Key Theories in Social Psychology

Why This Matters

Social psychology theories aren't just abstract ideas—they're the frameworks you'll use to understand why people behave the way they do in relationships, groups, and communities. These theories form the backbone of clinical assessment, intervention planning, and understanding client behavior in context. You're being tested on your ability to recognize how people learn, why they change (or resist change), and what drives their perceptions of themselves and others.

Don't just memorize theory names and their creators. Focus on understanding the mechanism each theory proposes—the "why" behind human behavior. When you can identify which theory explains a specific behavior pattern, you'll be ready for application questions that ask you to connect theory to real-world scenarios in social work practice.

---

Learning and Behavior Change

These theories explain how people acquire new behaviors and modify existing ones—essential knowledge for understanding client change processes.

Social Learning Theory

• Observational learning—people acquire behaviors by watching and imitating others, not just through direct experience
• Modeling and reinforcement shape which observed behaviors get repeated; vicarious reinforcement (seeing others rewarded) is just as powerful as direct rewards
• Cognitive processes mediate learning, meaning attention, retention, and motivation all influence whether observed behavior becomes adopted behavior

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

• Psychological discomfort arises when a person holds conflicting beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors simultaneously
• Dissonance reduction drives change—people modify beliefs, add new cognitions, or change behaviors to restore internal consistency
• Post-decision rationalization explains why clients may justify harmful choices to protect their self-image

---

How We Explain Behavior

Attribution theories address how people make sense of their own and others' actions—critical for understanding client narratives and biases in perception.

Attribution Theory

• Internal vs. external attributions—people explain behavior as caused by dispositional factors (personality, character) or situational factors (environment, circumstances)
• Causal explanations influence emotional responses; attributing failure to internal causes often triggers shame, while external attributions may reduce self-blame
• Social perception is shaped by these attributions, affecting how clients view themselves and how practitioners assess client situations

Fundamental Attribution Error

• Overemphasis on disposition—people tend to attribute others' behavior to personality traits while underestimating situational influences
• Self-other asymmetry means we're more forgiving of our own behavior (I was stressed) than others' (they're just rude)
• Practice implication: Recognizing this bias helps practitioners avoid judging clients harshly and instead explore contextual factors

---

Self-Concept and Identity

These theories explain how people develop and maintain their sense of self—foundational for understanding identity development and self-esteem.

Social Identity Theory

• Group membership forms a core part of self-concept; people derive identity and self-worth from the groups they belong to
• In-group/out-group dynamics explain favoritism toward "us" and bias against "them," driving phenomena like prejudice and discrimination
• Positive distinctiveness—individuals seek to maintain a favorable view of their in-groups, sometimes at the expense of out-groups

Self-Perception Theory

• Behavior informs attitudes—when internal cues are weak or ambiguous, people infer their own attitudes by observing their actions (I must enjoy this because I keep doing it)
• Context shapes self-understanding; the same behavior in different situations can lead to different self-attributions
• Contrasts with cognitive dissonance—Self-Perception Theory applies when attitudes are weak or unclear, while dissonance occurs when strongly held beliefs conflict

Social Comparison Theory

• Evaluation through comparison—people assess their abilities, opinions, and worth by comparing themselves to others
• Upward comparisons (to those perceived as better) can motivate improvement but may lower self-esteem; downward comparisons (to those perceived as worse) often boost self-esteem
• Social context determines comparison targets and significantly influences perceptions of success and failure

---

Social Influence and Group Dynamics

These theories address how the presence and behavior of others shape individual action—essential for understanding family systems, group work, and community dynamics.

Conformity and Obedience Theories

• Conformity involves changing behavior to align with group norms, driven by desires for acceptance (normative influence) or belief that others have accurate information (informational influence)
• Obedience refers to compliance with direct commands from authority figures, even when those commands conflict with personal values
• Groupthink emerges when conformity pressure suppresses dissent, leading to poor decision-making in cohesive groups

Bystander Effect Theory

• Diffusion of responsibility—the more people present during an emergency, the less likely any single individual is to help
• Pluralistic ignorance occurs when bystanders look to each other for cues and collectively misinterpret the situation as non-urgent
• Intervention implications: Understanding this effect helps practitioners design programs that assign clear responsibility and reduce ambiguity

---

Relationships and Social Exchange

This theory explains why people enter, maintain, or leave relationships—directly applicable to understanding client relationship patterns.

Social Exchange Theory

• Cost-benefit analysis—people evaluate relationships based on perceived rewards (support, companionship) minus costs (time, emotional labor)
• Comparison level determines satisfaction; people compare current outcomes to what they expect and to available alternatives
• Power dynamics emerge when one partner controls more valued resources, creating dependency and potential for exploitation

---

Quick Reference Table

---

Self-Check Questions

1. A client continues smoking despite knowing the health risks and feeling conflicted about it. Which theory best explains why they might start minimizing the dangers of smoking?

2. Compare Social Learning Theory and Self-Perception Theory: Both involve behavior, but how do they differ in explaining where attitudes come from?

3. A social worker notices they're judging a client harshly for missing appointments, assuming the client "doesn't care." Which concept should prompt the worker to consider situational factors?

4. How do Social Identity Theory and Social Comparison Theory both contribute to self-esteem, and what distinguishes their mechanisms?

5. In a group intervention, several members stay silent even when they disagree with the group's direction. Which theories explain this phenomenon, and what's the key difference between them?