Social Key Question

Question 1

What is the key question for social psychology?

Answer 1

How can social psychology be used to explain heroism?

Question 2

Describe the introduction of the key question

Answer 2

Zimbardo’s suggestion about evil
It is the situation that can turn a good person evil
This is more likely to occur if individuals are given power, anonymity which enables them to dehumanise other leading to evil acts.
The Stanford experiment supported this idea, during the investigation guards were given Sunglasses to increase anonymity and power by removing the use of eye contact to reduce empathy

Question 3

Describe the first paragraph of the key question

Answer 3

Characteristics of a hero
-voluntary, no compensation, risk of life, a risk that helps the community
Heroism example:
Florin was classed as a hero during a terror attack when he sheltered pedestrians in his bakery after the attackers had ran over people on the sidewalks.
He also managed to hit one of the terrorists with a crate defending his community.
He continued to do this even after police had ordered him to leave the area.

The acts of heroism demonstrated by Florin can be explained through Agency Theory
Florin remained in the autonomous state throughout the attack as he disobeyed authoritative orders set by the police, therefore he did not become an ‘agent’ meaning he did not experience binding factors.
Florin would have also experienced moral strain as he felt responsible for serving and defending his community.

Question 4

Describe the second paragraph of the key question

Answer 4

Universal tendencies were created in order to help people to understand what negative behaviours need to be altered in order to lead to an outcome where more acts of heroism occur.
Two universal tendencies:
1- the tendency to react automatically to a situation without paying attention resulting in impulsive behaviours which can endanger an individuals life.
Management- practicing self control and awareness so individuals make appropriation decisions

2- the tendency to seek acceptance from others to try and avoid rejection
Therefore, individuals fail to speak out and social norms change which allows the bystander effect to occur.