Socio-Cultural Studies Flashcards
Sociocultural - behavior based on cultural norms and the influence of other people and the environment.
Assumptions:
- Culture influences behavior
- humans are social animals and have a basic need to “belong”
- our behavior is influenced by others even tho we like to think we act independently.
Conformity- is a change in behavior as a result of real or imagined group pressure or norms. This is because an our basic human trait, comparison. We use this to validate ourselves.
Informational social influence- the need for certainty when we are in ambiguous situations.
Normative social influence- the need for social acceptance and approval. We conform to be accepted.
Pluralistic ignorance- doing nothing because other people are doing nothing.
Asch:
Aim- to test true power of normative social influence on one’s likelihood to conform in an unambiguous but incorrect tasks.
Procedure- 50 male students from the U.S. They were told they were taking part in a vision test. He used a native participants and six confederates. He presented them with a card with a line. And then asked them to point out of the matching one on an other card. On different trials confederates were instructed to give the wrong answer. Native participants always went second to last.
Results- 75% of the participants conformed at least once and 25% conformed never. In control condition less then 1% gave the wrong response. After they interviewed some participants asking why they chose wrong answer.
Social Identity Theory(SIT): Tajfel and Turner
- an individuals self-concept derived from perceived membership of social groups. What we think defines us as a group.
- We use terms like “We” and “them” to identify which groups we belong to
and what groups we don’t.
- we then adapt the norms of the group.
- after we engage in social comparison which justifies our group membership.
- positive comparison for our in-group and negative for the out-groups.
Cialdini et al: College sweatshirt
Aim- to investigate the tendency to associate one’s self publicly with successful others. (BIRG)
Procedure- U.S prestigious football school, field study, observer students clothing on a Monday following a big football game.
Results- students tended to wear merch more when the team won compared to when they lost.
Procedure- Researchers called students and interview them about the performance of the football team.
Results- people tended to use “we” when team won and “they” when team lost.
Social Identity Theory(SIT): Tajfel and Turner
- an individuals self-concept derived from perceived membership of social groups. What we think defines us as a group.
- We use terms like “We” and “them” to identify which groups we belong to
and what groups we don’t.
- we then adapt the norms of the group.
- after we engage in social comparison which justifies our group membership.
- positive comparison for our in-group and negative for the out-groups.
Sherif: Robbers Cave
Aim- to study informal groups and observe the natural and spontaneous development of group organizations, attitudes, and group norms.
Procedure- 22 boys all around 11 with similar backgrounds (white, middle class, Protestant) were allocated to 2 groups. They organized summer camp in Oklahoma. The Eagles and Rattlers were separate till they were introduced. Researchers brought in tasks to cause them to compete.
Results- in-group favorable teams, out-group unfavorable terms, when there is the same ordinates goals= no intergroup hostility.
Social Cognitive Theory: Albert Bandura
- suggests that behavior is learned from the environment through the processes of modeling and reinforcement. Models behavior must be consistent, respected by observer, observers perceives themselves similar to model.
Enculturation- the process of how we adopt the behaviors that are the norm for our culture.
Charlton- St. Helena’s
Background- television was introduced in a remote community/island.
Aim- to investigate whether children in St. Helena would exhibit more aggressive behavior after the introduction of television to the island.
Procedure-NATURAL EXPERIMENT, young children were observed before and after the introduction of television through cameras set up at a playground. Television matched level of aggression to what children in the UK are exposed to.
Results- no increase in aggressive behavior and antisocial behavior
Social Cognitive Theory: Albert Bandura
- suggests that behavior is learned from the environment through the processes of modeling and reinforcement. Models behavior must be consistent, respected by observer, observers perceives themselves similar to model.
Enculturation- the process of how we adopt the behaviors that are the norm for our culture.
Bandura: Bobo Doll
Aim- demonstrate if children are witnesses to an aggressive display by an adult, they will imitate them.
Procedure: 36 boys and girls each, average age 4, 3 groups exposed to either aggressive model, passive mode, or control group. Then model was either aggressive to bobo doll or non aggressive. 10 mins later child went to own game room.
Results- aggressive model= aggressive child behavior, boys more aggressive, more likely to follow same sex model.
Stereotypes: Shih et al
- widely held, over simplified belief of characteristics of a group. Can be negative or positive.
- Prejudice, discrimination, and categorization when it comes to stereotypes.
Stereotypes threat- the risk of confirming negative stereotypes about an individuals race, gender, ethics that hurt them.
Shih et al:
Aim- investigate how negative stereotypes about your group can hurt performance(stereotype threat) while positive stereotypes can improve performance.
Procedure- 46 Asian American women studying in an elite American university, allocated to 3 groups.
Group 1= questionnaire reminding them of their identities as females.
Group 2= questionnaire that reminded them of their Asian identity.
Group 3= control group
After participants were given a math test.
Results-Participants reminded of gender performed significantly worse.
Reminded of race made a better performance.
Cultural Dimensions: Hofsteade- a dynamic system of rules established by groups in order to ensure their survival, attitudes, values, norms, and behavior. Power distance, collectivism vs individualism, uncertainty avoidance, femininity vs masculinity, short term vs long term orientation.
Created to explain how businesses across the country value, study IBM sectors at over.
Chen:
Aim- investigate how long term or short term orientation affects decision-making.
Procedure- participants were bicultural Singaporean-Americans who have been exposed to both cultures. They were randomly assigned to have one of their cultures primed by a photo. Then they were instructed to order a book online and had to option for shipping. 1. Free(slow delivery) 2. Fee(quicker delivery)
Results- participants primed with American culture were more likely to pay and those primed with Singaporean culture were more likely to put free shipping.
Enculturation - the process of how we developed the behaviors that are the norm of our/new culture.
Fagot: enculturation of gender
Aim- observe the role that parents may play in gender-role development.
Procedure- sample of 24 families with parents together, varied incomes. Observers had checklist of behaviors. 5, 60 min observations over 5 weeks. Child’s behavior every 60 seconds and parents reaction. Then parents asked to rate behavior with appropriate gender.
Results- parents acted significantly more favorable to the child who was engaged in same sex preferred behaviors and negative to cross-sex behaviors parents weren’t aware of socializing methods.
Acculturation(assimilation) process by which groups and individuals adjusts their cultural values/beliefs and behavioral patterns to a different culture.
Torres: Acculturative stress
Aim- observe how the acculturation strategy used by people adapting to new cultures can affect behavior.
Procedure- survey more then 600 Latinos from ranging countries, 50% born outside US, complete questionnaire to measure their acculturative stress, mental health, percieved discrimination.
Results- positive correlation between discrimination and acculturative stress. Participants more integrated had lower levels of acculturative stress.
Acculturation(assimilation) process by which groups and individuals adjusts their cultural values/beliefs and behavioral patterns to a different culture.
Nap:
Aim- observe how much different cultures affect how acculturated they are. Observe correlation between social integration and mental health.
Procedure- surveys 5000 Moroccan, Surinamese and Turkish immigrants have hi moved to Netherlands and were seeking treatment in mental health facilities.
Results- not all cultures integrate the same. Surinamese had higher integration and Turkish had least.
Those who are more integrated had less mental health issues.
