ABSTRACT
The growth of social psychology is both facilitated and hampered by the fact that social psychologists are subject to the type of social control prevailing in mass societies. One of the consequences of the extension of perspectives and the pluralism of mass societies is the declining influence of local groups as exclusive agencies of social control. The fact that research is carried on by men who are subject to the kind of social control prevailing in our society both aids and hampers their efforts to develop reliable knowledge. Scientific knowledge enjoys an esteemed position in our society because of the many benefits that have been derived from it. In pluralistic societies, however, arguments sometimes arise over whose values are to be implemented. Although the continuing development of social psychology may conceivably place powerful weapons in the hands of the unscrupulous, one cannot afford to declare a moratorium upon research until absolute safeguards are established.
