Sociocultural Approach SAQ

Explain Social Identity Theory, making use of ONE study

- SIT: not just one 'personal self', but many social 'selves' that correspond to group membership. SALIENCE- becoming more aware of a certain social self THIS AFFECTS BEHAVIOUR

- Tajfel:

+ aim: investigate intergroup discrimination

+ procedure: 48 teenage boys separated into two groups based on whether they prefered a Klee or Kandinsky painting. Each boy had to award points to two other boys, one from their own group and one from the other group. There were two different point allocations for two different conditions.

System 1: in group more points, out group less points.

System 2: high for in group, higher for out group. Medium for in group, same for out group. Low for in group, 1 point for out group.

IV- point allocation system/ DV- points award

+ findings: in system 1, boys awarded more points to in group. In system 2, boys were willing to give in group lower points so that out group got only 1

- con: natural tendency of of members of a group to fav our their in group. Despite the meaningless groups, the boys identified with their groups and created a positive social identity. Inter group conflict is not required for discrimination to occur.

Explain ONE theory of stereotypes, making use of ONE study

- Stereotype Formation Theory: STEREOTYPE (a fixed social perception of an individual or group in terms of group membership or physical attributes) usually due to illusory correlation (seeing a relationship between 2 variables even if it doesn't exist). Three factors of stereotype development:

1. People are categorised on highly visible features

2. All members assessed as having the same characteristics

3. Any individual who is thought to belong to the category, is thought to possess the stereotypical characteristics of the group.

-Hamilton & Gifford (proposed illusory correlation)

Aim: to investigate stereotype formation

Procedure: Participants listened to a series of statements made about people in group A and B. There were twice as many people in group A than group B. Each group had the same proportion of positive and negative statements. Participants were then asked how many of the people in each group had positive vs. negative traits.

IV- statements about group A or B and good or bad/ DV- how much participants over estimated the good and bad

Findings: They overestimated the number of negative traits in the minority group.

- con: Because the minority group was by nature smaller in number, their negative behaviours appeared more distinct and appear to be representative of the group. Minority group was rare (are rare) and negative behaviors were equal (are equal). Seeing a a minority group person commit a negative behavior is more memorable.

Describe ONE cultural dimension

- Individualism vs Collectivism: dimensions are how the VALUES of members of a society (living within a particular culture) affect their trends of behavior. Introduced by Hofstede.

Indv vs Coll refers to the degree to which people are integrated into groups.

- Berry et al:

Aim: measuring the level of conformity of two types of societies by applying a version of the Asch Paradigm.

Procedure:

Temne of Sierra Leone (rice farming),

Inuit of Baffin Island (hunting+fishing)

and Scott's for control.

120 in each group, with a 9:3 ratio of traditional and transitional citizens. Instructions for the Asch Paradigm were given in the native language, first they did it alone, then they were told what other members of their culture said.

IV- told or not told/DV- number of lines away from the correct answer.

Findings: wrong responses were given in the 'all-together' trials. Temne conformed most, then Scott's, then Inuits. No significant difference within groups.

- con: collectivist cultures had higher conformity, because interconnectedness between its people is important to their identity. They value conformity because it promotes supportive group relationships and reduces conflict, in their rice-farming lifestyle this is important. With individualistics, individual thoughts are encouraged, hence lower level of conformity, and 'everyone hunts for themselves'

Explain Social Cognitive Theory, making use of ONE study

- SCT: behavior is modeled by other members of a group and acquired through observation or imitation based on consequences of a behavior.

This is observational learning:

A*attention- pay attention to the behavior

R*retention- remember it

M*motivation- are you rewarded for repeating it?

I*imitation- doing it

- Bandura et al:

Aim: 1) to see if children would imitate aggression modeled by an adult. 2) to see if children were more likely to imitate same-sex models

Procedure: 36 boys and 36 girls (3 to 6 years) were divided into groups based on their aggression levels.

Group 1 observed an adult physically and verbally abusing a bobo doll

Group 2 observed an adult calmly assembling toys

Group 3 was a control and didn't observe anything

They were put into a room full of toys, then taken out and told the toys were for other children (to cause frustration) and put in a room with a bobo doll.

Findings: children showed clear signs of observational learning. children in group 1 were significantly more aggressive both physically and verbally. And children were more likely to imitate same-sex models.

IV- what children observed/DV- aggressive behavior demonstrated

- con: demonstrates the SCT as the children only showed aggression towards playing when they observed adults doing it.

Explain ONE study of ONE cultural dimension

- Individualism vs Collectivism: dimensions are how the VALUES of members of a society (living within a particular culture) affect their trends of behavior. Introduced by Hofstede.

Indv vs Coll refers to the degree to which people are integrated into groups.

- Berry et al:

Aim: measuring the level of conformity of two types of societies by applying a version of the Asch Paradigm.

Procedure:

Temne of Sierra Leone (rice farming),

Inuit of Baffin Island (hunting+fishing)

and Scott's for control.

120 in each group, with a 9:3 ratio of traditional and transitional citizens. Instructions for the Asch Paradigm were given in the native language, first they did it alone, then they were told what other members of their culture said.

IV- told or not told/DV- number of lines away from the correct answer.

Findings: wrong responses were given in the 'all-together' trials. Temne conformed most, then Scott's, then Inuits. No significant difference within groups.

