Application Flashcards

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1
Q

How can psychological knowledge be used within society? (3 points)

A

Psychological knowledge produces scientifically valid and credible conclusions - can be applied to society to improve the quality of life for individuals

Without the practical application of psychological knowledge, society remains unchanged, and the research is rendered ineffective

Political and economic impacts:
An estimated £15 million spent by the UK Government on national mental health campaigns like ‘Every Mind Matters’ (UK Gov 2019)

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2
Q

What is the essay plan for your application essay? (3 points)

A

Greatest application: Social
RCT reducing football hooliganism
Supported by: Sherif et al

Mid-level: LT
SLT explaining AN
Supported by: Becker et al

Lowest: Biological
MPA as a treatment for criminals
Supported by: Wille & Beier (1989) and Maletzky

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3
Q

How does social psychology have the greatest application to real life? (3 points)

A

Theories have helped to inform real-life practices like controlling crowd behaviour

RCT states that inter-group hostility occurs where there is competition for limited resources

This can explain the prejudice and discrimination during football
games as two opposing teams compete for the limited resource of a trophy

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4
Q

How can RCT be applied to real life? (3 points)

A

Superordinate goals can be introduced to help reduce hostility between the in and out groups e.g. a charity football match between English and Russian fans during the World Cup

This is supported by Sheriff’s Robber’s Cave study - ‘sneaks and stinkers’ to ‘brave’

Could help rival football teams to work toward a mutual goal AND reduce crowd behaviour - costs London £3 billion in 2019 (UK Gov)

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5
Q

How is RCT limited in its application to real life? (4 points)

A

It does not consider all the factors which lead to the development of prejudice

Cohrs et al:
+ Found that those with the authoritarian personality type are more likely to be prejudiced and display out-group hostility
+ They identify more with in-groups

Most football hooligans are men - suggests an important role of gender which has not been accounted for

This shows that the successful application of CT is limited by dispositional factors

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6
Q

How does SLT have a mid-level application to real life? (3 points)

A

Learned behaviours in society can impact the onset of clinical disorders like Anorexia Nervosa (AN)

Social Learning Theory suggests that young impressionable teens observe and imitate the disordered eating habits and exercise routines of same-sex celebrity role models

This has led to over 1.25 million people
living with eating disorders in the UK (Beat.org 2020)

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7
Q

How does Becker et al support SLT explaining AN applying to real life? (4 points)

A

Inntroduced Western TV including role models to media-naive Fijian adolescent girls over 3
years

Findings showed that the prevalence of eating disorders increased from 12.7% in 1995 to 29.2% in 1998 when using EAT-26 scores to indicate disordered eating habits

Such findings have been applied directly to legislation regulating the portrayal of body image on TV

Brands like Louis Vuitton have banned size 0 models, and social media companies are placed under pressure by governments to filter inappropriate content produced by celebrities like
fad diets

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8
Q

What are the limitations of SLT explaining AN applying to real life? (2 points)

A

Could be argued that filtering and censoring social media is a form of social control - removes the free will and autonomy from teenagers to engage in behaviours they choose

However, the benefits to society of reducing the prevalence of
slim, underweight celebrities outweigh the cost to a few individuals who may feel that their decision to choose is being violated

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9
Q

How does biological psychology have the lowest application to real life? (5 points)

A

Testosterone is a male androgen hormone - produced x20 more in men than women

Associated with higher levels of aggression impacting the prefrontal cortex which controls decision-making and impulsive behaviour

Wille & Beier (1989)
+ Examined data on castrated sex offenders in Germany
+ After their release from prison, 3% of castrated offenders re-offended compared to 46% of non-castrated sex re-offenders

Application of this biological knowledge to society has seen the introduction of the anti-androgen drug MPA as an effective therapy for sex offenders

Maletzsky et al:
0% of sexual offenders re-offended with MPA treatment whereas 59% re-offended without it

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10
Q

How is MPA limited in its application to real life? (4 points)

A

They have severe side effects that lead to patients to stop taking them - limited practical application

Impedes the free and autonomy of individuals as it is used to control people against their will - not too dissimilar to barbaric practices like lobotomy

Reductionist - they don’t consider alternative explanations of aggression

E.g. SLT:
+ A person on MPA can be exposed to aggressive role models and be vicariously reinforced for their actions
+ The treatment is unlikely to be as effective

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11
Q

What is the conclusion of your application essay? (3 points)

A

Research leading to theories and subsequent applications is usually reductionist - applications fail to address all causes of the target behaviour of change

A cost-benefit analysis is considered due to the issue of social control

Society can determine what has more significance:
Benefit: applying psychological knowledge to help reduce violence, crime and eating disorders
Cost: Loss of free will (cost).

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