The scientific study of how people’s thoughts, feelings and behaviours are influenced by the actual, imagined or implied presence of others.
1 of 21
What are the topics investigated?
obedience, conformity, peer pressure, prosocial behaviour, prejudice and discrimination, social identity, social learning, aggression, attitudes, and other group processes.
2 of 21
What are the assumptions of Social Psychology?
Behaviour is influences by other people and the social context in which it occurs Behaviour is shaped by the surrounding environment and therefore people learn by observing others Behaviour is studied scientifically by observing people in social area
3 of 21
Is it Nature or Nurture?
The social approach supports the nurture side of the nature-nurture debate as it argues that behaviour is a product of social processes within the environment.
4 of 21
Does it support individual or situational?
The social approach supports the situational side of the debate.
5 of 21
Reductionism or Holism?
Milgram’s research can be considered to be reductionistic as it ignored the role of the individual differences (such as gender, age etc..) and personality in influencing behaviour.
6 of 21
Determinism or Freewill?
Milgram and Bocchiaro’s research have direct applications in understanding, predicting and tackling the tendency to obey orders that directly or indirectly lead to harm and suffering in others.
7 of 21
What is Socially Sensitive Research?
The debate focuses on the issues involved when conducting socially sensitive research s
8 of 21
What is Stigma in relation to Socially Sensitive Research?
individuals or groups may experience feelings of shame or exclusion due to sensitive issues explored in research, such as gender, culture and illness
9 of 21
What is Political Consequences in relation to Socially Sensitive Research?
the outcome of research may have implications for government policy and change the lives of people involved
10 of 21
What is Harm in relation to Socially Sensitive Research?
some issues may be controversial as they are too private or cause distress
11 of 21
Give an example of Socially Sensitive Research?
Milgram’s research caused much distress to participants as they believed they were administering real electric shocks to another person which conflicted with their desire to obey an authority figure
12 of 21
Does Social Psychology support Psychology as a science?
Bocchairo’s research supports psychology as a science as laboratory procedures were used which allow for cause and effect quantitative data was collected. Therefore, it was standardised with high levels of control and therefore high in reliability an
13 of 21
What are the strengths of Social Psychology? (contributions)
Provides useful contributions to the understanding of social behaviour
14 of 21
What are the strengths of Social Psychology? (real life)
Attempts to conduct research within real life settings, and is therefore high in ecological validity
15 of 21
What are the strengths of Social Psychology? (practical applications)
Had provided many practical applications for society (e.g running of prisons)
16 of 21
What are the strengths of Social Psychology? (nurture)
Provides support for the nurture side of the nature - nurture debate and therefore allows us to recognise that people are not always to blame for their behaviour.
17 of 21
What are the strengths of Social Psychology? (scientific)
Uses scientific methodology to support theories therefore high in validity and allows for cause and effect.
18 of 21
What are the weaknesses of Social Psychology? (nature)
Ignores the nature side of the nature-nurture debate and therefore underestimates the role of the individual differences and personality in explaining human behaviour
19 of 21
What are the weaknesses of Social Psychology? (ethical)
Tends to breach ethical guidelines and therefore may cause some level of harm to participants within research
20 of 21
What are the weaknesses of Social Psychology? (deterministic)
Explanations can be deterministic, as they assume that all behaviour is a result of social processes, so ignores the role of free will
21 of 21
Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
What are the topics investigated?
Back
obedience, conformity, peer pressure, prosocial behaviour, prejudice and discrimination, social identity, social learning, aggression, attitudes, and other group processes.
Comments
No comments have yet been made