Issues and debates: social control (learning)

Question 1

INTRO

Social control

Answer 1

• Social control, often exercised by those with power, regulates behaviour to enforce conformity. It can be overt or covert, influencing individuals or groups.
• Psychology, a method of understanding human behaviour, has been accused of controlling the population. This understanding can be used for societal good or other purposes.

Question 2

A01 & A03 (can be used for social control)

Answer 2

A01 (can be used for social control):
Learning theories like operant conditioning allow behaviour to be shaped through reward and punishment. This can be used positively in settings like schools to encourage good behaviour, but also raises concerns about manipulating behaviour for control.

A03:
Watson and Rayner’s Little Albert study showed that emotional responses like fear could be conditioned to neutral stimuli. This principle underpins how advertising can use classical conditioning to associate products with positive emotions, subtly controlling consumer behaviour.

Question 3

A01 & A03 (can’t be used for social control)

Answer 3

A01 (can’t be used for social control):
Behavioural techniques can also be used therapeutically, helping individuals overcome maladaptive behaviours. Systematic desensitisation applies counter-conditioning to treat phobias, empowering individuals rather than controlling them.

A03:
Gilroy (2003) found that systematic desensitisation significantly reduced spider phobia symptoms compared to relaxation alone. This demonstrates how learning principles can be used ethically to improve quality of life, supporting positive forms of behavioural regulation without coercion.

Question 4

judgment

Answer 4

Overall learning psychology mostly knowledge in learning psychology is used as a positive form of social control.