Social psychology and personality psychology are experimental psychology categories, meaning they focus on building and expanding ideas rather than applying them in real-world situations. Researchers in the field of experimental psychology spend the majority of their time doing laboratory experiments and authoring scientific journals. The applied fields of psychology rely on the theories and data generated by experimental psychologists.
For instance, when treating patients, clinical psychologists use several social and personality psychologists’ theories. Experimental psychologists do not usually treat patients; instead, they observe or interview them to learn about their reactions to various stimuli. Social psychologists research how people interact in groups, while personality psychologists focus on people as distinct entities.
Social psychology and sociology are related fields of research that analyze human behavior, such as the way people think and act in different contexts and at different times. Social psychologists encourage people to put a monetary value on things, but behavioral economists want people to build utility functions that quantitatively reflect people’s preferences.
Alternatively, researchers in the field of social psychology are particularly adept at figuring out how the environment influences human behavior and hence act as the core of behavioral economists. While psychology focuses on mental health care, social work provides a wide range of human services. This does not really imply they are not fundamentally similar in certain respects. Thus, it is the ultimate goal of social workers and psychologists to help their clients lead healthier and more productive lives.