The Social Approach

Focus on Section C questions

The Social Approach- Section C

• Focus on either an approach or a perspective

• Choice of which question to answer (17 or 18) on differing approaches or perspectives

• Answer all 4 parts (a, b, c & d)• Always worth 24 marks (2, 4, 6 and 12)

Things to know

• At least 2 assumptions of each approach/perspective

• How the approach/perspective would explain a behaviour (linked to core studies, i.e. mental disorders)

• Similarities and differences between studies within the approach/perspective

• Strengths and weaknesses of the approach/perspective.

Assumptions

1. The approach is concerned with the ways our interactions with other people affect the way we think, feel and behave; for example, peer pressure, social identity, obedience and conformity.

2. The approach is concerned with how we make sense of ourselves and how we judge ourselves (self-perception & identity).

Strengths & weaknessesTASK:What might be some strengths and weaknesses of the social approach. Come up with two of each (think methods, data, validity, reliability, ethics, debates…)

Strengths

The Social Approach helps us to consider how far we act according to our own free will and how far factors in the social environment may determine our behaviour.

• Milgram/ H & R – challenge our belief that we act autonomously.

• Milgram – authority figures – careful who we give power to.

• Haslam & Reicher – factors which support a tyrannical regime?

Strengths

The social approach can offer possible solutions to problems in the real world.

Milgram – insights to behaviour of people in positions of power e.g. Eichmann – preventing another Holocaust?

Piliavin – bystander behaviour in emergency situations.

Strengths

The approach uses a variety of methods and tries to remain objective and scientific in its approach to social behaviour.

Laboratory Field Quasi

Weaknesses

There are a number of methodological problems that arise when studying social behaviour. For example demand characteristics may be a problem.

Milgram – Pps may have guessed aim of experiment & so delivered more shocks

Haslam & Reicher – Pps playing up to the cameras?

Weaknesses

Validity over time makes us question the value of research carried out a long-time ago.

Historical Validity – Milgram – would Pps behave in the same way today?

Piliavin et al – would people react differently today (given recent bombings & current climate)?

Weaknesses

• Cultural differences in behaviour are often overlooked when generalising the results and this leads to the findings being used to describe people in general, when in fact the research carries an ethnocentric bias.

• Ethnocentric bias – elements of the study only represents one culture.

• Piliavin – carried out in NY subway – would Londoners behave differently?

• Haslam & Reicher – would prisoners in USA behave differently?

• Milgram – would an Australian Pp deliver the full voltage of shocks?

Task- Answer the example exam question

• Discuss strengths and weaknesses of the Social Approach using examples from any of the social approach core studies (12 marks)