Evolution of Social Psychology

Social Psychology

One point in the evolution of social psychology that interests me is the Nazi influence upon social psychology in the United States. Before and after WWII, Nazis in various sciences sought and found refuge in the United States. Many of them, because of their experience and education, were put to work. Kurt Lewin is one of these notable Nazis that came from Germany, one of what were called, Gestalt psychologists. This is interesting for a few reasons. Average Americans forget or are ignorant of how many Nazis fled to the states and have had direct influences on many of the things we find in everyday life. It is somewhat ironic that a country that continues to vilify Nazis, especially in the media, owes so much to this group. It is interesting also in that the Nazis, though the agenda of their leader was extreme and flawed, were excellent scientists. They had strong scientific methods though the ultimate goal was deplorable.

Another point in the evolution of social psychology that I find striking is how instrumental media and propaganda were and are now. Again, during WWII, social psychologists used and practiced with propaganda and media to manipulate and study people. Fast forwarding several decades later, this seems very apparent and very relevant in the 21st century, where we are more media savvy, and greater media consumers. There are many more forms of media available to us now, many more methods of consumption, and many more media products to consume. We can only presume that social psychologists now have honed methods and are still relevant to areas such as advertising, propaganda, media, film, commercials, new media, social media, and more.

Lastly, I noticed how in social psychology, as in other fields, there was a period of extreme division and ethical controversy (1980s, 1990s). I found this inspiring; there should not be utter agreement within a field at all times. If so, then there is no robust debate, there are no risks taken, and then, is there much use for that field?

Lewin contended that behavior is a function of the person and the situation. Changing behavior and ultimately the person could be a matter of changing the situation. The influence and importance of media in the evolution of social psychology is ripe for analysis with respect to this contention. In my work as an adjunct professor, I believe situationism is relevant. If adjuncts showed bad behaviors such as lateness or late of preparation, to correct this, the department might pay adjuncts for prep hours and provide semi-private workspace. This change in the situation could change the adjuncts' behavior.

The current event of focus in relation to social motives is related to a historical event, the military coup in Chile that brought General Pinochet into power. The current event is that the Chilean judges, who held office during Pinochet's brutal reign, came forward and apologized. Judges during Pinochet's rule, who had to have played a part in Pinochet's grip on power, publically apologized. They apologized publically to the victims during this military rule around the 40th anniversary of the coup that occurred in 1973 and brought nearly two decades of corruption and brutality to the Chilean people. No specific judge was quoted as the press statement was meant to reflect the words of all the judges coming forward to apologize. We may consider the judges as a body or group, distinctive from other public officials who came forward. In that sense, their actions and statements are individual.

This current event as an example could be a reflection of a change in social motives or the acquisition of new social motives. Or perhaps the social motives remained the same, but because time passed (forty years), then their perspectives on their social motives changed. For example, the social motives to cooperate and conform. In the 1970s, the judges may have felt the social motives to cooperate with Pinochet and conform to his changes. In the 2010s, the social motive to conform and cooperate may still be present, but the judges changed with whom they would like to cooperate with and to what standards they will conform. We live in a time when many people around the world are coming forward against the crimes of their governments and no longer remaining complicit in their participation in those crimes. We also live in a time where there is a lot of political and social violence between the people and government officials. The violence is brutal, and though the people suffer the worst of the injuries, those they fight do not always come away unscathed. Corrupt officials are going to prison, are getting humiliated via the press, and more, and sometimes worse.