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.
As stated in Giddens, sociologists who support this theory see individuals as not created by society but as the creators of society. Both the functional and conflict perspective, study society on a macro level. Unlike the micro study of society that looks to the individual, structural theory instead looks to society as a whole. Supporters of this theory view society as the creator of the individual, it is believed that the rules norms and values of society influence and govern the individuals. This essay will look at that two structural theories of functionalism and Marxists, it will compare and contrast both perspectives and identify similarities and differences in their views of on education family, as well as highlighting the strengths and a weaknesses in both perspectives.
Functionalism is a macro, structuralist theory. This means they see human behaviour being shaped as an influence of social forces. It is also seen as a consensus theory, as functionalists’ argue that, individuals are socialised into a shared value to ensure conformity and social order. However, this functionalists approach is criticised by action theorists, as they argue that individuals create society through their interactions. Unlike other functionalists, Parsons argues that individuals are integrated through socialisation and social order.
The functionalist perspective presents social moulding of an individual rather than use of force to the individual in order to carry out societal roles. Moreover, it asserts that when members of the society cooperate with one another, they help in maintaining order in the society. In addition to that, functionalists perceive social transformation as being constructive and expected. The functionalist view also holds that each feature of society is mutually dependent and participates in society's performance as a whole. It was emphasised by Appelrouth and Edles (2008:349) that, the classic structural functionalist image of society is as an organism, such as the body with different parts (e.g.
Macro Theories focus on major structural features and give us an understanding of how societies survive and change. The Micro Theories focus on how individuals interpret the social world. Explain one Micro Theory and discuss, using examples, four differences between the Macro and the Micro perspectives. Sociological Theory A sociological theory is a group of ideas that seek to explain the norms and behaviours of human society. In other words, they help us to relate the larger social picture to our own personal lives.
Mead argued that social life depends on the ability of individuals to observe themselves from the standpoint of others. The concept of self develops by placing oneself in the position of others and looking back at oneself with an objective stance. With an awareness of self, individuals are able to see themselves as others see them. This provides the basis for co-operative action in society. The individual will become aware of what is expected of him or her and will
The relationship between these two is they both help us find reasoning and uncover why many things in society are the way they are while also uncovering the bigger picture. Thus having the end goal of being able to have control and/or understanding over one’s life through certain actions. Researchers use sociological imagination to explain social things typically ignored by people steeped in individualism. They do this by having their subjects think about topics in society that have led to some sort of outcome, and get them to understand what causes led to that result. Outcomes are shaped by (but are not limited to) social norms, motives, and the social context (country, time period, and people they associate themselves with).
He believed that people develop constructs as internal ideas of reality to help them understand the world around them and that the way the world is viewed is based on individual experiences, interpretations and observations. This essay will also look closely at the work from Hans Eysenck and Stanley Rachman on Trait Theory (1965) and Phillida Salmon (2003) who developed George Kelly’s Personal Construct Theory further by relating it to teaching. It will also discuss the interrogative themes of Power Relations, Situation Knowledge and Agency Structure. The strengths and weaknesses of both approaches will be critically compared along with looking at the contrasts of both hoping to offer an explanation to the above statement ‘The traits that we think we find in others represent our personal construction of them’ (Butt, 2012, p.53). Theories of personality were developed around a century ago in three different strands known as clinical, psychometric and experimental traditions, although all separate they seek to explain behaviour and the individual differences in the way people react to the same situation.
Whereas, action theorists expressly believe we have free-will and are capable of choosing our own path; that society should be and is defined by the opinions and actions of those individuals who form it. Also, whilst structural theorists are concerned with how society functions on a macro level (i.e. the big picture), primarily using quantitative research methods, believing each institution of society plays a vital role in maintaining overall order and efficiency. In direct contrast, social action theories are focussed at a micro level, carrying out qualitative research with smaller social groups, interpreting meaning and considering individual perspective; believing society to be the sum of all its parts, a collection of individuals. 2.