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10 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back

Outline one key assumption of the social approach to psychology (2)



This is asking us HOW social psychologists explain human behaviour.



The social approach focuses on how the social environment we are in affects our behaviour as humans

Describe how the social approach could explain a behaviours - obedience OR bystander behaviour OR tyranny (4)



This is asking you to use the theories that you have learnt to explain the social behaviour you need to make reference to the core studies.

Obedience:


The social approach can be explained in terms of obedience. The idea that from a young age we have been socialised by our parents and teachers is demonstrated in Milgram's study of obedience. The study showed exactly how far people would obey an authority figure in an extreme situation.

Bystander Behaviour:


The social approach can be explained in terms of bystander behaviour. If a person is to fall down in public place around lots of people for a specific reason the idea of diffusion of responsibility should be demonstrated. However in Piliavin's study the diffusion of responsibility was not shown, showing that its mind over the situation.

Tyranny:


The social approach can be explained in terms of tyranny. The idea of how group processes affect individuals behaviour is demonstrated in Reicher and Haslam's study of tyranny. It showed how the power that comes from a certain label or group can affect someone's behaviour in a social situation and helps display a side of the social approach.



Describe one similarity and one difference between two of the social approach studies (6)





This requires you to provide 2 points for comparison between 2 studies within the approach.



Follow - Point - Example - Example

Reicher and Haslam and Milgram (similarity)


P - Both of these studies used an observational method to gather data.


E - Milgram's Study used covert observation via a one way mirror. It also used observation from the experimenter in the room with the participant.


E - Reicher and Haslam also used overt observation via 24/7 CCTV footage.

Reicher and Haslam and Milgram (difference)


P - Each study used participants from different countries.


E - Milgram's participants were from New Haven area in USA and consisted of 40 males.


E - Reicher and Haslam on the other hand used 15 males from the UK with a range of occupations.

Piliavin and Milgram (similarity)


P - Both of these studies used an observational method to gather data.


E - Milgram's study used covert observation via a one way mirror. It also used observation from the experiments in the room with the participant.


E - Piliavin also used covert observation with observers present on the train carriage to see time taken for someone to intervene, whether the model needed to intervene or not, race of the participant, condition of the victim etc...

Piliavin and Milgram (difference)


P - Each study used a different sampling method to gather their participants.


E - Milgram used a self-select sampling method via advertisements in magazine for people to volunteer.


E - Piliavin on the other hand used an opportunity sample. This means he used the people that were on the train at the time that he was conducting his study. In this case the participants were unaware they were even part of a psychological study.


Reicher and Haslam and Piliavin (similarity)


P - Both studies used observation method to gather data.


E - Reicher and Haslam used overt observation via CCTV footage although aware it was easy for the participants to forget about the cameras.


E - Piliavin also used observation but in the form of covert as the bystanders were unaware of the observation by the female observers present in the train carriage.

Reicher and Haslam and Piliavin (difference)


P - Each study used a different sampling method to gather participants for their study.


E - Reicher and Haslam used a self-select sample via advertisements which asked for volunteers to take part in their study.


E - However Piliavin used an opportunity sample. This means he used the people that were on the train at the time that he was conducting his study. In this case the participants were unaware they were even part of a psychological study.

Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the social approach using examples from any social approach studies.



You need 4 PEE points - Point - Evidence - Explain

Example paragraph:


One strength of the social approach is supporting research studies often lead to positive interventions for groups or individuals in society. For example Reicher and Haslam identified lower levels of aggression could be encouraged in real prison settings by using CCTV in all areas this will make individuals more accountable and more visible for their actions. This is a strength of the social approach because it highlights the importance and usefulness of social studies and suggest research should be continued in this area.

Social Approach Section C question 4:


Strength - studies often take place in field settings, with naturally occurring conditions in real life situations


Example - Piliavin's study took place on the New York subway.


Ev. - This is a strength of the social approach because highlights the effect of natural environment on behaviour and gives high ecological validity, more reliable results because it can reproduced in the setting where people feel comfortable.

Weakness - nature of the studies often break ethical guidelines.


Example - in Milgram's study the participants were deceived about the nature of the task.


Ev. - This is a weakness of the social approach because highlights that ethical guidelines need to be broken to get real results and more reliability as f they weren't broken results would be low in validity and wouldn't contribute to usefulness of the work done by psychologist in wider society.




Strength - Look at example paragraph.

Weakness - lack historical validity and may not be useful now.


Example - Piliavin took place in 1960's - racism and sexism prime. So results found about the race of the victim or sex of the victim may have made a huge difference back then than it would possibly make now.


Ev. - results may be different now due to different historical values and may not apply now and means that research should be continues and repeated in modern day.