Socialisation describes a process which may lead to desirable or moral outcomes. Individual views on certain issues, such as race or economics, may be socialized within a society. Social status is the position of an individual or group within the society. It can be split into 2 ways, either earning your social status from achievements which is known as achieved status or inheriting it which is also knows as ascribed status. Social rule system theory is an attempt to formally approach different kinds of
Does Social Dominance Orientation (SDO) influence a person’s position in a social hierarchy, or is it influenced by a person’s position in a social hierarchy? Word Count: 2,985 Social Identity Theory (SIT) and Social Dominance Theory (SDT) are two theories that have looked into individuals’ behaviours within a group. Both approaches make similar attributes, although there seems to be a varying degree when considering particular circumstances concerning the individual against intergroup threat, among other dissimilarities making each theory varied in their approach. Social Dominance Orientation (SDO) is assumed as a firm personality trait and according to SDT it should stay constant regardless of threatening situations. This essay analyses differences in these approaches regarding SDO as an influential factor when predicting behaviours which can establish an individual’s position in a social hierarchy being context dependent as SIT claims or determined by an individual as SDT states.
How this will be accomplished will be by comparing and contrasting their assumptions. Then I will state my opinion on which of the two better fits my personal sociological views. Functionalism and the conflict theory are sociological perspectives that present different assertions of studying the society and how the resultant perspectives of the society are enhanced. The functionalist perspective perceives the society as a system and on a large scale. The functionalist perspective presents social moulding of an individual rather than use of force to the individual in order to carry out societal roles.
Social Identity Theory: The Social Identity Theory was created by Henri Tajfel who proposed that social Identity is a person’s sense of who they are based on the group or people they most frequently interact with, these groups they give people of self-belonging, pride and self-esteem. The theory was originally developed to understand the psychological basis of intergroup discrimination. Tajfel et al (1971) attempted to identify the minimal conditions that would make people discriminate in favour of the in-group and against another out-group. Social groups help people give themselves an identity, something to attach themselves to in the social world, like a personal title. In order to increase our self-image we enhance the status of the in- group, the group we belong to.
Conformity, obedience and the social influences involved This essay examines the likely outcomes of human behaviour. By analysing Asch’s study into conformity and Hofling’s experiment about obedience, the extent to which individuals can avoid such social influences is investigated. There’s been great research into why people conform; following Asch’s study Deutsch and Gerald found that there are two types of social influence which makes people conform. Normative social influence; where individuals conform to be accepted and belong to the group. Benefits come from belonging in a group, individuals may conform on the surface but disagree with the group internally.
Assess the strengths and weaknesses of the functionalist approach to society Functionalism is a consensus perspective that sees society as based on shared values into which members are socialised. It sees society as like an organism, each part performing functions to maintain the system as a whole. For example, religion, the education system and the family perform socialisation functions. The functionalist theory has many strengths. One of the strengths of Functionalism is that it asserts that there are purposes for social conditions or facts.
Social Influences on Behavior Social influences on behavior This paper will attempt to explore and explain basic concepts of human interactions regarding a perspective on psychology and examples given regarding how human behaviors change based on different social situations, including specific behaviors, environments in which the behaviors occurred, associated phenomenon associated with behaviors, and if the behavior exhibits any necessary therapeutic intervention. Social Influences on Behavior Social psychology and sociology are very similar and travel the same path. Conformity may make a new situation easier and combining the identity to a group is a social identity theory. An individual’s behavior often changes by changing the individual’s environment or group setting. Humans crave social interactions; to withhold social interaction is a squandered effort.
Written Assignment 1. Explain how variables such as social inter actions, cognitive processes, environmental variables, cultural context, and biological factors shape what social psychology is all about and how it is practiced. Social Psychology is based on many components such as social interactions, cognitive processes, environmental variables, cultural context, and biological factors. Social psychology explains the nature of one’s behavior and is the key element that influence the way an individual think, feel and behave. Social interactions is the process in which individuals act towards or respond to other in any given situation.
Assess the different sociological explanations for the formation of identity (24 marks) Identity can be defined as the way in which we see ourselves and the way that others see us. However there are different types of identity that shape us as people. Individual identity is how we see ourselves and how we define ourselves for example how we look, hair colour, eye colour and skin colour. Social identity is the identity we have little choice over such as gender and nationality. Collective identity is the identity shared by a social group this combines social and individual factors of identity for example combining the way we chose to look and the image that we have no choice over.
There are many similarities between Rogers’ and Kelly’s approaches to personality. As a humanist theorist, Rogers views the individual as generally good and motivated towards personal growth, self-fulfilment and ultimately self-actualisation (like Maslow). The concept of self-actualisation suggests an innate desire to realise one’s own potential. This differs from Freud’s view of innate drives and urges. Rogers emphasises the subjective and unique experiences and perceptions of the individual and the meaning that people attach to their world.