Although identity is concerned with understanding people in their everyday lives, constructing identity is a complex process. In order to explain the processes which construct identity, psychologists view and study identity from different perspectives which are based on different methods and theories (Phoenix, 2007). The social constructionist perspective suggests that identities are socially constructed rather than naturally occuring which means that our interaction with other people and the language available to us is used to constructs our identities (Phoenix, 2007). I am going to illustrate the strengths and weaknesses of these claims by comparing it with the psychosocial theory which although includes both individual and social elements of identity, its main focus is on the personal, core identity (Phoenix, 2007). In the everyday, social processes become ‘normal’ patterns in society and therefore appear to occur naturally, but the social constructionist theory of identity suggests that our understanding of the world and the meanings we establish are actively constructed through social relations and the language available to us (Phoenix, 2007).
According to Rogers, a strong self-concept is flexible and allows a person to confront new experiences and ideas without feeling threatened. Social psychologists have pointed out that self-concept also plays an important role in social perception-the
Evaluate research studies on conformity Conformity is a type of social influence in which individuals change their attitudes or behaviour to adhere to existing social norms. Researchers identify to types of conformity – private or informative and public or normative. Private conformity refers to private acceptance of social norms, while public conformity is overt bahaviour consistent with social norms that are nor privately accepted. Why do people conform? On the one hand, people conform because they are members of social groups.
On the other hand, by looking at the smaller picture, you can understand on a personal level. The sociological imagination is important in today’s society because it allows us to step back and be logical and rational before making a careless move. It can even help society to improve as a whole by becoming better people. By considering seemingly small details on a larger scale, it is easier to get a clear understanding of how our world acts and why it does what it does. Sociological imagination works to eliminate ethnocentric views and allows people to think in terms of different groups of people (ethnic, social, economic, age, gender etc.)
This is a strength because the participants are observed in the setting where the target behaviour normally occurs so therefore you can apply your results to a real life situation. - Observational studies tend to provide a more holistic view of a persons behaviour than the narrowly defined behaviour tested in experimental studies. This is a strength because, it allows you to see the whole picture not just a certain set of results so therefore the results are more realistic. LIMITATIONS. - Well organised observations are difficult and time consuming and it isn't possible to observe large numbers of people at the same time.
Another advantage is that the data is more likely to be valid than for example a questionnaire, as it allows the participant to respond however they want. For these reasons interpretivists generally favour interviews as they are more suited to find meanings, values, attitudes and beliefs. Interviews also allow flexibility so if the interviewer feels it is appropriate, the questions can go slightly off-track although this would only occur in an informal interview. Interviews also allow the researcher to be more sensitive towards the respondent, particularly if it is a sensitive topic area. They can do this by building trust, taking more time over the interview and giving them extra support during and after the interview process.
The adventurer enjoys hands-on methods or a non-traditional approach to doing certain tasks. For example, in this type of group it would be beneficial if the thinker and the adventurer worked together to find a new and creative approach to an assignment. The organizer could keep an organized record of ideas and could also help set realistic timelines and structures to the
Sharing the same culture integrates individuals into society by giving them a sense of solidarity with others. In which this enables members to agree on goals and how to achieve them, this would result in allowing them to act and co-operate harmoniously, through social order. Functionalists believe that society could be studied scientifically. They study society on a macro scale, in which they generalise their ideas to the overlooking society, they study human behaviour and how it is shaped by the social structure i.e they look at what education does for society as a whole not just an individual. Functionalists views society is like an organism, they view it as a social system of interconnected parts, for example like the human body and how it functions, i.e the body needs the heart and lungs and brain to work together to stay alive.
Lucy Ramos 09/10/12 Social Psychology We often try to match our ideal self with our social self in order to feel more accepted in the social world. Social perception is known as the process by which people come to understand one another. In order to learn how others perceive us, we must first look at how we perceive ourselves and how we perceive others. The social comparison theory discussed by Leon Festinger (1954) states that people evaluate their own abilities and opinions by comparing themselves to others. People often compare themselves to others to feel more socially accepted or to set themselves apart from others.
In functionalist analysis, he argues that deviance provides a platform of comparison with accepted social norms thereby helping to understand and appreciate these norms and in the process establishing social order (Nisbet, 1974). Assault in this case can be considered as functional for society, since it helps in regulation of social behavior which may initially seem not to be harmful, for example, assault in the context of self-defense. It contributes to the achievement of a stable society, as such it provides limit to social conduct. Moreover, it provides understanding of social norms related to it hence ensuring stringent observation and peaceful co-existence. On the other hand, it is dysfunctional to the society as it erodes moral values and breaks connecting social norms.