Sociocultural Flashcards
Explain Social Identity Theory with reference to one study.
Def - Based on the assumption that we have both an individual and a social self. Self esteem comes from membership in social groups.
Tajfel argued three steps:
Categorisation = individual considers self a member of a group
Social identification = person conforms to behaviours and values of a group.
Self esteem = Seeing the traits of in-group positively and out-group negatively raises self esteem.
Social Identity Theory also argues that one’s group membership is made salient (important), it has an effect on behaviour
(Key terms = Social categorisation, social identification, social comparison, in-group/out-group, in-group bias)
social groups =
Levine et al:
AIM = determine if one’s identity as a team fan would influence helping behaviour
METHOD = field experiment. 45 self identified man united fans
PROCEDURE = told location of study had been changed and that they had to walk across campus to a new room. Along the way, a confederate wearing either a manchester, a liverpool or plain shirt fell and cried out in pain.
FINDINGS = social identity played a role in where they helped. They were more likely to help the Man United fan than either the Liverpool fan or plain shirt.
CONCLUSION = demonstrates in-group favouritism
Explain social cognitive theory with reference to one study.
Social cognitive theory-Emphasizes the learning that occurs within a social context. In this view, people are active agents who can both influence and are influenced by their environment.
- Social cognitive theory views people as active agents who can both influence and are influenced by their environment.
-If the behavior is rewarded (positive or negative reinforcement), we are likely to imitate it; however, if the behavior is punished, imitation is less likely.
-Social cognitive theory has been used to explain a wide range of human behavior, ranging from positive to negative social behaviors such as aggression, substance abuse, and mental health problems.
Bandura
Aim- Investigate whether aggression can be learned simply by observing others.
Procedure - This experiment was performed on three groups of UK nursery children. The children were rated according to how aggressive they tended to be, and each group was matched to have the same average aggression rating.
The children in group 1 observed an adult behave aggressively towards a “Bobo doll” - for instance, kicking, hitting and using objects to smash the doll.
The children in group 2 observed an adult assemble toys, and group 3 was the control group (they did not observe an adult model).
Afterwards, the children were taken into a room (one at a time) with a bobo doll and their behavior was observed.
Findings-Children in group 1 (who had seen the aggressive model) were more likely to behave aggressively towards the bobo doll, imitating the adult model they had observed
-Boys were more likely to be aggressive towards the Bobo doll if the adult model they observed was male, rather than female.
Conclusion- -This study supports social cognitive theory, in the sense that behavior can be learned simply observing and imitating others.
This study supports the prediction of social cognitive theory that behavior will be imitated when there is identification with the model - and that’s why boys were more likely to imitate aggression when the model was male.
Explain one theory of the formation of stereotypes with reference to one study.
Stereotype- in psychology, a fixed, oversimplified, and often biased belief about a group of people. Stereotypes are typically rationally unsupported generalizations, and, once a person becomes accustomed to stereotypical thinking, he or she may not be able to see individuals for who they are.
Hamilton and Gifford:
AIM: wanted to see if knowing that a group was a minority would affect stereotyping.
PROCEDURE: The researchers showed a group of American university students a series of slides. Each slide had a positive or negative behavior for a member of group A or B. There were twice as many comments for A than B, but the proportion of good to bad behaviors was the same.
RESULTS: When the participants were asked to rate the traits of each group, they said that A was more positive. They also recalled more negative traits for Group B than for Group A.
CONCLUSION: The researchers argued that since the group is smaller, negative behaviors are more distinctive – and we assume that this characteristic of the group.
Explain one study of the effects of stereotyping on behaviour.
Stereotype- in psychology, a fixed, oversimplified, and often biased belief about a group of people. Stereotypes are typically rationally unsupported generalizations, and, once a person becomes accustomed to stereotypical thinking, he or she may not be able to see individuals for who they are.
Hamilton and Gifford:
AIM: wanted to see if knowing that a group was a minority would affect stereotyping.
PROCEDURE: The researchers showed a group of American university students a series of slides. Each slide had a positive or negative behavior for a member of group A or B. There were twice as many comments for A than B, but the proportion of good to bad behaviors was the same.
RESULTS: When the participants were asked to rate the traits of each group, they said that A was more positive. They also recalled more negative traits for Group B than for Group A.
CONCLUSION: The researchers argued that since the group is smaller, negative behaviors are more distinctive – and we assume that this characteristic of the group.
Explain one cultural dimension with reference to one study.
