Key Assumptions and Definitions of Social Psychology

Approach.
The effect of interactions between individuals. Individuals interact with one another, and this interaction can affect their behaviour. People affect other people’s behaviour with signals, such as how they look and behave.

The effect of being in groups within society. Psychologists believe everyone is a part of a culture or society and that these cultures can affect individual behaviour, they also believe that your role in society affects people’s behaviour.

The effect of the social situation. It’s not just people that affect are behaviour but also the situation we are in. We change are behaviour to that of what we see acceptable for the situation we are in, whether it be formal or informal, or familiar or new.

Example
If you were to smile at someone on the street, they are more likely smile back at you. Therefore your actions are directly affecting and changing someone’s behaviour or how they act.

Religious groups, such as the Mormons, put the expectation of purity till marriage on teenagers. This means the teenager’s culture is affecting their behaviour as they are following the rules of their society, even if they do not personally believe in the rule.

You act and express different views in front of your family than you do your friends or your teachers. For example you may swear at home but you wouldn’t swear in church, because it is not the correct way to act in the situation.

Agency Theory:
What is Agency Theory?
This is the idea that our social system leads to obedience. If people see themselves as individuals, they will respond as individuals in an autonomous state in a situation. There are two states which individuals are in, these are the agentic state (not in control) and autonomous state (in control).

Agentic State. Is when you allow someone else to control your actions and behaviour, even if this goes against your moral beliefs. This is because you believe it is not your responsibility, you are not in control you are just doing what you are told.

Autonomous State. Is when you take control of your actions and behaviour, as well as the responsibilities that come with those actions. You are in control. S
Moral Strain. Is when you feel guilty and even physical pain due to your behaviour and actions, as these actions go against your moral beliefs.

Events that support the theory. The reason the original study was done was to see if it was specifically Germans who were obedient, or was it a general thing. The two most famous examples of obedience is the Holocaust/Nazi Germany, the other example is the My Lai Massacre.