ABSTRACT
Social psychology is many things and has numerous facets. Today it is predom inantly an experimental laboratory science. In fact, Klineberg (1965, p. 10) identified the experimental approach as the most direct trademark of the disci pline. Social psychology is a relatively young discipline, having arrived at a ma ture status only since the Second World War. Murphy (1965) discussed three historical characteristics that led to the emergence of this new discipline. First, agreeing with Klineberg’s emphasis, Murphy noted the forging of an experimen tal method that was potentially applicable to social behavior. Second, there was a turn toward a social direction in general experimental psychology. Finally, enough data and materials had to accumulate so that systematic texts could be written and courses offered.
