The integration of group dynamics within social psychology and biology: Reviewing the history and future directions of research into conformity and cultural diffusion

Abstract

The study of group dynamics, which refers to changes in individual behaviors due to the actions of others within a group, became a popular topic in social psychology during the 1940s. It is studied using methods such as experiments, surveys, and statistical modeling. However, in the modern era group dynamics no longer receives much attention within social psychology. Instead, it is biologists who have produced new and interesting findings about group dynamics, through the application of various new data collection and statistical methods. In this article, we first provide a brief explanation of the history of research into group dynamics in social psychology and biology. We then examine three recent biological studies of cultural diffusion in depth, which were illustrative of the innovation found in current research into group dynamics. Finally, we discuss how the methods and theories developed in the biological field could be applied to social psychology research and propose a scheme that could help to encourage researchers in social psychology and biology to unite in new collaborative efforts.