People are pretty fascinating. Sometimes, people surprise us. How we treat other people, form groups, and make decisions doesn’t always make sense, but it is always a good topic of conversation or subject to consider.

But maybe you don’t just want to laugh at the strange things that people do or chat about it with your friends and family. Maybe the interest you have in people and behavior goes deeper. You want to discover what makes people tick and how we choose our friends, colleagues, and allies.

If this sounds like you, you may want to consider a career in social psychology.

What does a Social Psychologist Do?Job RequirementsSalary (How Much Do Social Psychologists Make?)Schools for Social Psychology DegreesCompanies That Hire Social PsychologistsInterviews with a Social PsychologistFamous Social PsychologistsSocial Psychology Examples

What does a Social Psychologist Do?

Job Requirements

Salary (How Much Do Social Psychologists Make?)

Schools for Social Psychology Degrees

Companies That Hire Social Psychologists

Interviews with a Social Psychologist

Famous Social Psychologists

Social Psychology Examples

Social psychologists delve deeply into the intricacies of human social interactions, studying everything from their inception to their long-term implications. They seek to understand the mental processes of individuals, couples, teams, and entire populations as they identify themselves, form social groups, distinguish ‘in-group’ and ‘out-group’ members, and interpret social dynamics.

For instance, a business might consult asocial psychologistto understand how workplace teams form and function, ensuring smoother group dynamics and increased productivity. Or, in a community grappling with racial tensions, insights from social psychologists can guide interventions to foster understanding and reduce prejudice.

The insights and findings from social psychology are invaluable in our daily lives. They shape our understanding of why we think and act the way we do in social situations. Consider how the well-known principle of cognitive dissonance can explain why someone might change their beliefs to align with their actions after making a controversial decision. Or how attribution theory can illuminate why we sometimes blame others for their misfortunes, attributing it to their character rather than their circumstances.

For those who aspire to decode the complex tapestry of human social behavior and facilitate a deeper understanding of phenomena like cognitive dissonance, attribution, and many others, a career insocial psychologyis a compelling choice.

To become a social psychologist, a certain level of education is required. While many positions in the field require a doctorate, it’s also possible to enter the profession with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in psychology, depending on the specific role and employer.

A PhD may be more advantageous if you’re aiming for positions in top consulting firms, research facilities, or private corporations. Additionally, considering board certification can further enhance your credentials and job prospects regardless of your degree level.

Social psychologists don’t always use the term “social psychologist” to describe their job position: they may call themselves industrial-organizational psychologists or use their knowledge and experience to become marketing directors or college professors. For this reason, there isn’t a lot of data on how much social psychologists earn. You can, however, expect to earn a comfortable living due to your high level of education and specialty in a field that can be applied to virtually every workplace.

Social Psychologist Reported SalaryLowAverageHighAPA​$85,000​ZipRecruiter$20,500$79,768$158,000Payscale.com​$70,728​

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Whether you want a Harvard education or stick to the school closest to your home, you can find a social psychology program. The study of human nature and social interaction is a universally intriguing topic! Keep these programs in mind as you make the next steps in your career:

Where do social psychologists work? The answers are endless! Again, the insight that social psychologists can provide can elevate team-building efforts, tap into a consumer’s mind, and explain human history’s biggest surprises. Many organizations could use the help of a social psychologist, including:

The expertise of social psychologists is versatile, making them an asset in any organization that deals with or seeks to understand human behavior and interaction.

Amy Cuddy speaks about how her work has developed around body language and nonverbal communication. In a longer interview, Dr. Robert Sellers (psychology professor and Vice Provost for Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer at the University of Michigan) talks about recent developments in social psychology.

Social psychology is a relatively new field of study, but it has already produced fascinating theories and notable figures in the psychology world.

Norman Triplett (1861-1931)

Henri Tajfel (1919-1982)

Robert Sternberg (b. 1949)

Leon Festinger(1919-1989)

Fritz Heider (1896-1988)

Want to discover the hottest new theory in social psychology or learn more about how different groups form? Social psychology may be the career for you. After years of school and training, you might find yourself:

Social psychology is a relatively new but completely fascinating branch of psychology. Social psychologists' work can also help us understand our world and make it a better, safer, and more enjoyable place for all.

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Reference this article:Practical Psychology. (2021, June).Social Psychologist Career (Salary + Duties + Interviews).Retrieved from https://practicalpie.com/social-psychologist/.Practical Psychology. (2021, June). Social Psychologist Career (Salary + Duties + Interviews). Retrieved from https://practicalpie.com/social-psychologist/.Copy

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Practical Psychology. (2021, June).Social Psychologist Career (Salary + Duties + Interviews).Retrieved from https://practicalpie.com/social-psychologist/.Practical Psychology. (2021, June). Social Psychologist Career (Salary + Duties + Interviews). Retrieved from https://practicalpie.com/social-psychologist/.Copy

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