social approach

Question 1

what are the assumptions of the social approach

Answer 1

our behaviour is influenced by our culture and society we are part of or belong to. therefore we need to study people in ‘natural’ social situations

our behaviour is influenced by the actions and attitudes of those around us. this may be an actual, implied or imagined presence

Question 2

describe the similarities between the two core studies

Answer 2

both not ecologically valid due to artificial procedures

both gained consent but not informed

both decieved participants

both used self selected sampling

both had an ethnocentric sample

both used controlled observations

both collected quantitative data

both useful

Question 3

describe differences between the two core studies

Answer 3

milgram arguably more ecologically valid as he was trying to explain the holocaust, so conducted an extreme study

milgram was very unethical (PoP and no right to withdraw)

milgram had a small sample (40m) whereas bocchiaro had quite a large sample (149+138) and tested both m/f

milgram also collected qualitative data

Question 4

give strengths of the social approach

Answer 4

useful- if we take the view that social context affects behavhours we can manipulate peoples surroundings in order to achieve this desired behaviour

social psychology favours observational data collection. this enables the approach to directly observe how people will behave when immersed in a social situation which enhances internal reliability

Question 5

give weaknesses of the social approach

Answer 5

often raises ethical concerns because social psychology strives to make the situation as life like as possible, so therefore often involves deception and lack of (informed) consent

reductionist- takes on a simplistic viewpoint that the situation we are in affects behaviour and ignores that disposition may have a role in shaping behaviour