Network approach in psychology and in social psychology

The starting point of this paper is the 'Linked', Albert László Barabási's popular book, which highlights the importance of the network approach generally. The relevance of network approach in psychology is reviewed in parallel with the absence of its reception in recent social psychology. The indifference of social psychology is rather surprising considering the facts that on the one hand, network approach is originally rooted in people's social network of their everyday relationships which is a genuine social psychological topic, on the other, social psychologists originally played a significant role in the evolution of the network approach - it is however hardly noticed by the contemporary social psychology. Reviewing some historical aspects of small group research, a reinterpretation of Ferenc Mérei's sociometric method is offered to find the reconnection of social network approach and social psychology.