1. ASSUMPTIONS STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
SOCIAL APPROACH
ASSUMPTIONS
STRENGTHS
WEAKNESSES

2. ASSUMPTIONS OF THE SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACH
All BEHAVIOUR occurs in a SOCIAL CONTEXT – even if a person is alone!

3. SOCIAL CONTEXT Milgram – obedience occurs in what social context?
The presence of an authority figure
Piliavin et al. – helping behaviour occurs in what social context?
The presence of a person who appears ill or a person who appears drunk who needs help
Reicher & Haslam – tyranny occurs in what social context?
When groups break down

4. ASSUMPTIONS OF THE SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACH
Other people and society are a major influence on people’s behaviour, thought processes and emotions

5. OTHER PEOPLE
Milgram
Piliavin et al.
Reicher and Haslam

6. ASSUMPTIONS OF THE SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACH
An individual’s behaviour can be affected by others and others’ behaviour can be affected by individuals

7. The 3 assumptions then are:
ALL BEHAVIOUR HAPPENS IN A SOCIAL CONTEXT
OTHER PEOPLE, SOCIETY AND CULTURE CAN INFLUENCE OTHERS’ BEHAVIOUR, THOUGHTS AND EMOTIONS
INDIVIDUAL’S BEHAVIOUR IS AFFECTED BY OTHERS AND OTHERS CAN AFFECT INDIVIDUALS

8. STRENGTHS OF THE SOCIAL PSCYHOLOGICAL APPROACH
Social influences often have a stronger effect than disposition
Can provide explanations for behaviour
Useful in explaining obedience, helping behaviour and how tyranny develops
Scientific methods can be used to conduct research

9. WEAKNESS OF THE SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACH
Can underestimate individual differences in behaviour
Ignores development of behaviour over time
Samples often not representative
Studies can lack ecological validity

10. SOCIAL INFLUENCES HAVE A STRONG EFFECT UPON PEOPLE’S BEHAVIOUR – CAN BE STRONGER THAN DISPOSITIONAL

11. THE APPROACH HAS PROVIDED EXPLANATIONS FOR A GREAT MANY PHENOMENA

12. THE APPROACH HAS HAD MANY USEFUL PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS IN A WIDE RANGE OF AREAS

13. EVIDENCE HAS BEEN PROVIDED FOR CONCEPTS AND THEORIES USING A WIDE RANGE OF METHODS – OFTEN USING EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY

14. UNDERESTIMATES INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES THAT COME INTO SOCIAL SITUATIONS

15. SAMPLES USED IN SOCIAL APPROACH RESEARCH ARE OFTEN NOT REPRESENTATIVE

16. RESEARCH CAN OFTEN LACK ECOLOGICAL VALIDITY

17. RESEARCH IS DIFFICULT TO CARRY OUT ETHICALLY

18. ONLY SNAPSHOT STUDIES – IGNORES DEVELOPMENT OVER TIME AND/OR IN A PARTICULAR CULTURE