社會心理學專業分析與研究前景

心理學領域非常廣泛，許多人認為(wei) 心理學家隻有一項職責：在一對一的環境中為(wei) 患者提供心理健康谘詢。然而，許多心理學分支從(cong) 未從(cong) 事此類臨(lin) 床工作，而是專(zhuan) 注於(yu) 研究人類行為(wei) 。社會(hui) 心理學就是其中之一。本文討論社會(hui) 心理學領域，為(wei) 什麽(me) 它可能是學術探究的一個(ge) 引人入勝的領域，以及如何攻讀研究生學位。

社會(hui) 心理學的起源和定義(yi)

最早關(guan) 於(yu) 群體(ti) 行為(wei) 的社會(hui) 心理學實驗是在 1900 年之前進行的，但該領域則是在 1939 年至 1945 年二戰期間由研究人員推動的，他們(men) 試圖了解德國獨裁者阿道夫·希特勒如何在他的追隨者中煽動如此極端的服從(cong) 和可怕的行為(wei) 。隨之而來的研究試圖了解人類的順從(cong) 性，證明了順從(cong) 性壓力在社會(hui) 群體(ti) 中的重要性，以及當權者如何創造服從(cong) （甚至在被告知時會(hui) 導致測試對象傷(shang) 害他人）。

1875 年，威廉·詹姆斯在哈佛大學開設了美國第一門正式的心理學課程。社會(hui) 心理學不僅(jin) 發起了對人們(men) 為(wei) 什麽(me) 服從(cong) 的研究，而且還在多個(ge) 領域有所創新，包括但不限於(yu) ：對攻擊性、利他主義(yi) 、決(jue) 策、群體(ti) 行為(wei) 、歧視/成見、說服研究。美國心理學會(hui) (APA) 列出了 15 個(ge) 心理學子領域，包括臨(lin) 床心理學、大腦和認知心理學、發展心理學、定量心理學等。《韋氏詞典》將社會(hui) 心理學定義(yi) 為(wei) ：“研究個(ge) 體(ti) 的人格、態度、動機和行為(wei) 如何影響和受社會(hui) 群體(ti) 影響的方式”。

社會(hui) 心理學的研究範圍

社會(hui) 心理學家試圖揭示人們(men) 的感知和行為(wei) 如何以及為(wei) 什麽(me) 會(hui) 受到環境因素的影響（例如，當人們(men) 彼此互動時）。該領域的學者和專(zhuan) 業(ye) 人士開展研究，尋求以下問題的答案：

• 人們(men) 如何根據與(yu) 周圍人的互動來改變他們(men) 的想法和決(jue) 定？

• 個(ge) 性會(hui) 導致精確、可預測的人類行為(wei) 嗎？

• 我們(men) 對世界的看法會(hui) 影響我們(men) 的行為(wei) 方式嗎？

• 潛在的負麵社會(hui) 態度，如偏見，是如何形成的？

例如，想想你在家人周圍的行為(wei) ，這和你在朋友麵前的行為(wei) 方式一樣嗎？更進一步，這也是你在陌生人麵前的行為(wei) 方式嗎？答案很可能是否定的……社會(hui) 心理學家試圖了解我們(men) 為(wei) 什麽(me) 這樣做，以及是什麽(me) 影響了我們(men) 行為(wei) 的這種變化。與(yu) 研究群體(ti) 的社會(hui) 學家不同，社會(hui) 心理學家研究群體(ti) 中的個(ge) 體(ti) 。側(ce) 重心理學的社會(hui) 心理學與(yu) 側(ce) 重社會(hui) 學的社會(hui) 心理學不同——前者傾(qing) 向於(yu) 研究個(ge) 體(ti) 的內(nei) 在心理過程，而後者傾(qing) 向於(yu) 研究影響社會(hui) 生活的因素，如社會(hui) 地位、角色和社會(hui) 層級。

了解人們(men) 的想法、行為(wei) 和感受是出於(yu) 個(ge) 人和職業(ye) 原因而必須具備的一項重要技能——了解社會(hui) 心理學可以讓人們(men) 對他人做出預測，從(cong) 而有助於(yu) 了解周圍的人。從(cong) 專(zhuan) 業(ye) 上講，這套技能可以應用於(yu) 很多領域：人力資源、營銷、衝(chong) 突解決(jue) 、調解、法律策略等。研究個(ge) 人與(yu) 周圍人之間的動態關(guan) 係變得越來越重要：報紙、雜誌、網站、和其他媒體(ti) 經常報道社會(hui) 心理學家的研究結果，這項研究的結果影響了廣泛領域的決(jue) 策。

