The Future of Social Psychology

The influx of technology in people’s life has impacted the social world greatly. For example, the introduction of radio in the early twentieth century and the introduction of television later made people feel they connected to the rest of the world. However, since the last decade, the effect of these forms of technology has paled before the impact of interactive media on consumers. The first great interactive media influence was observed after the introduction of the Internet in the early 1990s.

The consumer’s thirst for information over the Internet spurred other technologies to utilize this form of media. This resulted in hand-held storage and communication devices that are fully integrated with both Internet and telephone services. Today, hand-held devices can store large amounts of information, stream videos, and browse the Internet any time, from any place. However, these technological advancements have caused a decline in personal interaction between individuals.

Considering the technological advancements in clinical psychology, some of the common questions arising are:

• Have these technological advancements and the apparent decline in personal interaction affected the attitudes and beliefs of individuals?

• Has the introduction of technology changed the perspective of cultural norms in individuals?

• Have these technological advancements improved or inhibited individuals’ self-esteem or self-efficacy?

• Has technology impacted the way individuals interact and live?

These are some of the fascinating topics social psychology examines today and will continue to study in future.

Technology comes with a price, and people are willing to pay the price for the latest technologies. For instance, look at the frenzy caused by the introduction of the iPhone and the frustration people went through when the WII gaming console was in short supply. This demonstrates that the new-age consumer is not only strong but also evolving and growing with time.