In social psychology, a social psychologist primarily deals with which of the following?

• A. How individuals’ thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others
• B. Diagnosing and treating severe mental disorders using psychotherapy and medication
• C. Measuring intelligence and personality traits primarily through standardized psychological tests
• D. Identifying the neural structures and neurotransmitters that produce basic sensory experiences

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the core focus of social psychology, which is the study of how people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the presence of others, whether that presence is real, imagined, or implied.
2. Step 2: Recognize that social psychologists investigate social interactions, group behavior, social perception, and social influence, rather than clinical treatment or biological mechanisms.
3. Step 3: Differentiate social psychology from clinical psychology, which focuses on diagnosing and treating mental disorders, and from neuropsychology, which studies brain structures and neurotransmitters.
4. Step 4: Also distinguish social psychology from psychometrics, which involves measuring intelligence and personality through standardized tests.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the primary concern of social psychologists is understanding how social contexts affect individual psychological processes, aligning with the option about individuals’ thoughts, feelings, and behaviors influenced by others.