Social Information Processing Model

Crick and Dodge's social information processing model is a theoretically grounded model of social cognition that focuses specifically on the online mental processes that occur between the time an individual receives a social input and the time he or she provides a response. Since the turn of the century, the model had solidified itself as a leading social information processing model and its validity has been established in thousands of studies examining the antecedents and outcomes of the process. This entry describes the components of the model and provides a brief review of the empirical support it has received, as well as the limitations and challenges associated with the model and its assessment methods. Some suggestions for future considerations in social information processing research are also discussed.