Social psychology

• Principles + Concepts (Key assumptions)

  1. All human behaviour is in social context and is influenced by the social environment we are in
  2. the presence of others can impact behaviour and our behaviour is influenced by the actual, imagined or implied presence of others
• Strengths of the social approach

  + useful as lots of practical application

  + high ecological validity

  + scientific (use of experiment)
• Weaknesses of the social approach

  -highly unethical (deception, protection of Ps)

  -socially sensitive approach

  -reductionist - lack of insight into other reasons behind behaviour