Cultural dimensions summarize the extent to which cultural groups are found empirically to differ from one another in terms of psychological attributes such as values, beliefs, self- construals, personality, and behaviors
Individualism vs collectivism
BERRY
AIM: to investigate whether there is a difference in the degree of conformity between the Temne people of Sierra Leone and Baffin Island Inuit (Eskimo).
PROCEDURE: participants were shown a paper with 9 different lines
the line at the top was a standard line and the task was to identify the line out of the other eight that was equal in length to the standard line
on one sheet, the difference between the eight lines was 1 millimeter; on another it was 2 mm and on a third it was 3 mm.
one of the eight lines had an X next to it. participants were informed that most people had identified that line as the one of equal length to the standard line
in fact, none of the lines with an X next to it were the correct answers.
the conformity score for each participant was the number of lines away from the correct one they identified as the one equal to the standard line
RESULTS: The average conformity score for the Inuit was much lower then the Scottish sample.
CONCLUSION: Different results for the Temne and Eskimo (Inuit) people are due to the different degree of conformity required by the contrasting social and environmental conditions of their cultures.
these findings support Hofstede’s belief that the degree of individualism of a group will affect the group member behavior (conformity)
Explain one study of the Enculturation of one behaviour.
Enculturation - Enculturation refers to the process through which we learn about the culture we live in. Through enculturation, we learn what behaviors, values, language, and morals are acceptable in our society. We learn by observing other members of our society, including our parents, friends, teachers, and mentors.
GENDER ROLES - We learn gender roles through primary socialisation ( parents teachers etc)
FAGOT
AIM: observing parents reactions to behaviour that wasn’t deemed appropriate for the child’s gender.
PROCEDURE: Toddlers and there parents were observed in their homes using an observational checklist.
RESULTS: parens reacted significantly more favourably to the child when the child was engaged in gender appropriate behaviour and negative behaviour responses to inappropriate gender behaviour.
CONCLUSION: Parents reacted significantly more favorably to the child when the child was engaged in same-sex preferred behavior;
Explain one study of Acculturation.
Acculturation is the dual process of cultural and psychological change that takes place as a result of contact between two or more cultural groups and their individual members.
Lueck & Wilson
AIM: Investigate the factors that can affect acculturation stress in Asian immigrants to America
PROCEDURE: - The sample of this study was around 2,000 Asian-Americans. Around half of the sample were born in Asia and had immigrated to America, while the other half were the children of immigrants. A variety of Asian cultures were represented (including Chinese, Vietnamese, and others). The interviewers had a similar cultural background to the participants, and could speak their native language.
-The participants were interviewed about their acculturation experiences. The interviews were semi-structured, meaning that all participants were asked a number of prepared, standard questions, while additional follow-up questions could also be asked later.
RESULTS; Around 70% of participants reported feelings of acculturation stress.
-Experiences of discrimination, prejudice or stereotyping significantly increased acculturation stress.
-Participants who shared similar values with their family had lower acculturation stress, perhaps because of less family conflict over different cultural values
CONCLUSION: -Acculturation stress is very common amongst immigrants. Language proficiency, family cohesion, economic opportunities, and prejudice are all factors that affect acculturation stress
Explain one study of assimilation.
Assimilation is the process of adopting the cultural and social norms of the dominant culture over their original culture. Separation occurs when individuals reject the dominant or host culture in favor of preserving their culture of origin.
Assimilation often leads to acculturative stress which can have a negative effect on mental health.
BERRY
Aim: to investigate whether there is a difference in the degree of conformity between the Temne people of Sierra Leone and Baffin Island Inuit (Eskimo).
Procedure: participants were shown a paper with 9 different lines
the line at the top was a standard line and the task was to identify the line out of the other eight that was equal in length to the standard line
on one sheet, the difference between the eight lines was 1 millimeter; on another it was 2 mm and on a third it was 3 mm.
one of the eight lines had an X next to it. participants were informed that most people had identified that line as the one of equal length to the standard line
in fact, none of the lines with an X next to it were the correct answers.
the conformity score for each participant was the number of lines away from the correct one they identified as the one equal to the standard line
Results:
The average conformity score for the Inuit was much lower then the Scottish sample.
Conclusion: Different results for the Temne and Eskimo (Inuit) people are due to the different degree of conformity required by the contrasting social and environmental conditions of their cultures.
these findings support Hofstede’s belief that the degree of individualism of a group will affect the group member behavior (conformity)
