theory, method and the critical turn

Question 1

What are the 4 key theoretical influences in social psychology

Answer 1

1) neo- behaviourism
2) cognitive psychology
3) social neuroscience
4) evolutionary psychology

Question 2

Explain neo behaviourism

Answer 2

• looks at the importance of reinforcement in social behaviour.
• for example Bandura (1963) modelling theory where children model behaviour particularly if rewarded.
• Cottrell 1972: we learn rewards and punishments are based off others’ evaluations of us creating a drive to perform.

Question 3

Explain cognitive psychology

Answer 3

• How thinking impacts our social behaviour
• The fundamental attribution error
• Social cognition, where we may attach negative attributes to others to boost self-esteem

Question 4

Social neuroscience

Answer 4

• Looks at the role of neurophysiology in social behaviour
• Raine et al 1998: 3 groups, impulsive murderers, predatory murderers and non violent control group. Murderers had more aggression and impulsive ones were unable to regulate due to deficient prefrontal regulation.

Question 5

Evolutionary psychology

Answer 5

• Looks as how social behaviours evolve and adapt in order to survive.
• Smith et al (2017) looks at how story telling has evolved and those who were the best storytellers were most liked.

Question 6

Explain Ontological realism and epistemological positivism

Answer 6

Ontological realism: there is an objective reality independent of human interference
Epistemological positivism: this objective is known about through quantitative methods.

Research findings can be generalised and applied to the entire target population/

Question 7

Explain ontological relativism and epistemological interpretivism.

Answer 7

• Ontological relativism: reality is socially constructed through human culture and language therefore it varies between people
• Epistemological interpretivism: the objective reality is known through qualitative methods and asking people about the realities and analysing what they say, do or create.

Question 8

What are the principles of the scientific method and explain

Answer 8

1- Universality: there are generalised laws or expectations which govern human behaviour which can be applied to the entire target population.
2- Individualisation: people function differently to meet their own needs.
3- Objectivity: research is to be obtained using scientific methods and the researchers should show no bias or subjectivity.

Question 9

What is critical realism

Answer 9

• The understanding that there is an objective reality (ontological realism) however it cannot be directly observed without human interference and so we learn about it through epistemological interpretivism

Question 10

What is the difference between discursive and experiential approaches to qualitative research

Answer 10

Discursive studies way of talking where as experiential asks participants to describe experiences