Sociocultural Approach to Understanding Behaviour

Social Identity Theory

Tajfel and Turner's theory that explains how individuals derive their self-identity from the groups they belong to.

Ingroups and Outgroups

Groups that individuals identify with (ingroups) and groups they do not identify with (outgroups).

Social Categorization

The natural tendency of people to categorize themselves and others into social groups.

Social Identification

The process of individuals identifying with certain social groups and adopting their norms and values.

Social Comparison

The act of comparing one's ingroup with outgroups, leading to a sense of "us versus them" dynamics.

Ingroup Bias

The tendency for individuals to favor their ingroup over outgroups.

Stereotypes

Simplified and generalized beliefs or characteristics associated with a particular group.

Group Norms

The norms and values that guide the behavior of individuals within a specific group.

Belonging to Multiple Groups

The idea that individuals can belong to multiple groups simultaneously and adjust their behavior accordingly.

Collective Protest

The prediction that individuals with strong identification with their ingroups are more likely to participate in collective protests.

Self-Efficacy

A person's belief in their likelihood of success.

Acquisition of Behavior

The learning process through observation or imitation of others.

Models for Learning

Real individuals or fictional characters that serve as examples for behavior replication.

Correspondence Bias

The tendency to overattribute behavior to personality and underattribute it to situational factors.

Illusory Correlation

The perception of a relationship between two variables that does not actually exist.

Upbringing and Stereotype Formation

The influence of early exposure to stereotypes from parents, teachers, friends, and media on the formation of stereotypes.

Stereotypes

Preconceived notions or beliefs about a group of people based on their characteristics or attributes.

Ingroup and Outgroup Relations

The social dynamics and interactions between individuals who belong to the same group (ingroup) and those who belong to a different group (outgroup).

Stereotype Threat

The anxiety or fear experienced by individuals when they are aware of negative stereotypes associated with their social group, which can impact their performance.

Publication Bias

The tendency for research studies with intriguing findings to be favored for publication, potentially biasing the overall understanding of a phenomenon.

Culture

The shared beliefs, norms, attitudes, behaviors, and symbols of a group that are learned through instruction and observation and passed down through generations.

Fundamental Attribution Error (FAE)

The tendency for individuals to overemphasize dispositional factors and underestimate situational factors when explaining behavior.

Social Class

The hierarchical division of society based on economic and social factors, which can influence behavior and cognitive processes.

Counting and Arithmetic

The cultural influence on counting systems and arithmetic methods used by different cultures.

Surface Culture

The easily noticeable differences between cultures, such as language, gestures, and clothing.

Deep Culture

The profound cultural norms that are less obvious and accessible to newcomers, such as social hierarchies and interpretations of dignity.

Acculturation

The process of adapting to a new culture and learning its norms and behaviors.

Cultural Dimensions

The identified values or dimensions that vary across cultures, such as power distance, individualism, masculinity, femininity, and uncertainty avoidance.

Enculturation

The process of acquiring a culture's norms and expectations through direct instruction, social learning, observational learning, and cultural learning.

Language Acquisition

The process of learning language, which is influenced by cultural context and plays a crucial role in enculturation.

Acculturation

The process of adapting to a new culture and learning its accepted norms and behavior.

Social Identity Theory (SIT)

Explains how people define their identity within their original and new cultures, influencing their national identity.

Acculturation Strategies

Different approaches individuals take when adapting to a new culture. Integration strategies lead to the best psychological and sociocultural adaptations.

Quasi-Experiments

Study inherent participant variables without experimenter allocation to different conditions. Often used in cross-cultural research to examine the influence of culture on behavior.

Cross-Cultural Studies

Explore whether behaviors are culture-bound or cross-cultural. Conducted outside laboratory conditions, making control of other variables challenging.

Yuki's (2003) Study

Investigated the applicability of Social Identity Theory (SIT) in US and Japanese contexts. Found greater loyalty and identification with ingroup among American participants compared to Japanese participants.

Correlation Studies

Focus on determining if variables co-occur or are related. Berry et al.'s (2006) study examined the correlation between acculturation strategies and the success of adaptation and assimilation.

Self-Report Questionnaires

Simple, quick, and cost-effective method for data collection. Relies on participants' honesty; potential for inaccurate responses due to social desirability bias.

Emic Approach

Conducted by an insider with first-hand experience in the culture. Provides in-depth understanding but may lack professional distance for objectivity.

Etic Approach

Conducted by an outsider, offering an external perspective. Provides objectivity but may lack the depth of insider knowledge.

Universalist Approach

Assumes shared psychological processes in all human cultures. Applies universal criteria in research.

Relativist Approach

Assumes cultural groups have distinct psychological processes. Belief criteria cannot be compared across cultures.

Globalization's Impact on Identity

Globalization significantly influences how individuals perceive themselves in their social environment. Many individuals develop a bicultural identity.

Bicultural Identity

Part of an individual's identity is rooted in their local or indigenous culture, while another part is shaped by their connection to the global culture.

Formation of Self-Selected Cultures

Some individuals purposefully create self-selected cultures that aim to remain 'pure' and unaffected by influences from the global culture.

Core Values of Global Culture

Individual/personal rights, freedom of choice, open-mindedness to change, and tolerance of differences. These values are dominant in global culture.

Ethical Obligation

Researchers have an ethical obligation to present results in a way that minimizes the risk of misunderstanding and misuse.

Cultural Diversity Consideration

Within a particular culture or nationality, there can be significant diversity based on factors like location, urban or rural settings, and migration.

Ethical Obligation to Respect Cultural Norms

Researchers have an ethical obligation not to disturb or impose their own cultural norms on the culture and participants being studied.

Unethical Use of Research

It is unethical to assume that research findings apply universally to all cultures. Exercise caution when generalizing results from culture-bound studies.

Psychological Consequences of Globalization

Identity confusion, extended discovery process, and acculturative stress are psychological consequences of globalization.

Globalization

The process of increasing interconnectedness and interdependence among countries through the exchange of goods, services, information, and culture.

Culture Shedding

The phenomenon where indigenous cultures adopt and incorporate elements of global culture, leading to shifts in traditional norms and values.

Social Problems and Identity Confusion

The negative consequences, such as identity confusion and social issues, that can arise when cultures with greater cultural distance from the global culture are exposed to it, particularly among young people.

Postponed Transition to Adulthood

The worldwide trend of young people delaying traditional adult roles, such as work, marriage, and parenthood, influenced by global culture.

Factors Influencing Postponement

The factors that contribute to the postponement of adulthood, including self-exploration and socioeconomic circumstances that allow for delay, often observed among well-off individuals or families.

Unrealistic Expectations and Identity Stress

The psychological stress and identity conflicts that can arise when young people's expectations, shaped by global culture, do not align with local opportunities.

Discrepancy in Developing Countries

The disparity in the accessibility of postponed adulthood between the relatively affluent and poorer individuals in developing countries, with the latter often entering adult roles at a younger age due to limited engagement with global culture.

Longitudinal Study

A research method involving repeated observations of the same individuals and behavior over an extended period to study trends and long-term influences.

Cross-Cultural Study

A research method that examines the impact of different cultural identities on behavior, typically using participants' culture as the independent variable and behavior as the dependent variable.