Good in Theory: A Metatheoretical Review of Social Psychological Theories of Human Sexuality

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsten Quistberg ◽  
John Kitchener Sakaluk
Keyword(s):  
Social Psychology ◽  
Human Sexuality ◽  
Social Psychological ◽  
Psychological Study ◽  
Current State ◽  
Psychological Theories ◽  
Sexual Science ◽  
Psychology Theory ◽  
Theory Generation ◽  
Future Theory

The fields of social psychology and sexual science have an intuitive and growing connection, with social psychology’s tradition of theory generation poised to enrich the psychological study of the sexual. For those interested in applying social psychological theories to topics of sexuality, however, there are questions regarding the features, qualities, and strengths and weaknesses of social psychology’s theoretical offerings. We therefore conducted a comprehensive metatheoretical review of social psychology theories applicable to sexuality (n = 44). In doing so, we (i)promote a deeper understanding of the current state of social psychology theory (ii)provide original theory maps to streamline future theory testing (iii)evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of current social psychology theories. Our review finds existing social psychology theory to present a range of clarity with regards to theory definition, theory applicability, and testability. We interpret our results as encouragement for the pursuit of contemporary methods of theorizing in social psychology.

Theory in Social Psychology: Seeing the Forest and the Trees

2004 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 193-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaacov Trope
Keyword(s):  
Social Psychology ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Scientific Inquiry ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
Social Judgment ◽  
Judgment And Decision Making ◽  
Social Psychological ◽  
Social Situations ◽  
Psychological Theories

The phenomena social psychology seeks to explain–how people think, feel, and act in response to social situations–are rich and diverse. Therefore, explanatory power, the simplicity of a model relative to its empirical scope, is an important desideratum for social psychological theories. A model achieves high explanatory power to the extent that it integrates narrower models within a unified conceptualization, reconciles conflicting findings, and makes novel predictions regarding specific phenomena. This article first relates explanatory power to the various facets of scientific inquiry (modeling, derivation, observation, evaluation, and decision) and then discusses this criterion as a guide for 2 theory-based lines of research my colleagues and I have conducted in the area of social judgment and decision making.

Narrative Approaches within a Social Psychology of Social Justice: The Potential Utility of Narrative Evidence

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Frost
Keyword(s):  
Social Psychology ◽  
Social Justice ◽  
Social Change ◽  
Narrative Research ◽  
Psychological Research ◽  
Social Psychological ◽  
Psychological Study ◽  
Narrative Approaches ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Social Psychological Research

This chapter illustrates the utility of narrative approaches within the social psychological study of social justice. By providing an overview of narrative approaches within social psychology, the potential for narrative research to generate knowledge of interest to social justice researchers is highlighted. In efforts to further promote the utility of narrative approaches in social justice research, the concept of narrative evidence is introduced in order to encourage the translation of knowledge gained from social psychological research on social justice concerns into attempts to inform and provoke social change. An illustrative example is discussed drawn from the author’s own research. The work of translating narrative research findings into narrative evidence is an important next step within a social psychology of social justice that seeks to produce knowledge of social justice concerns and has the potential to inform and inspire social change efforts.

On Emotion In Sport: Theoretical and Social Psychological Perspectives

1983 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Vallerand
Keyword(s):  
Social Psychology ◽  
Theoretical Research ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Social Psychological ◽  
Research Issues ◽  
Psychological Study ◽  
Comprehensive Theory ◽  
Cognitive Theories ◽  
Antecedents And Consequences

This paper presents and critically assesses four major cognitive theories of emotion. Theories were selected on the basis of their pertinence to a social psychological study of emotion in sport. Four cognitive theories of emotion by Schachter (1964), Lazarus (1966), Arnold (1960), and Weiner (1981) were reviewed. Strengths and weaknesses of these theories were examined. Cognitive theories of emotion were also shown to be amenable to theoretical research in sport. It was suggested that a comprehensive theory of emotion in sport should incorporate aspects of different cognitive theories of emotion thus leading to a better understanding and prediction of emotion in sport settings. Such a comprehensive theory, however, must await future research. Issues for a social psychology of emotion in sport were formulated. It was argued that emotion research in sport should be incorporated within a social psychological framework. To this end it was suggested that a better understanding of the antecedents and consequences of affect is needed in order to fully understand emotion as experienced by sport participants.

scholarly journals The Social Psychology of Citizenship: Engagement With Citizenship Studies and Future Research

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 192-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clifford Stevenson ◽  
Nick Hopkins ◽  
Russell Luyt ◽  
John Dixon
Keyword(s):  
Social Psychology ◽  
Public Space ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Current Trend ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Social Psychological ◽  
Valuable Contribution ◽  
Psychological Study ◽  
Thematic Section ◽  
The Social

