The study used a staged event, which may not be generalizable to real-life situations.
Social Approach
Psychology Notes
A Level/AS Level/O Level
Social Approach
Social Psychology: Unpacking the Power of the Group
Imagine you're walking down the street and see a group of people staring intently at something. You're curious, so you join them. Social psychology explores how situations like this – where our behavior is influenced by other people – shape our thoughts, feelings, and actions.
Social Influence: The Unseen Hand
Think about the clothes you wear, the music you listen to, or the opinions you hold. These are all likely influenced by the people around you. Social influence refers to how our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are shaped by the real (or imagined) presence of others.
2.1. Conformity: The Power of the Group
Ever felt pressured to wear a certain outfit or agree with your friends, even if you didn't really want to? That's conformity.
-The Asch Experiment: A classic experiment showed how people conform to group pressure, even when they know the group is wrong. Participants were shown a line and asked to match it to one of three other lines. The catch? Everyone else in the group (who were actually actors) gave the wrong answer. Over 75% of participants conformed at least once.
-Real-World Examples: Think about fashion trends, peer pressure to smoke or drink, or even just how you might behave at a party based on what others are doing.
2.2. Obedience: Following Orders
-The Milgram Experiment: This experiment, conducted in the 1960s, explored how far people would go when instructed by an authority figure. Participants were told to deliver electric shocks to "learners" who answered questions incorrectly. The shocks were not real, but many participants obeyed the experimenter even when the "learner" cried out in pain.
-Real-World Examples: The Milgram experiment shed light on how obedience to authority can lead to horrific consequences. From following traffic rules to obeying the law, many aspects of our daily life involve obedience.
2.3. Groupthink: When Harmony Becomes Harmful
Imagine a group of friends deciding on a movie to watch. Instead of considering diverse options, everyone agrees on the same movie just to avoid conflict. This is an example of groupthink.
-Characteristics of Groupthink: A sense of invulnerability (we can't go wrong) Rationalization (ignoring evidence that contradicts the group) Pressure on dissenters (silencing anyone who disagrees) Stereotyped views of opponents (seeing them as weak or evil)
-Real-World Examples: This phenomenon can lead to disastrous decisions in organizations, governments, and even families. Think about the disastrous decisions leading to the Bay of Pigs invasion or the Challenger space shuttle disaster, which were both linked to groupthink.
3. Social Cognition: Making Sense of the World
Social cognition is the way we think about ourselves and other people, including how we interpret information and make judgments.
-Attributions: We try to understand why people behave the way they do by attributing their behavior to either internal factors (their personality or disposition) or external factors (the situation).
-Fundamental Attribution Error: We tend to overestimate the role of personality and underestimate the role of the situation when explaining other people's actions. For example, if someone cuts you off in traffic, you might assume they are a bad driver, when in fact they could be rushing to the hospital.
-Self-Serving Bias: We tend to take credit for our successes but blame our failures on external factors. This protects our self-esteem but can also lead to unrealistic views of ourselves.
4. Attitudes and Behavior: What We Believe and How We Act
Attitudes are our feelings, beliefs, and predispositions toward a person, object, or idea.
-Cognitive Dissonance: We strive for consistency between our attitudes and our behavior. When there's a mismatch, we experience cognitive dissonance, which can be uncomfortable. We may then change our attitude to align with our behavior or vice versa.
-Real-World Example: Imagine you believe in environmental protection, but you often forget to recycle. This inconsistency could lead to feeling uncomfortable, so you might change your behavior (start recycling) or rationalize your inaction (telling yourself it doesn't really matter that much).
5. Social Psychology and You
Understanding social psychology can help us navigate complex social situations, build stronger relationships, and make better decisions. It reminds us that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are shaped by the social world around us.
6. The Study Used a Staged Event, Which May Not Be Generalizable To Real-Life Situations
This is a valid criticism of some social psychology research. Staged events (also called "experiments") can be useful for controlling variables and isolating specific social influences. However, they may not always accurately reflect real-life situations.
To address this concern, researchers often: Conduct field studies where they observe behavior in natural settings. Use multiple methodologies to gather data from different sources and perspectives. -Replicate their findings with different samples and situations to increase the generalizability of their results.
Bonus Notes
Psychology Essay Questions: Briefly Answered
1. Limitations of Staged Events:
Staged events in social psychological research face two key limitations:
⭐Artificiality: The contrived nature of the situation can lead to behavior that doesn't reflect real-world scenarios. Participants may act differently in a staged environment than they would in a natural setting.
⭐Demand Characteristics: Participants might pick up cues about the study's purpose and alter their behavior to fit the perceived expectations of the researchers. This can bias results and make them less generalizable.
2. Social Approach and Helping Behaviour:
The social approach emphasizes the influence of the social situation on behavior. It helps us understand why people act differently in various contexts. For example, bystander apathy, a phenomenon explained by the social approach, highlights how the presence of others can influence an individual's decision to help in an emergency.
3. Social Norms and Expectations:
Social norms and expectations play a crucial role in shaping our behavior. They provide guidelines for appropriate behavior within specific social situations. We conform to these norms to avoid social disapproval or gain acceptance. For instance, we follow dress codes in formal settings or refrain from interrupting during conversations.
4. Strengths and Weaknesses of Experimental Methods:
Strengths:
⭐Control: Experimental methods allow for controlled manipulation of variables, enabling researchers to isolate the effect of one variable on another.
⭐Cause-and-effect: By establishing a cause-and-effect relationship, experiments provide strong evidence for the existence of a phenomenon.
Weaknesses:
⭐Artificiality: Artificial situations might not fully reflect real-world complexities.
⭐Ethical concerns: Some experimental manipulations can raise ethical concerns regarding potential harm to participants.
5. Ethical Implications of Staged Events:
Using staged events in social psychological research raises ethical concerns:
⭐Informed consent: Participants should be fully informed about the nature of the study, including the staged aspects, before agreeing to participate.
⭐Psychological harm: Staged events, especially those involving deception, can potentially cause psychological distress to participants. Researchers must carefully assess the potential risks and take necessary precautions to minimize harm.
These brief answers provide a starting point for tackling these essay questions. Remember to expand on these points and provide specific examples to illustrate your arguments.