Sociocultural Approach Concepts

Conformity

• Psychologists recognize that human behavior can only be understood if the social context the behavior takes place in is taken into account

• One assumption of the sociocultural approach is that humans are social animals and have a need to belong.

• An individual has social identity depending on their group memberships

• Human behavior is influenced by others, even if we believe we are acting independently. The relationship between individual and group is bidirectional meaning the individual’s behavior is affected by the group and the group behavior can be affected by the individual

• Informational social influence is when we look to others in a group to determine how we are supposed to behave

• Normative social influence is when we look to others to determine how to behave so that we can be accepted

• When an individual adapts their behavior to be in line with others, we call this conformity

Social Identity Theory

Social Identity Theory proposed by Tajfel, aims to explain human behavior in a social context. It identifies 4 main concepts in the formation of social identity.

• Social categorization: The process by which individuals identify themselves with a particular group. We identify ourselves with in groups, and members of an in group generally have a positive view of one another. The groups we do not associate with are out-groups, who we generally view as outsiders

• Social Identification: After identifying with a group, individuals generally adopt the behaviors, norms, and values of the group.

• Social Comparison: When a comparison is done to justify belonging to an in-group vs out-group in order to justify group membership

• Positive Distinctiveness: When we boost self esteem by positively comparing the in-group and out-group on a valued trait. We tend to value the in-group even if we did not chose to be apart of it.

In group bias: Favoring the ingroup and giving preferential treatment to its members.

Out-group homogeneity bias: The tendency to assume the outgroup is very similar to each other.

Social Cognitive Theory

The idea of learning through the observation of models and imitating their behavior. The theory is composed of four constructs.

1. Attention towards the model is necessary to learn through observation. Factors may influence attention such as the attractiveness of the model, the authority they impose, and the desirability learn the behavior.

2. Retention means observers must be able to remember characteristics of the behavior in order to reproduce it

3. Motivation means observers must want to reproduce a behavior and expect a certain outcome from it.

4. Potential means the observer must be able to mentally or physically carry out a behavior

Self efficacy refers to one’s ability to complete a task.

Enculturation

Enculturation is the process of becoming a member of your culture. It is when you internalize the values, beliefs, expectations, and norms from the culture you are from. Enculturation is part of developing our personal identity and can be learned through different ways.

• Direct tuition: One is directly told how to act or behave

• Observatory learning: Is when one observes the behavior of others and learns to replicate it

• Participatory learning: When one participates and learns behavior by performing tasks

Acculturation

People often begin to adopt norms and behaviors of the majority culture through acculturation.

Acculturation is the process adapting to psychological cultural change as a result of interaction and contact with a culture outside of one’s own.

Acculturative stress is the anxiety one might feel trying adapt to a new culture.

Berry says there are 4 different acculturation strategies

• Assimilation: Individuals are willing to abandon their own culture to adopt the behavior and values of a new culture.

• Integration: They adopt the new culture but maintain their original culture as well.

• Marginalization: When it is not possible to maintain one’s culture but also not be integrated into another one due to exclusion or discrimination.

• Separation: They value their original culture and actively minimize interactions with another culture.

Cultural Dimensions

Cultural Dimensions are how the values of a society affect behavior. An example of a cultural dimension is individualism vs collectivitism.

• In Individualistic societies, the ties between individuals is lose as everyone is expected to take care of themselves and their immediate family. They are defined by their personal achievement and self-reliance is seen as a virtue

• In collectivistic societies, from birth individuals are integrated into strong, cohesive in-groups, often extended families, which provide them with support and protection. If the expectations of the family are not lived up to there could be sever consequences. These societies value social harmony and advancing the interests of the group.

• Research has shown that these dimensions affects an individual’s level of conformity.

Formation of Stereotypes

Stereotypes are the belief that members of a group generally possess the same characteristics and behaviour. Stereotypes can be both positive and negative and can be acquired directly or indirectly. 

Origins of stereotypes: illusory correlation perceiving a relationship between variables even when there are none.