Social Approach

Question 0

1st strength of the social approach

Answer 0

Helps to understand how behaviour can be influenced by other people and the situation in which people find themselves.
Eg Milgram suggested high levels of obedience found in his experiment were due not only only to the presence of a legitimate authority figure but also because the study was conducted in a renowned educational establishment.

Question 1

Assumption of the social approach

Answer 1

That other people and the surrounding environment are major influences on an individual’s behaviour, thought processes and feelings.

Question 2

2nd strength of the social approach.

Answer 2

It can provide explanations for a great many phenomena.
Mil grams study was to investigate if the Germans were just a really obedient race but he proved that under the right conditions Americans will obey authority figures even when the command requires destructive behaviour.

Question 3

1st weakness of the social approach

Answer 3

It underestimates the influence of individual differences on behaviour.
Although milgrams study was about to show that 65% of the participants were prepared to obey the authority figure and give electric shocks up to 450 volts, 35% were not prepared to go to such extremes.

Question 4

2nd weakness of the social approach

Answer 4

It often fails to emphasise that human behaviour is not just cultural but also an historical context.
Milgram was able to demonstrate that most cultures throughout the world in the 60’s were obedient to authority figures.