally known to many people as a
science that studies human beings and everything that exists within humans,
including mental and soul processes that exist in humans. Psychology itself is
divided into several fields, one of which is social psychology which links
psychology with sociology, connects human science with the science of social
interaction. But not only social interaction between humans and other humans
but between humans and themselves.
According to Kimball Young, social psychology is the study of
individual human interaction processes. Meanwhile, according to Shaw and
Oztanzo, social psychology is a science that studies individual behavior as a
function of social stimuli. Social stimuli are not always living things but also
inanimate objects. For example, when we go to the mosque, we wear koko shirts
and sarongs, while when we go fishing, we wear shorts and regular t-shirts. This
understanding is similar to the notion which states that social psychology is the
science of individual experience and behavior in relation to social stimulus
situations (Sherif and Muzfer, 1956).
The subject of analysis of social psychology is human beings as
individuals and not society (sociology) or culture (anthropology) where all
behavior is related to social interaction as a stimulus that results in certain
behaviors. Based on the statement above, social psychology appears to help
humans understand, explain and predict human behavior that affects or is
influenced by the social interactions around them. Not only humans with other
humans but also understand and explain interactions within the individual
himself. Based on the above understandings, it can be concluded that the notion
of social psychology is the study of human behavior in their social environment
so that the existence of social psychology can help humans make interventions
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to shape human behavior so that it is more adaptive and adaptable. In addition,
social psychology can be applied in the context of family, friends, society and
life which involves interactions with other people.
B. Scope of Social Psychology
Psychology itself has many branches of science that are related to one
another, one of which is social psychology. Social psychology, which studies
human behavior related to social interaction, also has limitations in its
discussion.
a. As a branch of psychology, social psychology only studies human
behavior as social beings who can interact with other humans.
b. The behavior analyzed must be observable and measurable as a
scientific requirement in research.
c. Once it can be observed and measured, the behavior must also be able
to be verified by anyone, although in the end the results for each person
will depend on the theoretical perspective, background and others.
d. Social psychology does not study invisible and immeasurable behaviors
such as faith, honesty and other behaviors. However, social psychology
only studies invisible behavior that can be measured and observed
through visible behavior such as interests, talents, feelings and others.
e. Social psychology also links aspects of social psychology with
fundamental cognitive processes such as cognitive psychology,
anthropology, sociology, psychology, neuroscience, culture and
linguistics.
C. History of the Development of Social Psychology
1. The first was in 1860. In this year, an allegation emerged that social
psychology had been born even before psychology itself existed. Where in
that century there was a journal made by a German scientist named Lazaruz
and Steinthal which was later named the journal Volkerpsychologie. This
journal contains theoretical and factual issues that are discussed sharply. In
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the following years, scientists began to appear who discussed this social
psychology. The most phenomenal writing is the twin writing written by
two different people but with the same title and published in the same year,
1908. The authors are William McDougall and Ross. However, there is one
thing that distinguishes the two writings, namely the point of view used by
the two authors. McDougall stated that behavior is a manifestation of
instinct while Ross saw social behavior from a sociological point of view.
Next is the writings of Floyd Allport in 1924 which states that social
behavior is rooted in various factors, starting from the presence of other
people to the use of experimental methods for research.
2. After World War II until 1960
After the second world war became the beginning of the emergence of
various studies on social psychology and gave birth to social psychology
figures. These figures are Leon Festinger who is famous for his cognitive
dissonance theory, Kurt Lewin with his field theory, and Milgram,
Solomon, and Asch. Kurt Lewin is famous for his theoretical formulation
of behavior which is an experiment on the influence of leadership styles
embodied in authoritarian, democratic and lassez-faire.
3. Maturity and the future
The 1970-1980s were the peak of maturity for social psychology where the
research topics began to expand. In the future, research will lead to the
cognition and application of social psychology using cultural perspectives
such as attribution, stereotypes and prejudice.
