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Bpsy110 - Oba 1

Social psychology has its roots in ancient philosophy, evolving into a formal discipline in the late 19th century influenced by sociology and anthropology. Key developments include Norman Triplett's experiment on social facilitation, Kurt Lewin's field theory, and the cognitive revolution led by theories from Festinger and Bandura. Today, modern social psychology incorporates diverse perspectives and interdisciplinary approaches, addressing topics such as implicit bias and social neuroscience.

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Maesie Suezanne
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19 views1 page

Bpsy110 - Oba 1

Social psychology has its roots in ancient philosophy, evolving into a formal discipline in the late 19th century influenced by sociology and anthropology. Key developments include Norman Triplett's experiment on social facilitation, Kurt Lewin's field theory, and the cognitive revolution led by theories from Festinger and Bandura. Today, modern social psychology incorporates diverse perspectives and interdisciplinary approaches, addressing topics such as implicit bias and social neuroscience.

Uploaded by

Maesie Suezanne
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Sharmain C.

Turingan BSP 3-1

THE EVOLUTION OF SOCIAL


PSYCHOLOGY: A HISTORICAL TIMELINE

Philosophy and
Social Thought

Social psychology traces back to


Aristotle and Plato, who explored
human social nature. In the late 19th
century, it emerged as a formal
discipline, influenced by sociology, The Birth of
anthropology, and philosophy.
Social Psychology

Social psychology emerged in the late


The Emergence 1800s, with Norman Triplett's 1898
experiment on competition and
performance. He found that cyclists
of Formal Theories rode faster when racing others, leading
to the concept of social facilitation.

In the early 20th century, social


psychology became formalized with
textbooks by William McDougall and
Edward Ross in 1908. In the 1920s– Social Psychology
30s, Kurt Lewin’s field theory
highlighted the interaction between During World War II
individuals and their environment.

World War II sparked interest in group


Post-War: dynamics, obedience, and persuasion,
influencing social psychology as
European psychologists brought their
Cognitive Revolution ideas to the U.S. The war also spurred
research on prejudice and authority.
Social psychology shifted toward
cognition. Leon Festinger's cognitive
dissonance theory explained how people
adjust beliefs to reduce discomfort, while
Albert Bandura's social learning theory Diversity of
showed how behavior is learned through
observation. Perspectives

By the 1970s, social psychology


expanded to topics like aggression,
prejudice, and relationships. Harry
Modern Social Triandis studied cultural influences,
while Tajfel and Turner developed
Psychology social identity theory.

Modern social psychology integrates


neuroscience, economics, and political
science. It explores implicit bias, social
neuroscience, and real-world
applications in health, environment, and
digital interactions.

References:
MSEd, K. C. (2022, October 24). An overview of social psychology. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/social-psychology-4157177

Libretexts. (2024, August 24). 6.2: The History of Social Psychology. Social Sci
LibreTexts.https://socialsci.libretexts.org/Courses/Coalinga_College/Personal_Psychology__(CID_PSY_115_Psychology_of_Personal_and_Social_Adjustment)/06%3A_S
ocial_Psychology/6.02%3A_The_History_of_Social_Psychology

Suryavanshi, M. (2024, October 4). History of Social Psychology (2025) - Formal Psychology (2025). Formal Psychology. https://formalpsychology.com/history-of-social-
psychology/

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