social _______________ refers to the role of our thoughts and interpretations in social interactions.

The term that refers to the role of our thoughts and interpretations in social interactions is "social cognition." Social cognition is a concept in social psychology that focuses on how people perceive, interpret, process, and respond to social information. It encompasses how we think about ourselves and others in social contexts, influencing our judgments, feelings, and behaviors during social interactions. Through social cognition, individuals develop schemas and attitudes that help them quickly evaluate social situations and predict others' behaviors, playing a crucial role in shaping how social interactions unfold. This concept explains how mental activities such as memory, reasoning, and belief formation impact our social behavior and understanding of social environments. In summary, social cognition highlights the central role of cognitive processes in social interactions and how our thoughts guide our social perceptions and responses.