Social Approach Flashcards
Key assumption of social approach?
Other people and our surroundings have a massive influence on sn individuals though processes and behaviour.
Key implication of social approach?
If we want to undertand peoples behaviour, we should look at their social context.
Strength of social approach?
Helps us understand how our behaviour can be influenced by our surrounding and peers, explains why people msy change if they situation changes. For example, in milgrams study shows that in a prestigous environment and with an authoritative figure present, a persons behaviour may contradict their values. However, msmy social studies are lab based so may not generalise well.
Strength of social approach?
Helps us understand extreme human behaviour, If we can understand causes of behvaiour, we can take steps to prevent it. For example, in reicher and haslams study prison guards were trained to be more assertive. However, applications for social studies may not generalise cross culturally.
Weakness of social approach?
Very ethnocentric, results may not be able to be generalised cross-culturally. For example, piliavins study only took place on the new york subway at the same time everyday. Therefore, in order to obtain better results, the social approach should use more cross cultural samples.
Weakness of social approach?
Criticised for being reductionist, fails to consider other factors like biological or cognitive factors. In milgrams study, obedience is only explained through social factors but not their biological make up. Therefore, the approach doesnt explan the full complexity of human behaviour.
Three main studies to social approach?
Piliavin- bystander intervention.
Milgram- obedience
Reicher and haslam- tyranny and inequality.
