2. Major Perspective of Social Psychology
Social psychologists like many other fields within psychology, often utilize
different perspectives when looking at questions about social behavior.
For example, when looking at a problem like aggression, one research
might take an evolutionary perspective and look at how biology and genetic
inheritance play a role in aggressive behavior.
Another social psychologist might approach the same problem from the
social learning perspective and try to analyze the various environment
influences that contribute to aggression including family, friends, and
What are the major perspectives within social psychology?
3. Major Perspective of Social Psychology
Socio cultural Perspective
Stresses the importance of social norms and culture.
Proposes that children learn behavior through problem-solving interactions
with other children and adults.
Through these interactions, they learn the values and norms of their
A social psychologists using this perspective might look at how cultural
norms and social influence impact social behavior.
When considering something like aggression, for example, a person
taking this perspective would look at how people are socialized to behave
aggressively in certain situations.
4. Major Perspective of Social Psychology
Argues that social behaviors developed through genetics and inheritance.
Emphasizes the role of biology and gene transmission across generations
to explain current behavior.
When looking at a social problem such as aggression, a psychologist taking
the this perspective would consider how genetics and evolutionary
influences contributed to the development of the behavior.
5. Major Perspective of Social Psychology
Social Learning Perspective
Stresses the importance of unique experiences in family, school,
According to this viewpoint, we learn behaviors through observing and
mimicking the behavior of others.
In our earlier example of aggression, someone taking the social learning
perspective would be interested in how people learn aggressive behaviors
from parents, peers, and even media influences.
6. Major Perspective of Social Psychology
Supports an information processing model of social behavior, where we
notice, interpret, and judge the behavior of others.
New experiences can either be assimilated (using already held beliefs to
interpret the event), or accommodated (which involves changing existing
beliefs in response to the event.)
By understanding how information is processed, we can better understand
how patterns of thoughts impact behavior.
While some social psychologists tend to have a dominant perspective,
many researchers draw on a variety of theories when tackling a question or
By understanding all of the many influences that contribute to social
behavior, including culture, social learning, genetics, and individual
differences, researchers can gain a deeper understanding of the many
forces that influence how people think and act in social situations.