Principles of the sociocultural level of analysis 4.2 Outline principles that define the sociocultural level of analysis (SAQ)

Blank Piece of Paper Mrs. Helton Fold Paper in half (hamburger) On the left side…Write your first name across the top! Write (creatively) 10 words to describe yourself Mrs. Helton

1. Human beings are social animals We have a basic need to belong Belongingness Theory (Baumeister & Leary) Humans are biologically motivated to form and maintain interpersonal relationships Culture helps us satisfy the psychological need to live together Relationships are bidirectional Group involvement impacts individual Individual impacts group

Howarth, 2002 AIM: to study how girls describe and evaluate themselves based on where they live Method: Focus group, interviews Participants: adolescent girls Results: positive social identity Positive view of “being from Brixton” Negative view of those living outside Brixton Implications In-group and out-group schemas support our need to belong

2. Culture influences behavior Definition of culture norms and values that define a society The study of culture will help us understand & appreciate cultural differences World is becoming a multicultural society

Berry, 1967 Aim: investigate how culture and conformity are related Method: Cultural comparison experiment Culture: comparing two cultures (IV) Experiment: Asch line test (DV) Participants Temne Culture (Sierra Leone)  agriculture Inuits (Baffin Islands in Canada)  Fishing & hunting Results Temne: very high conformity Work together to feed the whole community Inuits: very low conformity Hunt & fish alone Implications Children learn at a young age what level of conformity is necessary to be part of a successful community

Blank Piece of Paper On the other side Examples Identify FIVE groups you belong to Identity one value for each group Examples Social Studies Teachers JFK Faculty

3. Humans have a social self We have an individual identity AND a collective/social identity Many behaviors are determined by membership in a group Family, community, club or nationality In-groups & out-groups

Tajfel & Turner “SIT” Theory: Social Identity Theory Tajfel, 1970 Social identities are determined by the groups we belong too (in-group) and the groups we don’t (out-group) In-group: seen as more positive Out-group: seen in a more negative light Tajfel, 1970 Social identity is easy to establish quickly creates favoritism

4. People’s views of the world are resistant to change World view: The way the world is understood Why it works the way it does What values are essential Culture helps shape world view

Activity Compare your individual self with your social self Discuss in small groups What happens when there is a conflict between your social self and individual self?

Defining Culture Simple Definition set of attitudes, behaviors and symbols shared by a large group of people communicated from one generation to the next A unique meaning and information system shared by a group transmitted across generations Why? basic needs of survival pursue happiness derive meaning from life

When defining culture, most definitions include… Transmitted from generation to generation Cultural attitudes Beliefs (political, religious, and moral) Values Superstitions Behaviors Norms Customs, traditions, fashions Symbols Words, gestures, pictures

Interaction Some definitions focus on essential functions Procreation Production of food Skills and tools needed to protect themselves Formation of social networks and relationships Production of art, science and mathematics

Write a SAQ Outline principles that define the sociocultural level of analysis Structure A paragraph discussing the principles (all of them) A paragraph summarizing research Connect to one or more principles

Evaluating the Sociocultural Level of Analysis Contributions: Placing the individual in a social context Emphasizing the importance of culture Making psychology more relevant to social life Misuses and Misinterpretations Reductionism Stereotyping Extreme cultural relativism Ethnocentrism

Placing the individual in a social context Old way… Individual apart from context Don’t consider a person’s generation (age), immediate situation, historical or contemporary circumstances Assumption: find laws of behavior that apply to ALL humans EVERYWHERE Idea of universal stages or passages is fading

Emphasizing the importance of culture Research needs to consider culture Example: baby sleeping through the night…YIPPY!! Should we study this milestone? How do you study adolescences? When are you an adult?

Making psychology more relevant to social life Why is cross-cultural and cross-situational research difficult? Why must we do it? Explain, predict and influence behavior How can we resolve issues? Are there cultural similarities?

Activity Identify one thing that you failed at or did not achieve? Now, explain why!

Reductionism What is it? What are the problems with any type of reductionism? Do you believe that there are cultural “genes”?

Activity Identify 10 stereotypes

Stereotypes Sociocultural emphasis can cause people to exaggerate differences between groups and overlook variations within

Extreme relativism Absolutist attitudes Relativist attitudes Universal truths and a common human nature Relativist attitudes Every culture differs from every other Judge only on its own terms Nonjudgmental view of all cultural practices Female circumcision Honor killings