SOCIAL APPROACH ASSUMPTIONS STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES ASSUMPTIONS OF THE

SOCIAL APPROACH ASSUMPTIONS STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES

ASSUMPTIONS OF THE SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACH �All BEHAVIOUR occurs in a SOCIAL CONTEXT – even if a person is alone!

SOCIAL CONTEXT �Milgram – obedience occurs in what social context? �The presence of an authority figure �Piliavin et al. – helping behaviour occurs in what social context? �The presence of a person who appears ill or a person who appears drunk who needs help �Reicher & Haslam – tyranny occurs in what social context? �When groups break down

ASSUMPTIONS OF THE SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACH Other people and society are a major influence on people’s behaviour, thought processes and emotions

OTHER PEOPLE Milgram Piliavin et al. Reicher and Haslam

� An individual’s behaviour can be affected by others and others’ behaviour can be affected by individuals

� ALL BEHAVIOUR HAPPENS IN A SOCIAL CONTEXT � OTHER PEOPLE, SOCIETY AND CULTURE CAN INFLUENCE OTHERS’ BEHAVIOUR, THOUGHTS AND EMOTIONS � INDIVIDUAL’S BEHAVIOUR IS AFFECTED BY OTHERS AND OTHERS CAN AFFECT INDIVIDUALS

STRENGTHS OF THE SOCIAL PSCYHOLOGICAL APPROACH � � Social influences often have a stronger effect than disposition Can provide explanations for behaviour Useful in explaining obedience, helping behaviour and how tyranny develops Scientific methods can be used to conduct

WEAKNESS OF THE SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACH Can underestimate individual differences in behaviour � Ignores development of behaviour over time � Samples often not representative � Studies can lack ecological validity �

SOCIAL INFLUENCES HAVE A STRONG EFFECT UPON PEOPLE’S BEHAVIOUR – CAN BE STRONGER THAN DISPOSITIONAL

THE APPROACH HAS PROVIDED EXPLANATIONS FOR A GREAT MANY PHENOMENA

THE APPROACH HAS HAD MANY USEFUL PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS IN A WIDE RANGE OF AREAS

EVIDENCE HAS BEEN PROVIDED FOR CONCEPTS AND THEORIES USING A WIDE RANGE OF METHODS – OFTEN USING EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY

UNDERESTIMATES INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES THAT COME INTO SOCIAL SITUATIONS

SAMPLES USED IN SOCIAL APPROACH RESEARCH ARE OFTEN NOT REPRESENTATIVE

RESEARCH CAN OFTEN LACK ECOLOGICAL VALIDITY

RESEARCH IS DIFFICULT TO CARRY OUT ETHICALLY

ONLY SNAPSHOT STUDIES – IGNORES DEVELOPMENT OVER TIME AND/OR IN A PARTICULAR CULTURE