Social Area

Question 1

Key Principles

Answer 1

• we behave differently depending on social roles we take + presence of others
• other people + environmental effect behaviour

Question 2

Key Concepts

Answer 2

• diffusion of responsibility
• bystander effect
• arousal cost-reward model
• simpatia (cultural difference in helping)

Question 3

Strengths of Social Area

Answer 3

• helps to improve our understanding oh human behaviour, particularly the extent others affect it
• useful in promoting positive behaviour
• often high in ecological validity especially if a field experiment is used

Question 4

Weaknesses of Social Area

Answer 4

• findings might not be true for all generations as it changes over time
• it is reductionist as can miss out other explanations such as biological
• if field experiment it lacks internal validity

Question 5

Responses to people in need

Answer 5

Both Piliavin and Levine link to social area as they show impact that others have on behaviour. Specifically in Piliavin weather the likelihood of someone helping in an emergency increase or decrease by the known presence of others. Levine is less direct but the variables are social.

Question 6

Responses to people in authority

Answer 6

Milgram and Bocchiaro both link to social area as it shows the amount of influence others can have on our behaviour and how obedient we are. Bocchiaro shows more obedient than people think they would be.