Chapter one of "The Social Animal" by Elliot Aronson, titled "What is Social Psychology", describes various sociopsychological situations and phenomena, highlighting the role of social influence in shaping beliefs, feelings, and behavior. The examples presented include the Kent State shootings, the Jonestown massacre, the Columbine High School shooting, and personal experiences of discrimination and prejudice. Aronson argues that people who do crazy things are not necessarily crazy, and that it is more useful to understand the social situation and processes that lead to such behavior. The concept of social influence serves as the basis for social psychology, which seeks to understand how people are influenced, why they accept influence, and what factors increase or decrease the effectiveness and permanence of social influence.
Aronson emphasizes the importance of empirical research in social psychology, which allows for the manipulation of social situations and the control of variables, providing more precise and numerous data than observations made in natural settings. The author notes that many things that people "know" to be true turn out to be false when carefully investigated, and that experiments are necessary even when the results seem obvious.
Aronson also touches on the importance of understanding social change and the evolution of attitudes and behaviors over time. The author notes that society is influencing the younger generation differently than it influenced previous generations, and that changes in mass media and in attitudes of the general population can have a profound impact on self-image and behavior.
In conclusion, chapter one of "The Social Animal" provides a broad overview of the field of social psychology, highlighting key concepts and phenomena related to social influence, social change, and human behavior. The author emphasizes the importance of empirical research in understanding sociopsychological phenomena, and argues that people who do crazy things are not necessarily crazy, but rather are reacting to social situations and processes that are not always immediately apparent.