What is Social Psychology: Full Form, Course Duration, Admission 2025, Colleges, Salary & Scope

Social Psychology is a branch of Psychology. Psychology is a systemic study of the mind, behavior, and perception. Social Psychology is more focused on the interaction of the mind with the environment around it. It explores the effects of social interaction on perceptions of a person and how these perceptions shape their mindset and affect their lives. The relevance of Social Psychology is increasing rapidly, and more research is being conducted around it.

Social psychology is generally studied by students as a part of their Psychology degrees. Very few colleges offer Social Psychology as a separate subject. Instead, students can specialize in it in their PG and PhD degrees. A Psychology course degree can be pursued by students at the undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels. The course duration of a UG Psychology degree is 3 years, the course duration of a PG degree is 2 years, and a PhD can be pursued in 3-6 years, depending on the student. Many students also opt for a  Psychology certificate and UG and PG diplomas. The course duration ranges between 6 months and 1 year for certification and Diploma courses, depending on the institute that offers it. Online and other short-duration Social Psychology courses can also be pursued by students.

There are many reasons why students should choose to pursue Social Psychology courses. The scope of Social Psychology is increasing rapidly, and more research is being conducted around it. A degree in Social Psychology can be very helpful in developing skills like critical thinking and analysis, empathy, research skills, and our perceptions of ourselves as well as the world around us.

Students who wish to study Social Psychology at the UG level must have completed their class 12th from a recognised board with at least 45% marks. Students from all streams can pursue Social Psychology at the UG level. It is not mandatory to study Psychology in class 12th. Students who pursue a PG Social Psychology degree should complete their UG. They can be admitted to Social Psychology courses through entrance exams like CUET PG, JMI Entrance Exam, etc. 

Students who want to pursue Social Psychology at the certificate and UG Diploma level can simply complete their 12th grade and apply for these courses. A PG Diploma in Psychology, however, can only be pursued after completing a UG degree.

After eligible students are selected for a course, it is usually followed by a document verification process in most colleges. It is an important part of the admission procedure for Social Psychology courses. Some documents that are commonly asked for by colleges for admission to Social Psychology courses are:

• Class 10 Marksheet

• Class 12 Marksheet

• Photo ID Proof (Aadhaar Card/PAN Card/Voter's ID/Driving License, Passport, etc.)

• Passport-size Photographs

• Migration Certificate

• Transfer/Character Certificate

• Documents related to SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PWD/ECA, if a reservation is availed by students

As per the information gathered from the YouTube channels, and candidates' exam video reactions, so far CUET PG 2025 overall exam difficulty level is found to be moderate. However it has been observed that the test takers have found this year's CUET PG question paper to be more difficult compared to the last years. Also, candidates found the time shortage in the examination due to the demand of the question paper to use more conceptual and analytical skills than theoretical ones. 
The change in the CUET PG 2025 time duration has given test takers a disadvantage in subjects like Mathematics, Statistics and many more.

CUET PG Good Score will also enable candidates to strategically allocate time and resources for different subjects based on their difficulty level and weightage. Many of the top NIRF Ranking institutes like JNU, University of Delhi, BHU, TISS, and Central University of Hyderabad will require a score higher than the average score in CUET PG, due to the high competition level for these universities. On average 180-195 will be considered to be a good score in CUET PG 2025 exam. 

• General- 180-190
• OBC- 170-180
• SC/ST- 155-170

Hello.

Social Psychology is not a separate course that is provided by IGNOU, but students can study it as a part of their BA (Hons.) Psychology degree from IGNOU. Students who wish to study Psychology at IGNOU must first visit the official website of IGNOU and enrol by submitting the application form, selecting psychology as their preference, and paying a nominal application fee. They will be shortlisted on a merit basis. Students can complete the admission process by paying the admission fees and starting their academic journey.

Apart from educational qualifications, candidates need to possess certain skills to pursue Social Psychology:

There are various topics that are covered in the Social Psychology syllabus. Some of these subjects have been mentioned below:

Students who enjoy learning about Psychology can read various books that have been written about Social Psychology. Some of the most popular books that are commonly read by avid readers and people who enjoy Psychology are:

• The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by  Malcolm Gladwell

• Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert B. Cialdini 

• The Social Animal by Elliot Aronson

• Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions by  Dan Ariely

• Nudge by Cass Sunstein & Richard Thaler

Social psychology mainly focuses on three areas such as social influence, social thinking and social behavior. Social relations, social impact, and social cognition are the three primary fields of research that make up social psychology. Social perception, attribution, attitudes, and stereotypes are just a few of the subjects covered by social cognition, which explores how people see, understand, and make meaning of others and themselves in social settings.

