Definition of Society According to World Psychology
Infouniversitas.com - Hello everyone! Understanding the concept of society from a psychological perspective is crucial. Psychology provides deep insights into how individuals interact and shape society.
Society can be defined as a group of people living together in a specific area, sharing the same culture, norms, and values. From a psychological viewpoint, society is a complex social system where individuals interact and influence each other.
Several psychological theories and perspectives related to society include social behavior theory, social cognitive theory, and social identity theory. Social behavior theory explains how individuals influence and are influenced by others in their social environment.
Social cognitive theory posits that perceptions of their social environment influence human behavior. Meanwhile, social identity theory explains how individuals identify with certain social groups.
- Society is a group of individuals living together in a specific area.
- Psychology views society as a complex object of study.
- Emile Durkheim emphasized the importance of norms and values in forming society.
- George Herbert Mead suggested that individuals form their identities through social interaction.
- Herbert Blumer highlighted the importance of meaning given by individuals in shaping society.
Prominent psychological figures like Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, and Erik Erikson have also made significant contributions to understanding the concept of society from a psychological standpoint.
By understanding society from a psychological perspective, we can better comprehend the social changes around us and help improve society's overall quality of life.
Definition of Society in General
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| Definition of Society According to World Psychology |
Society is generally a social entity consisting of individuals living together in a specific area and interacting with each other. Society has various aspects that form its social structure, such as norms, values, social institutions, and patterns of interaction between individuals.
Society also has a system of rules and values that regulate the behavior of its members to live harmoniously and peacefully. Therefore, every individual needs to understand and appreciate society's prevailing values and norms to live together well and peacefully.
Understanding society psychologically provides deep insights into how individuals interact and form society. Psychology opens up understanding of individual behavior in their social environment and how they form their social identity through these interactions.
Definition of Society According to World Psychology
In psychology, society is viewed as a social environment that influences the development and behavior of individuals. Social psychology is a branch that specifically studies social interaction and how individuals adapt to their social environment.
Theories and perspectives in social psychology provide understanding of how individuals form their social identity and how social interaction affects their thoughts, feelings, and actions. Here are some definitions of society from the perspective of psychologists:
Key figures in psychology who contributed to understanding society include Emile Durkheim with his theory on functionalism, George Herbert Mead with symbolic interactionism, and Kurt Lewin with social field theory. They all provide unique views on how individuals interact and form society.
1. Emile Durkheim
Emile Durkheim, a French sociologist and philosopher, contributed significantly to social psychology. Durkheim introduced the theory of functionalism, emphasizing the importance of social functions in society. According to Durkheim, society is an entity larger than individuals, with individuals depending on each other to achieve common goals. Durkheim also studied social phenomena such as social solidarity and anomie, an imbalance in social norms.
2. George Herbert Mead
George Herbert Mead, an American social psychologist, developed the symbolic interactionism theory. According to Mead, an individual's social identity is formed through interactions with others and the use of social symbols. He emphasized the importance of play in children's identity formation.
3. Kurt Lewin
Kurt Lewin, a German-American social psychologist, is known for his contributions to social field theory. Lewin argued that an individual's behavior is influenced by their social environment, which can be considered a "field" affecting their thoughts, feelings, and actions. Lewin also developed the concept of "household" describing interactions among individuals in specific social groups.
4. Erving Goffman
Erving Goffman, an American sociologist and writer, is known for his contributions to social dramaturgy theory. Goffman compared social interactions to a drama performance on stage. He suggested that individuals act like actors in everyday life, using "signs" to manage the impression they want to give to others. Goffman also studied the concepts of stigmatization and gender roles in society.
5. Herbert Blumer
Herbert Blumer, an American sociologist, developed the symbolic interactionism theory proposed by George Herbert Mead. Blumer emphasized the importance of social meaning in social interactions. According to him, individuals assign meaning to objects and situations based on their interpretation of social symbols. Blumer also studied the concept of "negotiation" in social interactions.
Conclusion
To understand and interact with society effectively, it's important to consider psychological aspects such as norms, values, and socialization processes. Appreciating and adapting to existing social values helps build harmonious and peaceful social relationships.
In this article, we have discussed society in general and how psychology views society. Additionally, we discussed the theories and perspectives proposed by renowned psychological figures like Emile Durkheim to Herbert Blumer.
Each figure provides different insights into how society is formed and how individuals interact. Understanding society from a psychological perspective is crucial in comprehending the social changes around us, especially in this era of globalization.
With a better understanding of society, we can build healthier and more harmonious social relationships daily. We can understand the differences between individuals and groups and appreciate the cultural diversity in society.
In social life, we often face conflicts and differing opinions. However, with a better understanding of society from a psychological viewpoint, we can resolve these conflicts more effectively and peacefully.
We can also build stronger, more supportive social relationships. In this era of increasing complexity and diversity in society, a better understanding of society from a psychological perspective is essential for building more harmonious and healthy social relationships in our daily lives.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is society according to world psychology?
According to world psychology, society is a group of individuals with social interactions, influencing each other in forming norms, values, and behaviors considered correct in an environment.
2. What is the focus of psychology in studying society?
Psychology studies society from the perspective of human behavior in social interactions, how individuals influence and are influenced by their social environment, and how they form societal norms and values.
3. What factors influence individual behavior in society?
Factors influencing individual behavior in society include the social environment, culture, religion, education, life experiences, and genetic factors.
4. How can society influence individual development?
Society can influence individual development through socialization, learning values, norms, and behaviors considered correct. Additionally, society can influence individual development through the impact of the social environment, such as family, friends, and social media.
5. What is the impact of an imbalance between the individual and society?
An imbalance between the individual and society can lead to social conflict, disharmony in social interactions, and even mental disorders in individuals who feel unable to adapt to their social environment.