D. The Position of Social Psychology Among Other Psychological Sciences
According to Wundt (in Walgito, 2010) states that psychology is the
science of human consciousness (the science of human consciousness). Wundt
himself argues that psychology should need to stand alone and not depend on
other sciences (Walgito, 2002). In the end psychology managed to become an
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independent science in 1897 so that it can be said that psychology is a relatively
young science.
In Walgito (2002) it is explained that psychology itself consists of
philosophical psychology, psychology which is still associated with
philosophy, and empirical psychology, namely psychology which is based on
experiences. Empirical psychology consists of several types, including:
1. General psychology
General psychology is psychology that studies human psychic activity
in general, be it adult, normal, cultured humans, and views humans as if
they are separated from their relationship with other humans. This
psychology studies, describes, and investigates various activities or human
psychic activities such as observation, intelligence, feelings, emotions, will,
and motives (staff.uny.ac.id).
2. Special psychology
Special psychology is psychology that studies humans specifically in
certain aspects. Special psychology has several orientations, including:
a. Developmental psychology, namely psychology that studies human
psychological development from the womb to death.
b. Abnormal psychology, namely psychology that studies the abnormal
aspects of the human psyche.
c. Educational psychology, namely psychology that studies the role of
psychology in the world of education.
d. Personality psychology, namely psychology that studies aspects of
human personality.
e. Criminal psychology, namely psychology that studies matters relating
to crime.
f. Social psychology, namely psychology that studies human behavior in
social situations. Social psychology can also be interpreted as a science
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that studies how people think, influence, and relate to one another
(Myers, 2012).
Thus, it can be concluded that social psychology is included in a part of
special psychology, where this branch specifically studies human behavior
in a social environment.
Psychology studies how humans behave and behave, then the idea arises
that the process of behaving occurs in a social environment then social
psychology is born (Nurrachman, in Sandra, 2011).
E. Social Psychology Approach or Research Methods
Psychology as a scientific discipline cannot be separated from research.
Likewise with social psychology itself. Walgito (2002) describes several
methods commonly used in psychological research, including:
1. Observation
The observation method is a research method that is carried out
systematically and deliberately carried out with the senses as a tool for
observing every event during the research process.
2. Questionnaire
The questionnaire method is a research method that uses several written
lists of questions that must be answered by participants or respondents to
obtain results.
3. Interview
The interview method is a research method that uses a list of questions
given to respondents verbally to obtain answers.
4. Sociometry
The sociometric method is one of the methods in sociology which also
influences research in social psychology. This method is used to measure
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the degree of relationship between people to assess behavior in certain
groups (www.pustaka.ut.ac.id).
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CHAPTER III
CLOSING
A. Conclusion
Based on the material presented in the previous chapter, several conclusions
can be drawn, including:
1. Social psychology is a science that studies human behavior in their social
environment so that the existence of social psychology can help people
make interventions to shape human behavior so that they are more adaptive
and able to adapt.
2. Social psychology only studies human behavior as social beings; the
behavior analyzed must be observable and measurable; the behavior must
also be verifiable by anyone; Social psychology does not study invisible
and immeasurable behaviors such as faith, honesty and other behaviors
3. Social psychology first appeared in 1860 after a journal was made by a
German scientist named Lazaruz and Steinthal which was later named the
journal Volkerpsychologie. Then after that in 1908 came twin writings
written by two different people but with the same title, namely William
McDougall and Ross, who both discussed social behavior. Next is the
writings of Floyd Allport in 1924 which states that social behavior is rooted
in various factors, starting from the presence of other people to the use of
experimental methods for research.
After the second world war became the beginning of the emergence of
various studies on social psychology and gave birth to social psychology
figures. The 1970-1980s were the peak of maturity for social psychology
where the research topics began to expand.
4. Social psychology is included in one part of special psychology, where this
branch specifically studies human behavior in a social environment.
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5. The methods commonly used in social psychology research are the
observation method, the questionnaire method, the interview method, and
the sociometric method.
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