social approach

• Conformity 


  Adjusting ones behaviour/opinion because they are pressured by another person/group
• informational social behaviour (ISI)


  Agree with behaviour of others because we believe it is correct, accept is because we want to be correct
• Normative social influence (NSI)


  Agree the behaviour of others because we want to be accepted and avoid rejection
• Compliance

  Individual privately disagrees with the group but goes along anyway, to feel accepted/not become rejected
• Identification 


  Individual temporarily goes along with the norms and roles of the group because they see membership as part of their identity
• Internalisation 


  The individual goes along with the group opinion because they genuinely believe it is correct, so private views are changed
• Discrimination 


  Harmful behaviour directed at groups or individuals because they share characteristics (ethnicity)
• Prejudice 


  A negative attitude towards a group of individuals because they are a member of that group
• In-groups 


  Social groups we perceive ourselves to be a member of
• out-groups 


  Social groups with whom a person does not identify; “them”
• Social categorisation 


  Putting people into social categories based on their shared characteristics
• Stereotypes 


  Fixed views of other people base on their perceived membership of a social category
• Common goals 


  The outcome of group activity that all members share and work towards
• group cohesion 


  The extent to which group members are psychologically bonded and ’pull in the same direction’
• group think 


  Tendency of cohesive groups to strive for agreement which overrides the need to analyse decisions and to consider criticism and alternatives
• Intra-group dynamics 


  The psychological processes that take place in any group
• Roles 


  the function that individuals person within a group: task, social, procedural and individual roles
• Social facilitation 


  The tendency for individuals to perform better on a task when other people are present
• Conformity 


  When a person changes their opinion/behaviour because they are pressured by another person/group
• Desensitisation 


  Reduced sensitivity to a stimulus. This may be psychological or psychological. This reduced response may make a behaviour such as aggression more likely.
• Disinhibition 


  Lack of restraint due to environment triggers or overexposes to a stimulus
• Intuitional aggression 


  Aggression violent behaviour that takes places within a social context of a formal organised setting
• Media 


  Communication channels through which news entertainment, education and data are available
• Role modelling 


  Imitating the behaviour of people who have qualities we would like to have of who we admire
• Social norms 


  Something that is standard, usual or typical of a social group
• stereotypes 


  Fixed views or other people based on their perceived membership of a social category
• Bandwagon effect 


  Behaviour change or purchasing decisions can result from the perception that ‘everyone else is doing it’
• Social proof 


  Institutions where we are not sure what to do or behave we may look to other people for guidance because we think others are better informed
• Conformity to gender roles 


  The extent to which a person identifies with a gender typical role (masculine or feminine)
• Culture 


  Ideas, customs, and social behaviour of a particular group of people or society
• Peer influence

  Refers to the effect that other people of the same age (and/or those with shared interests) have on how we think and behave
• strength to social approach

  • has a real life application
  • eg. it helps to give an understanding of how and why people act the way they do in a group
  • it could help us to change social situations
• weakness to social approach

  • often unethical
  • eg. the studies used to test the theories are seen to be unethical of how they can manipulate beliefs or behaviour
  • the research can often come at the cost of inflicting psychological harm to others