Topic 5 of 6 · Form 5
The social approach
Behaviour is influenced by other people, groups, social roles and culture.
Notes for this topic 1 file, in order
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Assumptions
Behaviour is influenced by other people, groups, social roles and culture.
Key studies
- Obedience: Milgram (1963) found that 26 of 40 men (65%) continued to the maximum 450-volt level when instructed by an experimenter, raising major ethical questions.
- Helping behaviour: Piliavin, Rodin and Piliavin (1969) studied bystander help on the New York subway; a victim with a cane was helped more often and more quickly than one who appeared drunk.
- Prejudice and group behaviour: research on intergroup conflict and attitudes.
Explanations
Agentic state, legitimacy of authority, situational factors; cost–reward models of helping; diffusion of responsibility.
Evaluation
Strengths: real-world relevance, explains powerful situational influences. Weaknesses: ethical problems (deception, distress), cultural bias, ecological validity of laboratory settings.
Worked example: Give two ethical issues raised by Milgram's study.
Deception about the true aim and shocks; psychological distress; pressure that made withdrawal difficult.
Check yourself
- What percentage of Milgram's participants reached 450 volts?
- What is diffusion of responsibility?
- Give one strength of field experiments like Piliavin's.
Show answers
- 65%.
- In groups, individuals feel less personal responsibility to help.
- High ecological validity – participants behave naturally.
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