In this article we review the argument outlined in the opening article in this special thematic section: that the current social psychology of citizenship can be understood as the development of longstanding conceptualisations of the concept within the discipline. These conceptualisations have contributed to the current social psychological study of the constructive, active and collective (but often exclusive) understandings of citizenship in people’s everyday lives, as evidenced by contributions to this thematic section. We consider how this emerging body of work might fit with current citizenship studies and in particular how it may contribute to the current trend towards conceiving citizenship as an active practice embedded in everyday social life. Specifically, we highlight three areas of future research that we think are particularly promising: citizenship and recognition; displays and enactments of citizenship in public space; citizenship and lived coexistence. Although this is far from an exhaustive list of possibilities, we propose that research in these areas could enable the way for social psychology to articulate a distinct, recognisable and valuable contribution to citizenship studies.

scholarly journals Culture meets collective action: Exciting synergies and some lessons to learn for the future

2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 277-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martijn van Zomeren ◽  
Winnifred R. Louis
Keyword(s):  
Social Psychology ◽  
Collective Action ◽  
Cultural Psychology ◽  
Group Processes ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Social Psychological ◽  
Psychological Study ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Rich

In this introduction to the special issue of Group Processes & Intergroup Relations on “Culture and Collective Action” we emphasize the importance of the special issue topic for the development of the field. Specifically, we highlight the globalization of collective action and the internationalization of the social-psychological study of collective action, both of which point to culture as a missing link for this field. We thus propose that the next step is to move toward a proper cultural psychology of collective action—a social psychology in which culture is an integral part. This special issue provides a first step toward such a broad and integrative psychological understanding of collective action, but comes with promises as well as problems. We discuss both the exciting synergies and some lessons to learn for the future, and conclude that a focus on culture will facilitate the development of the rich and fascinating field of the social psychology of collective action.

scholarly journals Who Is This “We” You Speak of? Grounding Activist Identity in Social Psychology

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 237802311771781 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Horowitz
Keyword(s):  
Social Psychology ◽  
Social Identity ◽  
Collective Identity ◽  
Collective Identities ◽  
Social Psychological ◽  
Psychological Theories ◽  
New Directions ◽  
Role Based ◽  
Role Responsibilities ◽  
Distinct Role

What is an activist identity? Prior answers have focused almost exclusively on collective identity, without (a) considering the possibility of role-based identities or (b) grounding collective identities in broader social-psychological theories. The present study investigates activist identity through the lens of role-based and category-based identities and reports two major findings. First, there is a distinct role-based activist identity, one that involves internalizing role responsibilities and the expectations of friends and family. Second, collective identity represents a relationship between a social identity and an injustice frame; it either involves incorporating an injustice frame into a preexisting social identity or using the injustice frame to create a new in-group. The present findings help to illuminate the processes underlying collective identity, indicate that a great deal of role-based activist identity is mistaken for collective identity, and suggest new directions for the study of micro-mobilization and organizational forms and tactics in social movements.

scholarly journals Who is a terrorist? Exploring the utility of interdisciplinary fields

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-161
Author(s):  
Heba Mohamed Zahra
Keyword(s):  
Social Psychology ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Terror Management Theory ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approach ◽  
Comparative Approach ◽  
Social Psychological ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sociological Factors ◽  
Interdisciplinary Field ◽  
Psychological Theories

Purpose This paper aims to discuss the dilemma of terrorism as a political phenomenon that many political scientists care about; however, they find themselves incapable of explaining some of its aspects and they resort to other disciplines. The second part of the dilemma is related to the incapability of well-established disciplines to provide political scientists with much help. This raises the following question: Will political scientists be able to enhance their knowledge of terrorism with the help of scholars from consolidated and well-established disciplines or with the help of scholars from interdisciplinary fields? Design/methodology/approach This research depends on the main theories of psychology and of social psychology and adopts a comparative approach to assess the effectiveness of both disciplines in providing political scientists with the knowledge they lack. Findings In spite of being a well-established and consolidated discipline, psychology is not the perfect discipline that can help political scientists know who a terrorist is. Social psychological theories of aggression provide political scientists with greater ability to understand what psychological and sociological factors motivate a person to turn to aggression and terrorism. Moreover, social psychology developed the “terror management theory” which clarifies various aspects of the phenomenon. Originality/value This research paper calls the attention of scholars of terrorism to the importance of adopting an interdisciplinary approach to understand the various aspects of a complex phenomenon such as terrorism. The interdisciplinary field adopted will differ according to the research question that a researcher needs to answer.

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