Sociocultural Approach
Essential understandings
1. Our behaviour is influenced by others, even when we believe that we are acting independently
2. We have both an individual and a social identity which influences our behaviour
3. Behaviours are learned through our interaction and observation of others
4. Stereotypes affect behaviour
Overview
Topic Constructs Behaviour Supporting evidence
The individual & the group Social Identity theory Conformity Cialdini et al. (1976)
Social cognitive theory Communication Abrams et al. (1990)
Stereotypes Stereotype threat Bandura (1961)
Darley & Gross (1983)
Steele & Aronson (1995)
Cultural origins of Cultural dimensions Conformity Hofstede (1973)
behaviour Individualism vs. Communication Berry (1967)
Collectivism Smith & Bond (1998)
Cultural influences on Enculturation Children's prosocial Whiting & Whiting (1975)
individual behaviour Childrearing practices behaviour Berry (2008)
Acculturation Acculturative stress Steele & Aronson (1995)
Acculturation strategies Third Culture Kid Lueck & Wilson (2010)
Acculturative stress Moore & Barker (2011)
Key
> optional research studies
highlight key terms – must know their definitions
Compiled by @oatsnwaffles
, The individual & the group
Social Identity Theory (Tajfel & Turner, 1979)
A theory that aims to explain why conflict & discrimination occur
✩ Posits that a person’s sense of self is based on their membership of social groups
● This can lead to discrimination & intergroup conflicts in extreme situations
Social Categorization
● The cognitive process of categorising people into ingroups – which an individual belongs to (us) &
outgroups – the individual does not belong to (them)
○ reduces perceived variability within the ingroup (we are the same)
○ reduces perceived variability in the outgroup (they are all the same)
○ increases perceived variability between the ingroup & the outgroup (we are different from them)
○ Triggers out-group discrimination (behaviour that creates disadvantages for the out-group) &
in-group favouritism (behaviour that is biased towards the benefits of the in-group)
● Social groups are formed as a result of social categorization
Social Identification
● Identifying oneself with a particular social group based on their ingroup norms
● Social identity is derived from one's membership to social groups
Social Comparison
● The process of comparing in-group members with out-group members
○ looking for benefits to be in the in-group which boosts self esteem
Positive Distinctiveness
● The motivation to show the superiority of one’s ingroup compared to an outgroup
○ ensures our social identities, and therefore our self-esteem, are positive enough
Cialdini et al. (1976)
Enhance our self-esteem by socially identifying with the more successful group
Aim To investigate the tendency to associate one’s self publicly with successful others, referred to
as “basking in reflected glory” (BIRG)
Participants Over 300 college students from 7 U.S. 170 undergraduates at a large state university
prestigious football universities with a powerful football team
Method Field experiment; covert observation Structured interview
Procedure observed students' apparel on a Monday called students & asked them to describe the
following a big football game outcome of 2 of their football teams' games
● one of the games constituted an important
victory & the other an important non-victory
Findings Students tended to wear more apparel Participants used the pronoun "we" twice as often
associating themselves with their own to describe a victory than a non-victory
university when the football team won
compared to when they lost
Conclusion ● Demonstrates that people seek a positive social identity & that their social identity is
affected by being a part of their group so that you are more positive towards anything that
your own group represents
● Membership to a social group affects the behaviour of an individual
Compiled by @oatsnwaffles
Essential understandings
1. Our behaviour is influenced by others, even when we believe that we are acting independently
2. We have both an individual and a social identity which influences our behaviour
3. Behaviours are learned through our interaction and observation of others
4. Stereotypes affect behaviour
Overview
Topic Constructs Behaviour Supporting evidence
The individual & the group Social Identity theory Conformity Cialdini et al. (1976)
Social cognitive theory Communication Abrams et al. (1990)
Stereotypes Stereotype threat Bandura (1961)
Darley & Gross (1983)
Steele & Aronson (1995)
Cultural origins of Cultural dimensions Conformity Hofstede (1973)
behaviour Individualism vs. Communication Berry (1967)
Collectivism Smith & Bond (1998)
Cultural influences on Enculturation Children's prosocial Whiting & Whiting (1975)
individual behaviour Childrearing practices behaviour Berry (2008)
Acculturation Acculturative stress Steele & Aronson (1995)
Acculturation strategies Third Culture Kid Lueck & Wilson (2010)
Acculturative stress Moore & Barker (2011)
Key
> optional research studies
highlight key terms – must know their definitions
Compiled by @oatsnwaffles
, The individual & the group
Social Identity Theory (Tajfel & Turner, 1979)
A theory that aims to explain why conflict & discrimination occur
✩ Posits that a person’s sense of self is based on their membership of social groups
● This can lead to discrimination & intergroup conflicts in extreme situations
Social Categorization
● The cognitive process of categorising people into ingroups – which an individual belongs to (us) &
outgroups – the individual does not belong to (them)
○ reduces perceived variability within the ingroup (we are the same)
○ reduces perceived variability in the outgroup (they are all the same)
○ increases perceived variability between the ingroup & the outgroup (we are different from them)
○ Triggers out-group discrimination (behaviour that creates disadvantages for the out-group) &
in-group favouritism (behaviour that is biased towards the benefits of the in-group)
● Social groups are formed as a result of social categorization
Social Identification
● Identifying oneself with a particular social group based on their ingroup norms
● Social identity is derived from one's membership to social groups
Social Comparison
● The process of comparing in-group members with out-group members
○ looking for benefits to be in the in-group which boosts self esteem
Positive Distinctiveness
● The motivation to show the superiority of one’s ingroup compared to an outgroup
○ ensures our social identities, and therefore our self-esteem, are positive enough
Cialdini et al. (1976)
Enhance our self-esteem by socially identifying with the more successful group
Aim To investigate the tendency to associate one’s self publicly with successful others, referred to
as “basking in reflected glory” (BIRG)
Participants Over 300 college students from 7 U.S. 170 undergraduates at a large state university
prestigious football universities with a powerful football team
Method Field experiment; covert observation Structured interview
Procedure observed students' apparel on a Monday called students & asked them to describe the
following a big football game outcome of 2 of their football teams' games
● one of the games constituted an important
victory & the other an important non-victory
Findings Students tended to wear more apparel Participants used the pronoun "we" twice as often
associating themselves with their own to describe a victory than a non-victory
university when the football team won
compared to when they lost
Conclusion ● Demonstrates that people seek a positive social identity & that their social identity is
affected by being a part of their group so that you are more positive towards anything that
your own group represents
● Membership to a social group affects the behaviour of an individual
Compiled by @oatsnwaffles
