Strengths: The study used a controlled experiment, allowing researchers to manipulate the independent variable (authority figure) and measure the effect on the dependent variable (obedience).
Social Approach
Psychology Notes
A Level/AS Level/O Level
Social Approach
Understanding the Social Approach in Psychology
The social approach in psychology explores how our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the people around us. It's like studying a group dance, where each individual's movements are affected by the others, and the whole dance is something more than just the sum of individual steps.
Key Aspects of the Social Approach
Here are some key aspects of the social approach:
1. Social Influence
This explores how our behavior is affected by the presence of others.
- Conformity: This is when we change our behavior to match the group, even if we disagree with them. Think about a teenager dressing like their friends to fit in.
- Obedience: This is when we follow the instructions of an authority figure, even if they go against our own beliefs. Imagine a soldier following a command even if they don't agree with it.
- Social Norms: These are the unspoken rules of behavior that guide our actions in different social settings. For example, we don't usually talk loudly in a library.
2. Social Cognition
This is how we think about ourselves and others, and how we process social information.
- Attributions: These are the explanations we make for events and people's behavior. For example, if someone cuts you off in traffic, you might attribute it to their bad driving or to a stressful situation.
- Stereotypes: These are simplified, often inaccurate, beliefs about entire groups of people. Stereotypes can be dangerous because they can lead to prejudice and discrimination.
3. Social Interaction
This focuses on how we relate to each other, including:
- Group Dynamics: This is how groups function and how individual behavior changes within a group. Think about how your behavior might be different in a small group of friends versus a large crowd.
- Relationships: This is the study of how we form and maintain relationships with others. Imagine how your relationship with a parent differs from your relationship with a friend.
Strengths of the Social Approach
- Practical Applications: The social approach provides valuable insights into real-world social issues like prejudice, discrimination, and conformity.
- Real-World Relevance: It helps us understand how social factors influence our lives, from our personal relationships to our political beliefs.
- Empirically Supported: Many social psychology studies are conducted using rigorous research methods, providing strong evidence for its findings.
Example: The Milgram Experiment
The Milgram experiment is a classic example of the social approach's impact. It demonstrated how obedience to authority can override personal morality. Participants were instructed to administer electric shocks to a "learner" (actually an actor) for giving incorrect answers. The experiment showed that a surprising number of people obeyed the experimenter's orders, even when they believed they were harming the learner. This study highlights the power of social influence and the importance of understanding the ethical implications of obedience.
Conclusion
The social approach in psychology offers a fascinating lens through which to understand human behavior. It explores the intricate ways in which our thoughts, feelings, and actions are shaped by the social world around us. By understanding social influence, cognition, and interaction, we can gain valuable insights into ourselves and our relationships with others.
Bonus Notes
Social Approach to Obedience Research: Essay Answers
1. Strengths and Limitations of Social Approach
Strengths:
⭐High ecological validity: Milgram's experiment, despite being conducted in a lab, simulated real-world situations like Nazi Germany, making the findings relevant to real-life obedience.
⭐Revealed powerful influence of authority: The experiment demonstrated how readily people obey authority figures, even when asked to perform immoral acts.
⭐Stimulated further research: Milgram's work prompted a wave of research into the factors influencing obedience, leading to a deeper understanding of the phenomenon.
Limitations:
⭐Ethical concerns: The experiment involved causing significant psychological distress to participants, raising questions about the ethics of such research.
⭐Generalizability: The findings may not generalize to all populations or contexts, as the study used a specific sample and setting.
⭐Lack of control over variables: While the experiment aimed to isolate the influence of authority, other factors like personality traits may have played a role, limiting definitive conclusions.
2. Role of Authority in Shaping Behaviour
The social approach, particularly Milgram's work, highlights the potent influence of authority on behaviour. Authority figures can exert significant pressure on individuals to conform, even when their requests are morally questionable. This stems from societal norms and the perceived legitimacy of authority, leading individuals to defer judgment and follow orders.
3. Situational Factors and Obedience
Situational factors like authority and group pressure profoundly influence obedience.
⭐Authority: As seen in Milgram's experiment, the presence of a legitimate authority figure significantly increases obedience, even in the face of potential harm.
⭐Group Pressure: Studies like Asch's conformity experiments show how individuals conform to group norms even when their own judgments differ, demonstrating the power of social influence.
These findings emphasize the importance of the social context in shaping obedience.
4. Ethical Implications of Obedience Research
Social approach obedience research raises significant ethical concerns:
Benefits:
⭐Understanding obedience: Such research provides valuable insights into the nature and causes of obedience, informing future interventions to mitigate harmful obedience.
⭐Real-world applications: Findings can be applied to understand and address real-world issues like social conformity and blind obedience to authority.
Risks:
⭐Psychological harm: Subjects may experience stress, anxiety, and guilt due to the nature of the experiments.
⭐Deception: Often, studies involve deception, raising ethical concerns about informed consent and the potential for long-term negative consequences for participants.
⭐Power dynamics: The research itself can reinforce power differentials, with researchers potentially manipulating subjects' behaviour.
5. Contributions to Understanding Human Nature and Behaviour
Social approach research on obedience has significantly contributed to our understanding of human nature and behaviour:
⭐Revealed the power of the situation: Obedience experiments demonstrate how situational factors can override personal values and influence behaviour.
⭐Challenged the "evil" individual explanation: Research suggests that even ordinary individuals can be capable of committing atrocities when influenced by social pressures and authority.
⭐Promoted awareness of social influences: The findings raise awareness of the impact of social forces on individual choices and actions, urging individuals to critically evaluate their own behaviour within a social context.
Conclusion: Social approach research on obedience, exemplified by Milgram's experiment, has significantly advanced our understanding of human behaviour. While it presents ethical challenges, its contributions to understanding the dynamics of authority, social pressure, and human nature are invaluable.