Can you spot unspoken tension between two people?
Or can you tell who’s feeling out of place and might need extra support?
These processes allow people to understand social behavior and react in appropriate and beneficial ways.
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Keep reading to learn more about social cognition, the processes involved, and how this ability forms.
We’ll also take a closer look at how a social cognitive therapist helps people improve these skills.
Types of Social Cognition
Social cognition can also be further broken down into three distinct areas.
Three major types of social cognition are:
Social Cognition Processes
Social cognition involves many different processes.
Social schemas refer to our mental representations of social patterns and norms.
These representations can include information about societal roles and the expectations of different individuals within a group.
Real-Life Examples of Social Cognition
Imagine that you are getting ready to go on a blind date.
How Social Cognition Develops
Social cognition develops in childhood and adolescence.
According to Piaget, a child’scognitive development goes through several stages.
Even young preschoolers exhibit some ability to think about how other people might view a situation.
Atheory of mindrefers to a person’s ability to understand and think about the mental states of other people.
Disorders That Impact Social Cognition
Certain mental health conditions are characterized by disruptions in social cognition.
With practice, people can often interpret and respond to social situations more accurately and effectively.
Therapy enhances these skills, leading to better social functioning and less distress.
Each person brings a unique background of experiences, knowledge, social influences, feelings, and cultural variations.
Research and Challenges in Social Cognition
Research into social cognition is ongoing.
But there are also challenges to some established theories.
Takeaways
Social cognition refers to the cognitive processes that influence social behavior.
Learning more about this perspective offers insights into how others shape our behaviors and choices.
It also helps us understand how our unique cognitions affect how we see and respond to others.
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American Psychological Association.Social cognition.
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