Social Psychology – Key Question

One key question and its importance to society today Concepts, theories, and research used in social psychology to explain the key question

Why did the atrocities at Abu Ghraib occur? Your key question Why did the atrocities at Abu Ghraib occur?

A01: Description of the key question (non-psychological description) What is the key question? (State the key question! + What is Abu Ghraib? Where? What happened? Why was it shocking? How did the public react? How is the key question relevant for today’s society? How is the key question likely to directly affect individuals in today’s society? How is the key question likely to affect society as a whole – implications? Are there any relevant examples which could help show knowledge of the key question? Any other instances of similar atrocities? Guantanamo Bay prison? Without referring to psychological concepts – are there any references in the resources that explain why this may have happened? Theories and research from social psychology may be able to help answer the key question.

A02: Explain your chosen key question to today’s society using theories and/or concepts What theories can be used from the specification content to explain the key question? How can the theories explain how the key question developed in today’s society? How can the theories explain how to reduce or possibly eliminate the impact of the key question on today’s society?

A03: Assess how far your chosen key question is relevant to today’s society or evaluate your key question (using research not theories) What research evidence can be used from the specification content to support or provide evidence for the key question? What research evidence can be used from the specification content to refute or dispute the relevance of the key question for today’s society? Are there any methodological flaws in the supporting evidence which could lead to it being questionable support for the key question?

Resources A01 sheet on learning space http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/359668 6.stm A02 and A03 – textbooks and notes from lessons Theories and research from course

1. Facts task Highlight the A01 sheet (Q and A) to familiarise yourself with what happened at Abu Ghraib. Answer these questions: Where was it? What happened? What is Abu Ghraib? Where? What happened? Why was it shocking? Why is it relevant to society? How does it impact society? Why did it happen? Why is it important to use social psychology to help explain these atrocities?

Social Identity Theory 2. Apply your knowledge and understanding of the social approach to explain the key question (A02) Theory Key Word/Concept Apply to Abu Ghraib Agency Theory Social Impact Theory Social Identity Theory Realistic Conflict Theory

Can research from social psychology explain the atrocities at Abu Ghraib? (AO3) Yes – research can explain the atrocities -- strength No – research can not explain the atrocities  limitation Are there any methodological flaws in the supporting evidence which could lead to it being questionable support for the key question?

3. Can research from social psychology explain the atrocities at Abu Ghraib? (AO3) Key Word/Concept Yes – research can explain the key question No – research can not explain the atrocities Milgram and/or Buger Obedience – blind obedience to authority figures e.g. how can we evidence blind obedience to authority at Aby Ghraib Tajfel Sherif

Writing out evaluation for key question PEC example P - research can explain why the atrocities at Abu Ghraib occurred. E – example of a piece of research and how it can explain the key question C- why is this a strength?

Conclusions Why is it important to understand the reasons behind this atrocity? To try and prevent this type of torture occurring in the future. How? Training to resist blind obedience? Awareness of individual responsibility (e.g. diffusion of responsibility doesn’t stand up in a court of law) Minow (20007) Provision of meaningful and effective training programs for both soldiers and officers, the establishment of a military culture in which soldiers understand their superiors to care about violations of law and morality, and the integration of legal analysis into the daily operations of all levels of the military hierarchy http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:12341082

H/W (due in lesson after next) Complete Assessment 7 Use the slides to ensure you know what to include in your answer for each question – depending on the type of question. I.e. is it a describe? Then it would be A01? Is it asking you about theories? A02 etc. Assess/evaluate – A03.

Exam tips!

Exam question possibilities Examples of questions that could assess the key question (not exhaustive, but used for guidance purposes): Describe the key question you have studied for social psychology (AO1) Explain the relevance of your chosen key question for social psychology to today’s society using theories and/or concepts (AO2) Using research evidence, explain the relevance of your chosen key question for social psychology to today’s society (AO3) Discuss your chosen key question for social psychology using theories and/or concepts (AO1 and AO2) Assess how far your chosen key question for social psychology is relevant to today’s society (AO1 and AO3) To what extent is your chosen key question for social psychology of relevance to today’s society? (AO1 and AO3) Evaluate your chosen key question for clinical psychology (AO1 and AO3)* Evaluate could also assess your chosen key question across AO1, AO2, and AO3 if there is a stimulus material/stem included in the question.

Using a ‘stem’ would mean you are using application therefore A02 skills In the exam you may be given stimulus material to explain using the concepts and ideas from the Social Approach. Make sure you know how to APPLY theories and studies to real life situations. There had always been unrest in the country but now the two factions had turned from legal protesting to actual fighting, so something had to be done. It had got worse since the rebel had taken over as leader-they followed her no matter what she ordered them to do. And the other side was just as bad-as soon as the violence against them had escalated, they fought back even harder. You would have though that after so long living together in the same country they would learn to share it-but the one group of course claimed ownership of the land, and saw themselves as having an equal right to be there too. Using concepts and theories from the social approach, explain how the situation outlined in the paragraph above might have come about. (8)