- con: collectivist cultures had higher conformity, because interconnectedness between its people is important to their identity. They value conformity because it promotes supportive group relationships and reduces conflict, in their rice-farming lifestyle this is important. With individualistics, individual thoughts are encouraged, hence lower level of conformity, and 'everyone hunts for themselves'

Explain ONE study of ONE effect of culture on behaviour

- Individualism vs Collectivism: dimensions are how the VALUES of members of a society (living within a particular culture) affect their trends of behavior. Introduced by Hofstede.

Indv vs Coll refers to the degree to which people are integrated into groups.

- Berry et al:

Aim: measuring the level of conformity of two types of societies by applying a version of the Asch Paradigm.

Procedure:

Temne of Sierra Leone (rice farming),

Inuit of Baffin Island (hunting+fishing)

and Scott's for control.

120 in each group, with a 9:3 ratio of traditional and transitional citizens. Instructions for the Asch Paradigm were given in the native language, first they did it alone, then they were told what other members of their culture said.

IV- told or not told/DV- number of lines away from the correct answer.

Findings: wrong responses were given in the 'all-together' trials. Temne conformed most, then Scott's, then Inuits. No significant difference within groups.

- con: collectivist cultures had higher conformity, because interconnectedness between its people is important to their identity. They value conformity because it promotes supportive group relationships and reduces conflict, in their rice-farming lifestyle this is important. With individualistics, individual thoughts are encouraged, hence lower level of conformity, and 'everyone hunts for themselves'

Explain ONE study of ONE effect of culture on cognition

- Individualism vs Collectivism: dimensions are how the VALUES of members of a society (living within a particular culture) affect their trends of behavior. Introduced by Hofstede.

Indv vs Coll refers to the degree to which people are integrated into groups.

- Berry et al:

Aim: measuring the level of conformity of two types of societies by applying a version of the Asch Paradigm.

Procedure:

Temne of Sierra Leone (rice farming),

Inuit of Baffin Island (hunting+fishing)

and Scott's for control.

120 in each group, with a 9:3 ratio of traditional and transitional citizens. Instructions for the Asch Paradigm were given in the native language, first they did it alone, then they were told what other members of their culture said.

IV- told or not told/DV- number of lines away from the correct answer.

Findings: wrong responses were given in the 'all-together' trials. Temne conformed most, then Scott's, then Inuits. No significant difference within groups.

- con: collectivist cultures had higher conformity, because interconnectedness between its people is important to their identity. They value conformity because it promotes supportive group relationships and reduces conflict, in their rice-farming lifestyle this is important. With individualistics, individual thoughts are encouraged, hence lower level of conformity, and 'everyone hunts for themselves'

Explain ONE study of enculturation

- Encult: the process by which people learn the necessary and appropriate skills and norms in the context of their culture. For example, children actively seek out info to confirm+develop their gender schemas.

- Martin & Halvorson:

aim: investigate whether existing sex-typing schemas distort memories of experiences that are inconsistent with them.

Procedure: 24 girls and 24 boys aged 5 to 6 were shown pictures of men and women doing things that were either consistent or inconsistent with gender role schemas. A week later they were told to recall what they'd seen.

IV- whether they're consistent or inconsistent with gender role schemas/ DV- accuracy of their memory

Findings: 84% of errors were to do with inconsistent pictures.

- con: the children were more likely to make error in remembering the pictures that were inconsistent with gender role schemas (distortion to fit their pre-held schemas)

Explain ONE study of acculturation

- Accult: when someone comes into contact with another culture and begins to adopt the norms and behaviors of that culture.

- Lueck & Wilson:

aim: investigate variables that may predict acculturative stress in Asian immigrants+ Asian Americans

procedure: 2095 Asian Americans (2:1 ratio of immigrants:born in America), semi structured interviews to measure their level of acculturative stress.

Findings: 1433 were found to have acculturative stress (70% of the sample)

- con: acculturative stress came about due to the participants struggle with adopting the norms and behaviors of American culture (struggle with integration)

Explain the use of ONE research method in ONE study using the sociocult app. to understanding human behavior

(Any study, and any method can be used)

Explain the use of ONE research method in ONE study using the sociocult app. to understanding the individual and the group

- Lab Experiment: there is Lab, field and natural experiments. Lab experiments are very controlled, so they're easily replicated, isolating a variable, determining a cause and affect relationship.

- Bandura et al:

Aim: 1) to see if children would imitate aggression modeled by an adult. 2) to see if children were more likely to imitate same-sex models

Procedure: 36 boys and 36 girls (3 to 6 years) were divided into groups based on their aggression levels.

Group 1 observed an adult physically and verbally abusing a bobo doll

Group 2 observed an adult calmly assembling toys

Group 3 was a control and didn't observe anything

They were put into a room full of toys, then taken out and told the toys were for other children (to cause frustration) and put in a room with a bobo doll.

Findings: children showed clear signs of observational learning. children in group 1 were significantly more aggressive both physically and verbally. And children were more likely to imitate same-sex models.

IV- what children observed/DV- aggressive behavior demonstrated

- con: using a lab experiment allowed bandura

Explain the use of ONE research method in ONE study using the sociocult app. to understanding cultural origins of behavior

Explain the use of ONE research method in ONE study using the sociocult app. to understanding cultural influences on attitudes

Explain the use of ONE research method in ONE study using the sociocult app. to understanding cultural influences on behavior

Explain the use of ONE research method in ONE study using the sociocult app. to understanding cultural influences on identity