Explaining Social Behaviour

Explaining Social Behaviour

Social behaviour is not optional — it is a necessary part of human life. But being social means far more than simply being in the company of others. As you studied in Class XI, social psychology deals with all behaviour that takes place in the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others. This means that even when you are alone but thinking about what someone else might think of your actions, you are still in a social situation.

Social psychologists examine the many forms of social behaviour and try to explain why people behave the way they do in social contexts. Because of social influences, people form views — called attitudes — about other people and about different issues in life. These attitudes exist as behavioural tendencies, meaning they prepare us to act in certain ways. …