How is social psychology defined?

Social psychology is defined as the study of how individuals think, feel, and behave in social contexts. This definition encompasses the exploration of interpersonal relationships, group dynamics, social influences, and the mental processes that shape individuals' responses to the presence of others.

The focus is on understanding how social interactions and the presence of other people impact an individual's emotions, thoughts, and actions. For example, social psychologists might study phenomena such as conformity, obedience, social perception, and attitude change, all of which highlight the role of social context in shaping behavior.

The other choices, while related to aspects of psychology, do not accurately capture the essence of social psychology. Cognitive processes focus more specifically on internal psychological functions without necessarily considering the influence of social contexts. Personality traits typically relate to individual differences rather than social dynamics. Cultural influences pertain to broader societal factors and may be more aligned with cross-cultural psychology, which studies variations across different cultural contexts rather than the immediate social interactions between individuals.