This assignment aims to provide a broad explanation on social psychology; establish what the topic is about, its contribution to psychological research, what questions social psychologists aim to answer, and how it is different from other psychological fields. The history of social psychology will be explored with reference to social psychological "crises". In the next part of this assignment, influential research on obedience will be explored and evaluated with reference to its impact on social psychology. Social psychology is about defining human behavior through scientific methods, Gordon Allport (1985) argued that we use scientific methods such as imperial data to "understand and explain how individuals' thinking, feelings, and behavior are influenced by the real, imagined presence or implied by other human beings". Social psychologists are ultimately interested in the effect of others on our behavior producing much research on the nature versus nurture debate. The research it provides helps us understand human behavior in a range of scenarios. For example, the effects of groups or in explaining why we conform or why we can obey. The psychological approach asks and aims to answer questions such as "how do you perceive yourself in relation to the rest of the world?" How does this perception change the way you think, act, and respond to the world? And how do the opinions of others influence the way you think, act and respond to the world?' Hancock. H (2011) The question I'm interested in is; Are individuals affected by stereotypes and how do these influence behavior? The social psychological approach contributes a lot to our perception of "ourselves" as individuals or in groups and has provided many fascinating studies...... half of the article .... ....the study was more of a 'game '. However this study was a great example of deindividuation, showing a loss of self-awareness and how participants formed a group rather than remaining individuals. One benefit of the study was that it produced influential research on human behavior that prompted "the U.S. Congress to change the law so that juveniles accused of federal crimes were no longer housed with adult prisoners before trial (to prevent were subjected to abuse)". “The most important lesson from both Milgram and Zimardo's research is that people underestimate the power of a situation to influence and shape their behavior.” Both Milgrams' and Zimbardos' studies explain individual behaviors through "situational rather than dispositional factors" and although both studies have methodological problems, they have contributed greatly and shaped how we view human behavior.