社會(hui) 心理學的未來拓展

本科生修讀的心理學專(zhuan) 業(ye) ，不是該領域內(nei) 某個(ge) 單獨分支。大多數本科心理學課程要求學生參加各分支的多種課程，讓學生可以自由探索包括異常、發展、認知、社會(hui) 和行為(wei) 心理學在內(nei) 的分支。本科生接觸這些入門和初級分支課程，能夠幫助學生確定哪些分支最吸引他們(men) ，以及為(wei) 日後攻讀研究生的目標奠定了基礎。

持有心理學本科學位對於(yu) 職業(ye) 世界來說是無限“靈活”的，因為(wei) 學生必須學習(xi) 批判性思維、寫(xie) 作、統計分析和學習(xi) 行為(wei) 。不過如果想要精進心理學領域的知識，學生需要繼續攻讀更高的學位。我將在下一篇文章討論社會(hui) 心理學進階學術路徑，以及在該領域獲得碩士或博士學位以後的職業(ye) 選擇。

英文原文：

Social Psychology: What it is, why one may choose this field, and the path to the Ph.D.

The field of psychology is incredibly broad, with many people thinking that psychologists only have one duty: to counsel patients in a one on one setting about their mental health. However, many of the branches of psychology never do this type of clinical work and instead focus on the study of human behavior; social psychology is one of those areas. This article discusses the field of social psychology, why it might be an engaging area of academic inquiry and how to pursue the post-graduate degree.

Social Psychology Origins and Definition

The earliest social psychology experiments on group behavior were conducted before 1900 but the field was pushed forward by researchers who attempted to understand how the German dictator Adolf Hitler incited such extreme obedience and horrendous behaviors in his followers during World War II in 1939-1945. Studies trying to understand human conformity ensued, demonstrating the importance of conformity pressures in social groups and how people in authority could create obedience (even leading test subjects to harm others when told to do so). The first formal psychology course in the United States was initiated at Harvard University by William James in 1875.  Social psychology has not only led to studies of why we conform but also: studies of aggression, altruism, decision making, group behavior, discrimination/stereotyping, and persuasion (just to name a few areas).   The American Psychological Association (APA) lists 15 subfields of psychology, including clinical psychology, brain and cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, quantitative psychology, and more.  The Merriam Webster dictionary defines social psychology as: “the study of the manner in which the personality, attitudes, motivations, and behavior of the individual influence and are influenced by social groups”.

The Study of Social Psychology

Social psychologists seek to uncover how and why people’s perceptions and actions are influenced by environmental factors (such as when people interact with one another).  Academics and professionals in the field will conduct studies seeking answers to questions such as:

• How do people change their thoughts and decisions based on interactions with those around them?
• Does personality lead to precise, predictable human behavior?
• Does how we perceive the world influence how we behave?
• How do potentially negative social attitudes, such as prejudice, form?

For example, think about how you act around your family; is it the same as the way you act around your friends – and taking it one step further, is this how you act around strangers? The answer is most likely no…and social psychologists seek to understand why we do this, and what influences such changes in our behaviors.  Social psychologists study individuals within a group (unlike sociologists who study groups).  Psychological social psychology differs from sociological social psychology–psychological social psychology places a greater emphasis on internal psychological processes of individuals, whereas the latter focuses on factors that affect social life, such as status, role, and class.

Knowing how people think, act and feel is an important skill to have for both personal and professional reasons — understanding the social psychology of humans allows for one to perhaps make predictions about other people, lending itself to understanding those around them.  Professionally, this skill set can be applied to so many areas: human resources, marketing, conflict resolution, mediation, legal strategy, etc.  Studying the dynamic relationship between individuals and the people around them has become increasingly important: newspapers, magazines, websites, and other media frequently report the findings of social psychologists, with the results of this research influencing decisions in a wide variety of areas.

Extending Social Psychology Learning

As an undergraduate, students major in psychology, not the separate branches within the field. Most undergraduate psychology curricula require students to take a variety of courses in the various branches, allowing students the freedom to explore branches that include abnormal, developmental, cognitive, social and behavioral psychology. Being exposed to introductory and intermediate courses as an undergraduate lays a foundation for students to identify what branches most appeal to them, and what to pursue for post graduate studies.  While an undergraduate degree in psychology is infinitely “flexible” for the career world because students must learn critical thinking, writing, statistical analysis and study behavior, only through advanced post graduate work will a student hone their knowledge in the field of psychology in order to advance within this area.  My next article will discuss advancing scholarly work in social psychology and routes a career can take with a master or doctoral degree in the field.