Understand social and cultural issues in psychology, including: a. know…

The idea

Understanding social and cultural issues is vital in psychology. 'Society' refers to a group of people living together in an ordered community, sharing laws and customs. 'Social issues' are problems affecting many people within a society, such as discrimination or crime. 'Culture' encompasses the shared beliefs, values, and behaviours of a specific group. Psychologists use theories and research from social influence to explain these issues. For example, Milgram's agency theory explains how ordinary people might commit atrocities under the orders of an authority figure, addressing the social issue of blind obedience. Similarly, theories of conformity help explain how cultural norms are maintained and transmitted across different generations.

What earns the marks

• Define 'society' as a group of people living together in an ordered community with shared laws and customs.
• Define 'social issues' as problems that affect a significant number of individuals within a society.
• Define 'culture' as the shared beliefs, values, customs, and behaviours of a particular group.
• Apply social influence theories, such as agency theory or social impact theory, to explain real-world social issues like obedience to destructive authority.
• Use research studies, such as Milgram or Zimbardo, to illustrate how cultural and social contexts shape human behaviour.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Confusing the terms 'society' and 'culture'.

  Put it right: Society refers to the structured community of people, while culture refers to their shared beliefs and practices.

• Failing to link psychological theories to specific social issues.

  Put it right: Provide a concrete example, such as using conformity research to explain bystander behaviour or peer pressure.

• Treating culture as a fixed, biological trait.

  Put it right: Explain culture as a learned set of behaviours and values that are transmitted socially.

Exam tips

• When asked to explain a social issue, explicitly name the psychological theory or study you are using as evidence.
• Practice defining 'society', 'social issues', and 'culture' clearly, as these definitions can form the basis of short-answer questions.
• Consider how cultural differences might affect the results of social influence studies, such as variations in conformity rates across different countries.