Sociocultural psychology

What is social identity theory?

What is social identity theory?

The idea that an individuals sense of self is developed based on group membership, and there is shared identity in the group.

What does SIT lead to the formation of?

In groups and out groups

Who developed SIT?

Tajfel and Turner (1979)

What are the steps to the formation of in groups and out groups?

Social categorisation

Social identification

Social comparison

Positive distinctiveness

Which study explores SIT? Explain it.

Tajfel (1970)

Aim: investigate minimal conditions under which discrimination between social groups is brought about.

Participants: 48 schoolboys aged 14-15

Procedure: allocated to 'Klee group' or 'Kandinsky group' based on exercise where expressed preference for unlabelled abstract paintings. Randomly allocated into group. Asked to allocate points: maximum joint profit (13-13), largest possible reward to in group (19-25), maximum difference (7-1).

Findings: the boys chose maximum difference (7-1). More interested in creating large difference than greater amount for everybody. In favour with their in group.

Conclusion: evidence of discrimination of social groups. Random categorisation into meaningless groups led to in group bias and out group discrimination.

What is social cognitive theory?

The idea that behaviour is learned through observation of others, through direct or indirect learning.

Which acronym did Bandura use?

ARRM

Attention - paying attention to the model.

Retention - remembering what the model did to imitate the behaviour.

Reproduction - people must have the capacity to imitate (tools, skills).

Motivation - observer must be motivated to imitate the behaviour.

Which kinds of models did Bandura identify?

Live model - actual model.

Verbal instructional model - description of behaviour.

Symbolic model - media.

Which factors affect the potential for learning in terms of the model?

If the model stands out in contrast to other models or the status of the model.

If the model is liked and respected by the observer.

If the observer perceives a similarity between them and the model/identifies with them.

If the model's behaviour is consistent.

What is another term for observational learning?

Vicarious reinforcement

Who studied SCT? Explain their study.

Bandura et al (1965)

Aim: to investigate whether reinforcing consequences of behaviour influences imitation of observed behaviour.

Participants: 33 boys and 33 girls in the Stanford University Nursery School. 3.5-6 years old. Mean age 4.2 years old.

Procedure: randomly assigned to one of 3 conditions - 11 girls and 11 boys per condition. Prior to experiment, tested for levels of 'everyday' aggression, measured in classes according to 5-point rating scale. Two adult males served as models. Children brought individually to room, watched 5 minute television programme on own. Conditions: Model rewarded, model punished, no consequences. Immediately escorted to room with bobo doll, mallet, other toys. 10 minute session, behaviour recorded every 5 secs. For every physical or verbal imitative response be given sticker and treats.

Findings: reinforcing consequences had effect on matching responses the children reproduced. Boys imitated more than girls.

What is the basis for stereotyping?

Out group homogeneity

What does Hamilton and Gifford (1976) argue the cause of stereotypes is?

Illusory correlation

Which study explains the formation of stereotypes? Explain it.

Hamilton and Gifford (1976)

Aim: to see if people associate negative statements to the minority group.

Participants: 110 university students

Procedure: listened to statements about people from groups A and B. Statements positive and negative. Same proportion of statements to people.

Findings: overestimated number of negative traits.

Conclusion: smaller groups faults seemed more distinct. Explains negative stereotyping of minorities.

Which study explains the effect of stereotypes? Explain it.

Lewis (1990)

Aim: to see how racial stereotyping may affect diagnosis and treatment.

Procedure: 139 psychiatrists randomly selected from Royal College of Psychiatrists. Asked to make judgement on treatment of patients, real purpose of study not explained. Required to predict if criminal proceedings should be pursued. Some told Afro- Caribbean patient, others told white.

Findings: black patient more likely to be recommended drug treatment, seen as more violent and criminal.

Conclusion: psychiatrists made illusory correlation.

What are cultural dimensions?

The perspective of a culture based on values and cultural norms.

Which study explores culture and its influence on behaviour? Explain it.

Berry (1967)

Aim: to see whether conformity levels differ across collectivist and individualist cultures.

Participants: the Scots (control), the Temne of Sierra Leone (collectivist, rice farming), the Inuit people of Canada (individualist, fishing)

Procedure: set of 9 lines, which comparison matches? Two trials, then on third: 'Most people in your culture say __', but incorrect.

Findings: the Temne had higher rate of conformity despite answer being incorrect. Inuits had lower rate than Scots.

Conclusion: cultural dimensions play a role in rates of conformity. Different cultures have different rates of conformity to group norms.

Which study explores culture and its influence on cognition? Explain it.

Kulkofsky et al (2011)

Aim: investigate if FBMs are found across all cultures.

Participants: 274 adults from Turkey, UK, US, China, Germany, middle class

Procedure: 5 mins to recall public event in their lifetime, questions: where, time, what doing, who with, how important (personally, nationally, internationally), how surprising. Questions translated and back translated.

Findings: collectivist cultures (China) - personal importance less of role than individualist cultures - individual's experiences de-emphasised, less rehersal of triggering event, lower chance of FBM. National importance equally linked across cultures.

Conclusion: cultural dimensions influence cognition.

What is enculturation?

the process of learning the traditional content and norms of a culture

Which study explores enculturation? Explain it.

Odden and Rochat (2004)

Aim: role of SCT in development of cultural norms in Samoa. Line fishing, rank and heirarchy

Participants: 28 Samoan children

Procedure: 25 months observation and interviews. Samoan parents non-interventionalist due to high power distance. Children do not participate in fishing with adults - limited nets, lines, spears.

Findings: young males spend lots time watching adult males fish. 10 year olds borrow equipment, by 12 able to fish on own. Multiple choice test to 46 12 year old children found had broad understanding of chief system - learned by listening and observing adults.

Conclusion: cultural norms learned through observation. Supports enculturation.

What is acculturation?

process of adapting to and acquiring another culture

What are the main acculturation strategies according to Berry?

Integration - maintain heritage culture while adopting some norms of new culture

Assimilation - no maintenance of heritage culture

Separation - no adoption of new norms

Marginalisation - no interaction with or adoption of new culture, no maintenance of heritage culture

Which study explores acculturation? Explain it.

Luek and Wilson (2010)

Aim: investigate the variables that may predict acculturative stress

Participants: 2095 Asian immigrants and Asian Americans. 1st Gen. immigrants 18+ when arrived in US. Adults born to 1st Gen. immigrants. Chinese, Filipino, Vietnamese.

Procedure: semi-structured interviews. Interviewers had similar cultural and linguistic background to those of sample. Face-to-face or over internet. Measured level of acculturative stress, language proficiency, language preference, discirimination, social networks, family cohesion, socioeconomic status on acculturative stress.

Findings: 70% of sample had acculturative stress.

Conclusion: Low acculutrative stress = bilingualism, similar values and beliefs, satisfied with economic opportunities. High acculturative stress = xenophobia, harassment, prejudice, threats, not bilingual.

What is acculturative stress?

the psychological, somatic and social impact of adaptation to a new culture