Social psychology is defined as the scientific discipline that attempts to understand and explain how the thought, feeling, and behavior of individuals are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others.
Social psychology is studied in both psychology and sociology.
The central focus of psychological social psychology tends to be on the individual and how she or he responds to social stimuli. In contrast, sociological social psychology downplays the importance of individual differences and the effects of immediate social stimuli on behavior. Instead, the focus tends to be on larger societal variables such a socioeconomic status, social roles, and cultural norms. The history of social psychology reveals its American roots. Triplett conducted the first empirical study to be classified as social psychological in nature in 1895.