lOMoARcPSD|11700591
Social Area
Social psychology focuses on the study of human behaviour within a social context, such as with family, friends or
cultures. Social behaviour may involve activity within a group or between groups. Psychologists study the way people
interact which includes the influence people have on each other. It is important to remember that social influence can
be invisible, but that its effects are powerful.
1. Principles and Concepts:
1. The main influence on our behaviour, thought processes and emotions are the surrounding environment
and other people (family, friends, institutions and wider society)
2. It believes that our social context rather than individual characteristics changes and influences people’s
behaviour
3. Attempts to understand how the thoughts, feelings and behaviour of individuals are influenced by the actual,
imagined or implied presence of others
2. Research to Illustrate the Area:
Milgram (obedience) - Proves that people in the surrounding environment can influence someone’s behaviour which is
shown by the fact that although what they were being asked to do was wrong, they obeyed because of the authority
figure.
Bocchiaro (disobedience and whistleblowing) - This supports the principle that says it is your social context rather than
individual characteristics changes and influences people’s behaviour, which is shown by the level of those who
obeyed when they said they wouldn’t.
Piliavin (subway Samaritan) - Proves that people in the surrounding environment can influence someone’s behaviour
which is shown by the fact that people would help after they saw one person helping and the reasons for helping could
depend on who else was in the environment.
Levine (cross cultural altruism) - This follows more of the social context because results showed that more wealthier
countries were less helpful that simpatia companies
3. Strengths and Weaknesses of the Area:
Strengths Weaknesses
Useful applications Ethical issues
Detailed evidence Generalisability
Ethical Observer bias
Looks at influences rather than just behaviour Low everyday realism
High valid results Low ecological validity
Some research carried out in the lab Unrepresentative of target population
Some ecological validity (natural setting) Socially sensitive
One strength of the social approach is that it strongly supports the nurture side of the nature/nurture debate. Milgram’s
research into obedience demonstrated that the situation a person is in can influence a persons’ behaviour, and that if
there is an authority figure who looks professional then they are more likely to obey because they are afraid of the
consequences if they disobey. This is a strength because it enables us to understand which behaviours are affected
by the surrounding environment, and looking at the changes in the environment and how this affects behaviours
further.
Social Area
Social psychology focuses on the study of human behaviour within a social context, such as with family, friends or
cultures. Social behaviour may involve activity within a group or between groups. Psychologists study the way people
interact which includes the influence people have on each other. It is important to remember that social influence can
be invisible, but that its effects are powerful.
1. Principles and Concepts:
1. The main influence on our behaviour, thought processes and emotions are the surrounding environment
and other people (family, friends, institutions and wider society)
2. It believes that our social context rather than individual characteristics changes and influences people’s
behaviour
3. Attempts to understand how the thoughts, feelings and behaviour of individuals are influenced by the actual,
imagined or implied presence of others
2. Research to Illustrate the Area:
Milgram (obedience) - Proves that people in the surrounding environment can influence someone’s behaviour which is
shown by the fact that although what they were being asked to do was wrong, they obeyed because of the authority
figure.
Bocchiaro (disobedience and whistleblowing) - This supports the principle that says it is your social context rather than
individual characteristics changes and influences people’s behaviour, which is shown by the level of those who
obeyed when they said they wouldn’t.
Piliavin (subway Samaritan) - Proves that people in the surrounding environment can influence someone’s behaviour
which is shown by the fact that people would help after they saw one person helping and the reasons for helping could
depend on who else was in the environment.
Levine (cross cultural altruism) - This follows more of the social context because results showed that more wealthier
countries were less helpful that simpatia companies
3. Strengths and Weaknesses of the Area:
Strengths Weaknesses
Useful applications Ethical issues
Detailed evidence Generalisability
Ethical Observer bias
Looks at influences rather than just behaviour Low everyday realism
High valid results Low ecological validity
Some research carried out in the lab Unrepresentative of target population
Some ecological validity (natural setting) Socially sensitive
One strength of the social approach is that it strongly supports the nurture side of the nature/nurture debate. Milgram’s
research into obedience demonstrated that the situation a person is in can influence a persons’ behaviour, and that if
there is an authority figure who looks professional then they are more likely to obey because they are afraid of the
consequences if they disobey. This is a strength because it enables us to understand which behaviours are affected
by the surrounding environment, and looking at the changes in the environment and how this affects behaviours
further.
