social sensitivity

Question 1

What is social sensitivity?

Answer 1

when results of a study negatively impact a group within wider society causing stigmas and sometimes self fulfilling prophecy

Question 2

What is a self fulfilling prophecy?

Answer 2

when people act up to labels and stigmas e.g., being labelled stupid and then acting stupid

Question 3

What are the factors that are most likely to result in social sensitivity?

Answer 3

• culture
• religion
• age
• target population

Question 4

What are the implications of social sensitivity?

Answer 4

• difficult situations need to be tested to avoid future conflict e.g., Milgram on the obedience in Nazi Germany - to avoid this happening in the future

Question 5

What are the practical applications of social sensitivity?

Answer 5

• beneficial e.g., Loftus and Palmer bringing attention to unreliability of eye witness testimony which improved legal systems and police practices
• NOT worth the risk e.g., Freud causing stigmas

Question 6

What areas of psychology deem the risk of social sensitivity worth it?

Answer 6

• cognitive area
• biological area

Question 7

What areas of psychology deem the risk of social sensitivity NOT worth it?

Answer 7

• individual differences
• social area
• psychodynamic perspective

Question 8

What areas of psychology are on the fence of whether unethical research is or is not worth it?

Answer 8

• developmental approach
• behaviourist perspective

Question 9

What are the weaknesses of social sensitivity?

Answer 9

• ethical issues e.g., protection from harm violated = leading to labelling and stigma
• misuse of findings can lead to extreme social behaviour

Question 10

What are the strengths of social sensitivity?

Answer 10

• useful practical applications
• objectively positive - gain better understanding of social issues leading to more acceptance