IB Psychology: The socio-cultural level of analysisThe Socio-Cultural Level of Analysis in IB Psychology is one of the three core topics and is assessed in the Paper 1 SL and HL examinations.
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Just Give Me the Answers! is the ultimate guide to answering SCLOA extended response essay questions and is your ultimate advantage when it comes to sitting the Paper 1 IB Psychology examination. All possible Socio-Cultural Levels of Analysis examination questions have been covered with a model answer personally prepared by Derek Burton. Each model answer is guaranteed to be awarded the full 22 marks if the student can reproduce it in the examination.
Further, each model answer is perfectly aligned with the theories and research targeted in the teaching and study resources used throughout this website. Just Give Me the Answers! provides you with the model answers to use in the examination, and the studying and learning resources in this members only section enable you to understand, practice and revise your way to the perfect IB Psychology score. It is how you get a 7 in IB Psychology. |
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The Social Mind
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The Human Behaviour Experiments - Social Psychology
The powerful influence of social and group norms are explored here.
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The IB Psychology Socio-Cultural Level of Analysis
Early psychology focused solely on the role of the individual. Today, psychologists recognise that human behaviour can only be fully understood if the social context in which behaviour occurred is taken into account. One principle that defines the IB Psychology Socio-Cultural Level of Analysis is that human beings are social animals and that we have a basic need to belong. The biological and cognitive systems that make up the individual are embedded in an even larger system of interrelationships with other individuals. The relationship between the individual and the group is bidirectional: as the individual is affected by being part of the group, the individual can also effect behaviour in the group.
A second principle that defines the IB Psychology Socio-Cultural level of analysis is that culture influences human behaviour. Culture can be defined as the norms and values that define a society. In an ever more multi-cultural society, there is a need to understand the effect of culture on a person's behaviour, because the study of culture may help us to better understand and appreciate cultural differences.
A third principle that defines the IB Psychology Socio-Cultural level of analysis is that, because humans are social animals, they have a social self. people do not only have an individual identity, but also a collective or social one. For example, when Princess Diana died, people across the UK mourned as if she were part of their family. In the Czech Republic, when the national hockey team won the gold medal in the 1998 winter Olympics, one would have though that every Czech had a brother on the team! Social identities are very important to the definition of who we are, and many behaviours are determined by membership of groups such as family, community, club or nationality.
One last principle in the IB Socio-Cultural level of analysis which is important is that pople's views of the world are resistant to change. A world view can be defined as the way the world is understood: how it is supposed to work, why it works thy way it does, and what values are essential to the world community. Clearly, culture helps to shape our world view and our communities install in us values which have been passed down from generation t generation. According to social and cultural psychologists, the sense of self is developed within social and cultural contexts.
A second principle that defines the IB Psychology Socio-Cultural level of analysis is that culture influences human behaviour. Culture can be defined as the norms and values that define a society. In an ever more multi-cultural society, there is a need to understand the effect of culture on a person's behaviour, because the study of culture may help us to better understand and appreciate cultural differences.
A third principle that defines the IB Psychology Socio-Cultural level of analysis is that, because humans are social animals, they have a social self. people do not only have an individual identity, but also a collective or social one. For example, when Princess Diana died, people across the UK mourned as if she were part of their family. In the Czech Republic, when the national hockey team won the gold medal in the 1998 winter Olympics, one would have though that every Czech had a brother on the team! Social identities are very important to the definition of who we are, and many behaviours are determined by membership of groups such as family, community, club or nationality.
One last principle in the IB Socio-Cultural level of analysis which is important is that pople's views of the world are resistant to change. A world view can be defined as the way the world is understood: how it is supposed to work, why it works thy way it does, and what values are essential to the world community. Clearly, culture helps to shape our world view and our communities install in us values which have been passed down from generation t generation. According to social and cultural psychologists, the sense of self is developed within social and cultural contexts.
There is a lot to understand, learn and memorise for your IB examinations in the Socio-Cultural Level of Analysis section of the course. There are 15 different learning outcomes, all of which are exact matches for exam questions and any of these could be asked in the exam as a short answer question (8 marks) and most as extended response questions (22 marks).
Learning outcomes for tHe Socio-Cultural level of analysis
General Learning Outcomes:
- Outline principles that define the socio-cultural level of analysis.
- Explain how principles that define the socio-cultural level of analysis may be demonstrated in research (that is, theories and/or studies).
- Discuss how and why particular research methods are used at the socio-cultural level of analysis
- Discuss ethical considerations related to research studies at the socio-cultural level of analysis.
- Describe the role of situational and dispositional factors in explaining behaviour.
- Discuss two errors in attributions
- Evaluate social identity theory, making reference to relevant studies.
- Explain the formation of stereotypes and their effect on behaviour.
- Explain social learning theory, making reference to two relevant studies.
- Discuss the use of compliance techniques
- Evaluate research on conformity to group norms.
- Discuss factors influencing conformity
- Define the terms “culture” and “cultural norms”.
- Examine the role of two cultural dimensions on behaviour
- Using one or more examples, explain “emic” and “etic” concepts.
Each of these IB Psychology Socio-Cultural Level of Analysis learning outcomes is covered in full in the members area and model extended response answers are provided in the the interactive digital book, Just Give Me the Answers! which, of course, members have full access to, and it can also be purchased as a learning and teaching resource on its own.