AHL Cognitive Approach Theory Flashcards
What is Social Identity Theory?
Tajfel & Turner
Idea that our behaviour is influenced by groups we see ourselves in
4 psychological mechanisms
Social categorization: process where we identify which groups we belong to (in-groups) & which we don’t (out-groups)
Social identification: takes place after deciding to belong to group, involves changing behaviours to conform to group norms
Social comparison: comparing group to others to justify own membership, benefits of belonging to in-group vs out-group, seeing differences, leads to positive distinctiveness
Positive distinctiveness: seeking to achieve positive self esteem by positively comparing our in-group to out-group, leading to in-group favouritism/ bias where people give preferential treatment to others in same group
Salience = when aware of one of our social identities, when a social identity is salient, plays key role in behaviour
What is Social Cognitive Theory?
Bandura
Idea behaviour can be learnt from environment through modelling and reinforcement
We don’t need to personally experience everything, can learn via observation
Modelling = learning through observation, may lead to imitation if behaviour to be imitated leads to desirable consequences, can watch to see if model’s behaviour is rewarded or punished
Vicarious reinforcement = if model receives reward, learner motivated to imitate as if had been personally rewarded, same with vicarious punishment
Necessary conditions for social learning:
Attention: observers must attend modelled behaviour
Retention: to reproduce observed behaviour, observers must remember features
Motivation: to reproduce, observers must want to and expect certain outcome
Potential: to reproduce, observers must have capability physically/mentally to carry it out
How does Stereotype Formation occur?
A stereotype = a positive or negative cognitive generalisation of an individual’s qualities and characteristics based on their group membership or physical features
Form of social categorisation
Often resistant to change despite contradictory info
Often exaggerated
Theory about formation - SIT
SIT says behaviour & identity influenced by groups we belong to
Groups chosen based on traits we think similar to our own (social categorisation)
We divide world into in&out-groups, conforming with the norms of our group
We compare in to out-group & see in-group as superior and out-group as sharing common, often negative, traits (out-group homogeneity) = basis for stereotyping
How does Stereotyping affect Behaviour?
A stereotype = a positive or negative cognitive generalisation of an individual’s qualities and characteristics based on their group membership or physical features
Stereotyping = form of schema processing - can cause memory distortion & influence recall
Another effect on behaviour = stereotype threat that occurs as one in situation with threat of being stereotypically judgened & fearful of acting in a way that would accidentally confirm the stereotype
Steele & Aronson argue that stereotype threat turns on spotlight anxiety = anxiety linked to belief that one is being judged/watched - causing pressure/distress that may undermine performance
What is Enculturation?
Process involving learning and maintenance of the behaviours & norms of our own culture
Constant process that reinforces your identity as a member of your culture
Not born with culture, understanding of values, language and expectations developed over time and interaction with peers
Development of enculturation through…
Direct tuition - what parents tell you you are supposed to do
SCT - involves learning behaviour via process of observational learning
Participatory learning - involves engaging in an activity & transferring skills learn to alternative situations
One of key enculturated behaviours = gender roles - social roles involving behaviours & attitudes considered acceptable bases on sex
What is Acculturation?
Process where people change due to contact with other cultures to assimilate with a new culture, adopting the norms & behaviours of majority culture
Globalised world - we often come into contact with other cultures, as people move voluntarily (e.g. foreign students) and involuntarily (e.g. refugees)
Berry’s Acculturation Model: suggests 4 different acculturation strategies used by individuals:
Assimilation: when individual abandons original culture & adopts cultural behaviours & values of new culture
Integration: when individual has interest in adopting behaviours & values of new culture while maintaining original culture
Separation: when individual maintains own culture & limits contact with new culture
Marginalisation: when not possible to maintain one’s original culture but because of exclusion/discrimination not possible to assimilate into new culture
Acculturative stress: psychological, somatic & social difficulties that accompany acculturation due to not feeling like one is a part of a group - ‘culture shock’
Acculturation gaps: generational differences in acculturation, as parents & children live in different cultural worlds
Due to school, children have more contact with culture thus acculturate faster to values of new culture
Possible clash of cultures at school vs home leading to conflict
