intro to social psychology

Question 1

social psychology

Answer 1

interested in studying individuals in a social context, e.g family, friends, institutions and wider society

Question 2

what is the social approach concerned with

Answer 2

• the way we interact with others affects the way we think, feel and behave
• how we make sense of ourselves
• how we judge ourselves
• how we relate to others
• conflict
• cooperations
• relationships

Question 3

how is behaviour influenced in social psychology

Answer 3

actual, imagined, or implied presence of others

Question 4

social influence

Answer 4

influence of a group
influence of an individual with perceived authority

Question 5

what can social influence result in

Answer 5

change in thinking, attitudes, behaviour

Question 6

applications of social psychology

Answer 6

• offers solutions to obedience and prejudice
• however these studies may be specific to the time in which they’re done

Question 7

key assumptions

Answer 7

• the effect of interactions between individuals
• our relationships with others are a major influence on behaviour, thoughts, emotions
• situation we are in = we do not always act on free will

Question 8

effect of interaction between individuals

Answer 8

• we are heavily influenced by others individually and as a group
• less emphasis on psychological behavioural causes
• our culture affects response and attitudes towards others, e.g queuing
• each society and culture has its own set of rules

Question 9

our relationships with other people are a major influence on behaviour, thoughts and emotions

Answer 9

• we take on different roles when with different people
• our social roles dictate our behaviour, e.g parent/daughter

Question 10

the situation we are in has an effect on our behaviour not always free will

Answer 10

• environment determines behaviour, we may act in a way deemed acceptable by society
• all human behaviour occurs in a social context even when no one is present
• we behave in what we believe appropriate to the social setting
• we learn how we behave through our upbringing, understanding unwritten rules in society
• each context has a set of social norms we follow

Question 11

strengths

Answer 11

• evidence = supporting, e.g Milgram, ZImbardo
• Applications = explains attrocities, which have led to blind obedience
• education = using uniform takes away individuality, makes us more obedient

Question 12

weaknesses

Answer 12

• reductionist = ignores biological processes, genetics which affect behaviour
• not purely environmental
• deterministic - says everyone placed in the same social environment will behave the same, ignores idea of free will
• social control can be negatively used to manipulate behaviour