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Social psychology

A field in psychology focusing on how people's thoughts, feelings, and behavior change when in the presence of others compared to when they are alone.

Contributors in Social psychology

Social psychology

self-affirmation theory

Psychology; Social psychology

A theory predicting that people will often cope with specific threats to their self-esteem by reminding themselves of other unrelated but cherished aspects of their self-concept.

threat-to-self-esteem model

Psychology; Social psychology

A theory stating that if receiving help contains negative self-messages, recipients are likely to feel threatened and respond negatively.

negative state relief model

Psychology; Social psychology

A theory suggesting that for those in a bad mood, helping others may be a way to lift their own spirits if the perceived benefits for helping are high and the costs are low.

social penetration theory

Psychology; Social psychology

A theory that describes the development of close relationships in terms of increasing self-disclosure.

two-factor theory of emotions

Psychology; Social psychology

A theory that emotional experience is based on two factors: physiological arousal and cognitive labeling of the cause of that arousal.

self-efficacy theory

Psychology; Social psychology

A theory that motivation is determined both by the belief that one is capable of successfully performing some behavior, and by the belief that performing the behavior will lead to certain outcomes.

balance theory

Psychology; Social psychology

A theory that people desire cognitive consistency or balance in their thoughts, feelings, and social relationships.

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