Social psychology in the age of uncertainty: A tale of three quandaries

2024/12/20 by Arie W. Kruglanski, Sophia Moskalenko · 1 citation
Social Sciences · Psychology · #Social and Intergroup Psychology #Cultural Differences and Values #Psychology of Social Influence

paper · doi:10.1080/10463283.2024.2443359

Abstract

We examine the current state of social psychology in terms of three major quandaries that challenge our field: Value, Trust, and Purpose. The Value quandary involves balancing commitments to truth and social justice without conflating the two. The Trust quandary centers on restoring the field’s credibility amid issues like data falsification and the replication crisis, addressed through evidence-based, theory-guided research. The Purpose quandary highlights the need to balance theory development and empirical research by incorporating formal theory training into social psychology curricula. As a discipline at the intersection of individuals and society, social psychology plays a critical role in addressing global social challenges. Resolving these quandaries is essential for the field’s advancement and its capacity to fulfill its potential.

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