What is the primary focus of social psychology?

The primary focus of social psychology is on understanding how individuals influence and are influenced by the presence, thoughts, and behaviors of others. This field examines interactions in social contexts and looks at factors such as attitudes, group dynamics, conformity, and interpersonal relationships. Social psychology recognizes that behavior is often shaped by social situations and cultural influences, highlighting the interconnectedness of individuals within their social environments.

In contrast, the other choices touch on areas that fall outside the central scope of social psychology. The study of mental disorders pertains more to clinical psychology, individual behavior in isolation is more aligned with experimental or cognitive psychology, and the study of cognitive processes only focuses on mental functions without consideration of social influences or interactions, which are core to social psychology.