The study of social influence looks at how people are impacted by the presence, deeds, or very existence of others. This includes persuasion, compliance, obedience, and conformity. Lastly, social relations is concerned with group dynamics and interpersonal interactions, encompassing behaviours such as love, hostility, attractiveness, and helpfulness. When taken as a whole, these fields offer a thorough understanding of how people behave in social situations and throw light on the complexities of social interactions and the variables that influence them.

Yes, you can study Social Psychology through distance education. You can enroll for a Psychology degree at various Distance/correspondence colleges where you will also learn about Social Psychology subjects. It will give you the option to learn about various other branches of Psychology as well.

Hi,

No, Social Psychology courses are not necessarily expensive, infact, many online courses and resources are available for students at no costs, however, these courses generally do not provide free certification. Another option that most students choose, is to pursue Social Psychology as a specialisation in their Psychology degree. Some colleges where students can study Psychology at affordable course fees have been listed below:

There are vast scope after Social Psychology courses. It is a growing field of psychological sciences. Students can choose to take part in the Social Psychology scientific research projects. The knowledge gained from studying Social Psychology has a lot of relevance among big corporations as it will allow them to understand the psyche of their employees and customers. They can benefit from the knowledge of what drives customer demand; it can also be helpful in sales and negotiation tactics, etc. The knowledge of Social Psychology is also used to devise better education strategies, as it is essential to promote positive interactions and study experiences among students. It can also have an impact on policymaking and implementation techniques.

There are various job opportunities for students who have completed a degree in Social Psychology. Students can opt for a career in various job industries like academia, journalism, media, business management, human resources, healthcare administration, social work, etc. Students can choose to work in job profiles like psychologists, mental health coaches, addiction counselors, etc.

The role of a social psychologist is to study different social challenges like bullying, prejudice, criminal activity, etc. They also research social interactions that influence them. Social psychologists investigate people's thoughts, emotions, and behaviours in social settings. Researchers study social impact, group dynamics, interpersonal connections, prejudice, and decision-making, among other facets of human behavior.
The following are some particular tasks that a social psychologist might complete:

• Research Design: To examine social phenomena and evaluate theories, social psychologists plan surveys, observational studies, and experiments.
• Data Collection: A range of techniques, including field research, surveys, interviews, and laboratory experiments, are used to gather data.
• Data Analysis: Social psychologists use statistical methods to examine data to find trends, connections, and patterns that provide insight into how people behave in social contexts.

The reason social psychology matters is that it aids in the management of stress, depression, and other related conditions. It also improves one's capacity for making decisions. Social psychology holds significance for multiple reasons. First of all, it gives us understanding of how people feel, think, and act in social situations, which improves our understanding of both ourselves and other people.

Second, it clarifies the elements—such as cultural influences, group dynamics, and social norms—that affect human behaviour. This is important because it helps address societal problems and encourage constructive change. Furthermore, social psychology provides useful applications in a range of domains, such as public policy, education, healthcare, and marketing, by guiding approaches to persuasive communication, conflict resolution, and behaviour modification. Additionally, it advances our knowledge of interpersonal relationships, enhancing communication and fostering the development of stronger communities.

After pursuing social psychology, candidates can work as 

• Public Relations Specialist
• Technology Designer
• Researcher
• Human Resource Specialist
• Social Services Representative

The maximum total marks for the CUET UG 2025 exam is 250. However, the actual total marks you can score depend on the number of subjects you choose during the application process. According to the newly revised CUET exam pattern, candidates can now select up to 5 subjects. However, different universities have different subject combination criteria. So candidates are adviced to check the university-wise eligibility criteria and subject mapping for their desire UG course.

For instance, the subject combination for B.Com at Allahabad University is English or Hindi, Accountancy/Book Keeping, and General Test. Therefore, according to 250 marks per subject, the total maks will be 750.