Section C Flashcards
1
Q
Outline one assumption of the social approach. (2)
A
- All behaviour is influenced by social or enviornmental factors rather than dispositional ones
- This suggests our behaviour will change as the rseult of situation and won’t remain consistent across different situations.
- E.g. we are more likely to be obedient in a situation where an authoritative figure is present, says Milgram.
2
Q
Describe how the social approach could explain obedience. (4)
A
- Says its the result of the situation
- e.g. in Milgram an authority figure was present, and used prods to persuade the teacher to give electric shocks to the learner up tp 450 volts. Other environmental factors here were that they were in a prestigious university, pressuring them to act in obedience.
- Accoridng to Milgram, such situational variables had a stronger affect on their obedience than any dispositional ones
3
Q
Discuss one similarity and one difference between any two social psychology studies. (6)
A
Similarity = unethical
- Milgram decieved (participants thought they were doing a study on memory and learning but instead on obedience to authority) and did not protect (participants suffered seizures from stress/tension)
- Piliavin decieved (thought victim was really drunk/ill but just a confederate) and did not obtain consent (didn’t know it was taking place)
Difference = sample
- Milgram tested group of white men from regional area (ethnocentric and gender biased sample)
- Piliavin gathered data from a range of people thus more representative
4
Q
Discuss one similarity between any two social psychology studies.
A
Unethical
- Milgram decieved (participants thought they were doing a study on memory and learning but instead on obedience to authority) and did not protect (participants suffered seizures from stress/tension)
- Piliavin decieved (thought victim was really drunk/ill but just a confederate) and did not obtain consent (didn’t know it was taking place)
5
Q
Discuss one difference between any two social psychology studies.
A
Sample
- Milgram tested group of white men from regional area (ethnocentric and gender biased sample)
- Piliavin gathered data from a range of people thus more representative
6
Q
Discuss the strengths and limitations of the social approach using examples of any social approach studies. (12)
A
- useful applications/insights (e.g. Milgram showed authority’s effect on obedience which could explain Holocaust atrocities) which can help prevent atrocities in the future by informing leaders of the effects they could have and to monitor their power over others
- low risk of demand characteristics as participants tend to be deceived as part of the research (e.g. in Piliavin’s field experiment
