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Content Summary
Social Psychology Article
Christopher Theriault
Department of Psychology, Liberty University
PSY 512: Social Psychology
Dr. Snyder
August 17, 2025
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Content Summary
Introduction
Human beings are built to interact and are fundamentally dependent on each other to
improve the individual’s chances of survival. Each individual’s behavior is influenced by the
environment the individual is in while looking for what the correct behavior is by the
environment they are in. Once the interaction develops into a relationship, it becomes
interdepent to one another and how it can be beneficial for the group. Labels of the group and
individuals in the group can didicate the behavior of that group.
The Need to Interact
God created to us to socialize and made survival extremely difficult when faced with
extreme isolation. “Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread
from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of
heart, praising God and having favor with all the people” (Acts 2: 46-47). Human being
happiness is a reflection of this on how we are made. It is very difficult to be happy when
dealing with loneness and wired to seek others. “Study after study has shown that taking the
plunge and chatting with these people tends to go much better than people predict and makes
them feel happier” (Chapter 1 textbook fix reference). Which shows scientifically after countless
studies that humans are interdependent to one another through various relationships.
“Interdependence is at the heart of most human interactions; it is our dependence on one
another for outcomes, whether tangible or intangible” (chapter 10 textbook fix reference).
Humans are wired to cooperate in social settings and find the maximum benefit that benefits
everyone. The desire to cause pain to others goes against the wire of interaction because God
did not create humans in that way. “ The study proceeded until the participant expressed
resistance to each of four increasingly demanding prods by the experimenter” (shock milgram).
It is generally not in the best interest for humans to cause pain to others unless faced with an
authoritative figure that encourages people to continue to cause pain to others.
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Cooperation
Once interaction and relationships have been established. It is generally people’s best
interest to maintain that relationship for the individual and group. “Lewin postulated that
human behavior is the result of the interaction between an individual and his/her characteristics
and social context” (chapter 10). The interaction between individuals is viewed in a way that
people evaluate what the cost and rewards would be for each relationship or group. If it
benefits the individual and people in their relationship generally the outcome becomes positive
and longlasting. However, negative relationships tend for people to leave and find better
beneficial relationships elsewhere. “Individuals perceive and derive meaning from their world is
influenced profoundly by the beliefs, norms, and practices of the people and institutions around
them” (chapter 1). People desire to find similar, familiar, and proximity beliefs to their own,
generally resulting in better interdependent relationship and less likely to leave the existing
relationship. If an individual was receiving pain from another, generally the individual wants out
of the relationship as it is no longer beneficial. “the 330-volt switch, the learner yelled in pain
and demanded to be released after each shock” (Milgram). As both individuals no longer saw
the benefit of the relationship or experiment, they wanted out but were forced to continue by
the authoritative label’s behavior forced them to continue.
Labels
Even in simulated environments people take on labels that they internally think what the
proper behavior of that label is. “Ordinary college students randomly assigned the role of guards
in a simulated prison study slipped into the role of tough guards, displaying increasingly
oppressive and hostile behavior towards fellow college students randomly assigned the role of
prisoners” (standford). People’s understanding of what each label or role they have attained and
drive what the behavior is. “culture may be thought of as a system of enduring meanings,
beliefs, values, assumptions, institutions, and practices shared by a large group of people”
(chapter 1). Being a simulated prison guard and the internal understanding of that role can
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affect the relationship with the simulated prisoners. “One individual’s dependence on a
relationship is related to the other individual’s power in the interdependent situation” (chapter
10). Since the prison guard has power over the prisoners since they are dependent on the guard
for basic needs can lead to unfortune abuse of power. Which leads to lowered quality of life for
people dependent towards the institution.
Conclusion
Human beings are wired to seek others and to have a better quality of life. God created
human beings in his image and to follow his way. Having the right people, relationships, and
labels is incredibly important which reflects how the Christian lifestyle which among society that
they tend to have a higher quality of life in general.
References
Haney, C., Banks, C., & Zimbardo, P. (1973). A study of prisoners and guards in a simulated
prison. Naval Research Reviews, 9(1), 1-17.
