What is the difference between social psychology and ideology? Are there any differences at all between them? Or the essence of these concepts is absolutely identical, only the names are different? Answers can be found in this article.
About the concept of social psychology
For most people it is no secret that psychology includes many different subspecies. And each of them studies certain problems, phenomena, questions. So is social psychology - this is one of the subtypes of psychology. She only considers and studies in depth certain human processes.
You can ask different people about this definition. And, most likely, they will all respond differently. However, the greatest meaning of this definition rests precisely on the word “public”. So what does this concept mean? Social psychology is a system of traditions, habits, feelings and emotions that are formed in a person as a result of his being in a direct social environment. This concept also includes certain human convictions on the topic of politics, morality and rights, which he developed as a result of the influence of the public mass of people.
Concept differences
What then does the concept of ideology mean? True, there are some common features between social psychology and ideology, but still these are different concepts. Under ideology is understood the individual perception of social psychology. Then what is the difference between social psychology and ideology?
The fact is that ideology considers the system of a person’s views on socially determined processes from a theoretical perspective, relying on a rational consciousness of a person. While social psychology is based on emotional consciousness, feelings and moods. Of course, this line between the two concepts is very difficult to find and even more so to give an explanation, but it is important to build a unique model of perception of these concepts. Before attempting to define, it is important to remember: social psychologists and ideology are parallel concepts.
Social influence
Social psychology is a combination of various conflicting feelings, a versatile perception of all kinds of processes in human life. It must be understood that all the interests of people consist exclusively of the position of a particular society in which they are located. These interests and views are directly affected by the will of a given society and its intellect. Yes, it is intelligence. It is inherent not only to an individual person, but also to a group of individuals, the collective, society as a whole.
Of course, one can treat public opinion contradictory, somewhere to disagree with him, but one way or another he will have to advise. It is under the influence of society that habits, point of view, and some customs that a person carries through his whole life are formed. This social “upbringing” can have a positive effect on a person’s personality, but sometimes it can also have a detrimental effect.
Fundamentals of ideology and social psychology
Based on this, one can also understand the difference between social psychology and ideology. Ideology is formed from theoretical foundations, certain effective programs and recognition mechanisms. There is no process of perceiving information or society at the level of feelings and emotions, there is a clear reliance on theory. But, like social psychology, ideology is mass consciousness. Social psychology was formed quite a long time ago, underwent a series of changes in the course of its own “evolution” and became an independent system that develops even with the help of rumors or fashion. Social psychology exists on suggestion, on the imposition of opinions, and ideology - on persuasion, where specific arguments are given. But in that, and in another case, it is simply necessary to remove all obstacles between the collective of individuals.
Social existence
Social psychology is a philosophy that gives an abstract understanding to people; it can also be misleading or inculcate an incorrect perception. However, being in a particular society, collective, mass of people, a person is involuntarily forced to accept the “rules”. It can oppress him, cause negative feelings, but most likely he will get used to it after some time. One way or another, any person exists in society, and his personal perception is formed with the help of society.
It is not surprising that sometimes there are contradictions with the opinion of a given society, but a person continues to live and develop in it. Each of us receives any experience, knowledge, skills, traditions, foundations thanks to one or another social group. Be it a family, a collective, a public mass. It is difficult to deny the fact that human views on political issues or religious perceptions are also formed with the help of society. Of course, a considerable place is also given to individual personality characteristics: temperament, character, level of perception and education. But one way or another, the final result is interconnected with public opinion.
Outside of society
The concept of "social psychology" well reveals the theme of human development in society, his worldview, position, opinion. Is it possible the existence and development of personality outside society? Of course, many will say that now there is a huge mass of people who enjoy spending time alone, having closed in the four walls of their apartment. Undoubtedly, such a problem exists in modern society and does not cause positive emotions, but this is not about that. These people in one way or another still get in touch with society: they go to shops, work, meet with a narrow circle of friends, observe the life process of other people.
And what will happen if a person is simply “pulled out” of society? Most people will not even be able to survive alone in conditions, for example, taiga. There is the concept of Mowgli people who completely lose signs of social development: they are not able to speak, make strange sounds, are not able to eat normally, cannot read and write, their psychological characteristics, external and physiological, are violated.
Negative consequences
Social psychology is the formation of collective views and opinions on a particular issue, process. Has anyone ever wondered how it affects a person? Does it give the right information? Or does it harm a person? In fact, there are several stages of social psychology. And one of them is the imposition of erroneous opinions, rumors. Sometimes very often there are processes such as knowingly false accusations, the provision of incorrect or incorrect information, "sticking labels."
However, in periods when there is some kind of negative situation among the public mass, people tend to sort out everything on their own. They see that they are given the wrong information, and sometimes they try to create another critical situation for distraction. Nobody likes this position, and the authority of public authority drops sharply.
Controversial views
Social psychology is a science that is widely used in all spheres of human life. Although there are many opinions on this subject. Some believe that social psychology is a science, while others - that it is not a science at all. One point of view is that psychology itself almost does not use any calculations, experiments, measurements. Such ideas can only be attributed to humanitarian knowledge. From a different perspective, the opposite is true. It is believed that in psychology various experimental techniques are very actively used in order to confirm or refute a particular hypothesis. In fact, social psychology is included in the system of human sciences. What is really confirmed by a number of generally accepted methods that are widely used in the modern world. So where does social psychology apply?
The application of social psychology
As already mentioned, social psychology is a science that participates in almost all spheres of human life. And recently, the need for its study is growing more and more. Her methods are widely distributed in the political sphere, economic, religious, in the media.
Almost any bank even has specialists involved in this work. Special centers are being created with skilled workers who provide assistance to different segments of the population. Even industrial production turns to social psychology. The leaders of some small and large organizations are ready to take special courses, receive additional education in this specialty so that their process of interaction with employees develops in the most successful way.