The interface between social and clinical psychology.

The interface of social and  clinical psychology is concerned with the application of theory and research from social psychology toward the better understanding of human adaptation and adjustment, including both the alleviation of psychological problems and distress (e.g., psychopathology) and the enhancement of psychological well-being among the psychologically healthy. Topics of interest to those of us who work in the social-clinical interface include (but are not limited to) traditionally defined psychopathology, common emotional and behavioral problems in living (e.g., conflicts in close relationships), the enhancement of subjective well-being, and the processes of psychological change in everyday life (e.g., self-regulation) and professional settings (e.g., psychotherapy and counseling).  

Clinical psychology is an applied branch of psychology that draws from findings from biological, cognitive, developmental, personality, and social psychology, as well as from allied disciplines (e.g., neuroscience and epidemiology). Social psychology, with its focus on psychological processes that occur between people, has much to offer to scientific clinical psychology.  For example, the vast majority of psychological disorders are influenced, at least in part, by life stress, and life stress typically takes place in interpersonal contexts.  For example, strife and discord in close relationships increase the risk for depression.  Conversely, social support can protect individuals from the adverse effect of stress.  Social psychology has been on the cutting edge of research on both relationship difficulties and social support, providing insight into the underpinnings of such support for a myriad of clinical and health problems, including depression, substance use, and physical illness.

Furthermore, psychotherapy is itself a social/interpersonal process.  Issues such as patient-therapist interaction, the role of patients' relationships outside of treatment in psychotherapy process and outcome, and social-cognitive beliefs of patients and therapist about the nature, causes, and prognosis of psychopathology, have been the focus of social-clinical psychological research for several decades.  These process issues continue to inform the development of innovative interventions for a host of psychological problems.

Finally, the study of psychopathology and other clinical phenomena can inform social psychological theory and research.  For example, the study of individuals’ with unrealistically high self-esteem (“psychopaths”), fragile self-esteem (“narcissists”), and dysfunctionally low levels of self-esteem can help shed light on the role of self-esteem in social and interpersonal relations.  

The Society welcomes theorists, researchers, and practitioners from all fields of psychology and related fields who are interested in the ways in which the study of "normal" human social behavior can enhance our understanding of psychological well-being.