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Social Cognition Permeates Social Psychology: Motivated Mental Processes Guide the Study of Human Social Behavior
Author(s) -
Operario Don,
Fiske Susan T.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
asian journal of social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.5
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1467-839X
pISSN - 1367-2223
DOI - 10.1111/1467-839x.00026
Subject(s) - social cognition , psychology , motor cognition , cognition , social psychology , theme (computing) , cognitive psychology , neuroscience , computer science , operating system
Social cognition provides a metatheoretical approach to understanding the mental underpinnings of human social behavior. This paper reviews some of the major themes in social cognition research, tracing its progression from a methodological hybrid between cognitive and social psychology to a major foundation of social psychology. We stress the most recent trend in social cognition research – the motivated tactician theme – which focuses on the roles of motives and goals in people's mental processes and social behavior; examples from our laboratory illustrate this theme. Our brief historical overview emphasizes diversity within the social cognition approach; its applicability to multiple psychological and social issues; and directions for collaboration with other notable research traditions, particularly cross‐cultural perspectives.