Social Behaviour Unit SQA Guidelines

Conformity and Obedience Types of conformity – compliance, identification and internalisation. Factors affecting conformity: normative and informational social influence, individual factors, situational factors and cultural factors. Factors affecting obedience: situational factors, types of authority (perceived legitimate), autonomous and agentic behaviour. Strategies for resisting social pressure: responsibility for own actions, moral reasoning and awareness of own values, questioning motives and disobedient peers.

Studies Mori and Arai, 2010. No Need to Fake It: Reproduction of Asch experiment without confederates. Milgram, S, 1963. Behavioural Study of Obedience. For each of these you need to know: Aim Method Results Conclusions.

What does this mean in the exam? You could be asked a specific question relating to any of the above points so make sure you are fully familiar with them. “Explain the different types of conformity” “Explain the various factors which affect conformity” “Describe and explain strategies for resisting social pressure” “Describe one research study relating to conformity and/or obedience”

Optional topic – Social relationships. At least four concepts and/or theories of choice relevant to the chosen topic. Affiliation and attraction Economic Theories of Relationships Evolutionary Theories of Relationships Factors and stages of breakdowns of relationships. The aims, methods, results and conclusions of at least two psychological research studies relevant to the chosen topic. Affiliation and attraction – Festinger, et al, 1950 and Walster et al, 1966. Economic Theories – Simpson et al, 1990, Hatfield, 1979. Evolutionary Theories – Waynforth and Dunbar, 1995, McCarthy, 1999 Breakdown – Dindia and Baxter, 1987

What does this mean in the exam? Because this topic is optional you will never read the words “social relationships” in the exam paper – every school will be doing different topics. However, you will know the question is asking about social relationships as it will say “another social behaviour topic” The questions are likely to be much more general than for conformity and obedience (good or bad?). They question may ask you to explain or evaluate a theory relating to that topic or to explain research evidence relating to the topic.

General hints and tips Always check the mark allocation as an indication as to how much information you need to include. Describe, identify = show understanding by defining terminology, describing theories, concepts and how research was carried out. Analyse, evaluate = make links between theories and evidence clear, explain conclusions of research evidence, explain the advantages or disadvantages (limitations) of concepts, theories or research evidence.

Today’s Tasks Make sure you have all of the appropriate notes for each of the compulsory sections detailed above. Research and make notes on research evidence for the ‘Social Relationships’ topic. Making sure you have the aims, methods, results and conclusions for each.