Sociocultuf Flashcards
(15 cards)
Social Identity Theory (Tajfel & Turner
1979)
Social Identity Theory explains how people derive part of their self-concept from group membership. It involves in-group favoritism and out-group discrimination. Tajfel et al. (1970) showed this using British schoolboys who favored their assigned group in a point-allocation task
even when the groups were meaningless. The study supports the idea that just belonging to a group is enough to trigger bias. This helps explain real-world phenomena like racism
Social Cognitive Theory (Bandura
1986)
Social Cognitive Theory states that people learn behavior by observing others
especially when the observed behavior is rewarded. Bandura et al. (1961) found that children imitated aggressive behavior toward a Bobo doll after watching adults act aggressively. This supports the role of observational learning and vicarious reinforcement. The study connects to cultural transmission and media influence. While it shows strong cause-effect in a controlled setting
Cultural Dimensions Theory (Hofstede
1980)
Hofstede proposed that cultures vary in values
with individualism vs collectivism being the most examined dimension. Individualist cultures prioritize personal goals and independence
Enculturation (Odden & Rochat
2004)
Enculturation is the process of learning one’s culture through observation
social interaction
Acculturation (Lueck & Wilson
2010)
Acculturation is the process of adjusting to a new culture
often involving identity negotiation and potential stress. Lueck & Wilson studied over 2
Stereotypes and Stereotype Threat (Steele & Aronson
1995)
Stereotypes are oversimplified beliefs about groups. Stereotype threat occurs when fear of confirming a stereotype negatively affects performance. Steele & Aronson found that African American students did worse on a verbal test when their race was made salient. This shows how social expectations can influence cognition. The study is replicable and relevant but may lack ecological validity due to the artificial test setting.
HL Extension: Culture and Origins of Behavior (Kulkofsky et al.
2011)
This extension explores how cultural values shape cognitive processes. Kulkofsky et al. found that people from individualist cultures formed more personal flashbulb memories than those from collectivist cultures
who focused more on group-related details. This shows that culture shapes not just behavior
