Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSociocultural PerspectiveEvolutionary PerspectiveSocial Learning PerspectiveSocial-Cognitive PerspectiveExamplesUses

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Sociocultural Perspective

Evolutionary Perspective

Social Learning Perspective

Social-Cognitive Perspective

Examples

Uses

Close

Have you ever wondered why people sometimes act differently when they are in a crowd? Or have you ever wondered how society at large influences your own behavior?Social psychologistslook at these sorts of questions, but like many other fields within psychology, they often utilize different perspectives when looking at questions about social behavior.

At a GlanceWhen looking at social behavior, social psychologists often take different perspectives to look at certain aspects of the situation. These perspectives inform how researchers consider the problem and the types of explanations they might explore. The four main social psychology perspectives that researchers might use are:The sociocultural perspectiveThe evolutionary perspectiveThe social learning perspectiveThe social cognitive perspectiveThink of each perspective as a lens through which psychologists can look at different aspects of human behavior. Learning about each perspective can give you a greater understanding of the many influences that can affect people’s behavior in groups.

At a Glance

When looking at social behavior, social psychologists often take different perspectives to look at certain aspects of the situation. These perspectives inform how researchers consider the problem and the types of explanations they might explore. The four main social psychology perspectives that researchers might use are:The sociocultural perspectiveThe evolutionary perspectiveThe social learning perspectiveThe social cognitive perspectiveThink of each perspective as a lens through which psychologists can look at different aspects of human behavior. Learning about each perspective can give you a greater understanding of the many influences that can affect people’s behavior in groups.

When looking at social behavior, social psychologists often take different perspectives to look at certain aspects of the situation. These perspectives inform how researchers consider the problem and the types of explanations they might explore. The four main social psychology perspectives that researchers might use are:

Think of each perspective as a lens through which psychologists can look at different aspects of human behavior. Learning about each perspective can give you a greater understanding of the many influences that can affect people’s behavior in groups.

The sociocultural perspective in social psychology stresses the importance of social norms and culture in explaining human behavior.

This approach 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 society.

Social psychologists using this perspective might look at how cultural norms and social influence impact social behavior. When considering something likeaggression, for example, a person taking this perspective would look at how people are socialized to behave aggressively in certain situations.

What Is Sociocultural Theory?

Theevolutionary perspectivein social psychology argues that social behaviors develop through genetics and inheritance. It primarily takes the “nature” side of thenature vs. nurture debate, suggesting that genetic influences play the most significant role in shaping human behaviors.

This perspective emphasizes the role of biology and gene transmission across generations to explain current behavior.

The social learning perspective in social psychology stresses the importance of unique experiences in families, school, and communities.

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 media influences.

The social learning approach can also be used to help explain how peers, role models, and mentors play an important part in teaching social behaviors.

The social-cognitive perspective in social psychology supports an information-processing model of social behavior. According to this model, how we notice, interpret, and judge the behavior of others plays an important part in social behavior and interactions.

New experiences can either beassimilated(using already-held beliefs to interpret the event) oraccommodated(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.

Social Cognition in Psychology

How Psychologists Use Social Psychology Perspectives

Looking at how social psychologists might utilize these perspectives can help you better appreciate how each one might affect the research process. For example, imagine that researchers are trying to understand interpersonal aggression. Researchers might opt to view the problem through the lens of one of these perspectives:

How Perspectives Are Used Today

While some social psychologists tend to have a dominant perspective, many researchers draw on a variety of theories when tackling a question or hypothesis. In other words, a psychologist might use a certain lens to view a problem, but will also consider how other factors might also play a role.

TakeawayBy 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.

Takeaway

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.

7 Major Perspectives in Modern Psychology

6 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Vasileva O, Balyasnikova N.(Re)Introducing Vygotsky’s thought: From historical overview to contemporary psychology.Frontiers in Psychology. 2019;10. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01515Seiffert-Brockmann J.Evolutionary psychology: A framework for strategic communication research.International Journal of Strategic Communication. 2018;12(4):417-432. doi:10.1080/1553118x.2018.1490291Kühn S, Kugler DT, Schmalen K, Weichenberger M, Witt C, Gallinat J.Does playing violent video games cause aggression? A longitudinal intervention study.Mol Psychiatry. 2019;24(8):1220-1234. doi:10.1038/s41380-018-0031-7Heyes C.What’s social about social learning?Journal of Comparative Psychology. 2012;126(2):193-202. doi:10.1037/a0025180Schunk DH.Social cognitive theory.APA educational psychology handbook, Vol 1: Theories, constructs, and critical issues. 2012;1:101-123. doi:10.1037/13273-005Leipold B, Bermeitinger C, Greve W, Meyer B, Arnold M, Pielniok M.Short-term induction of assimilation and accommodation.Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology. 2014;67(12):2392-2408. doi:10.1080/17470218.2014.931443

6 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Vasileva O, Balyasnikova N.(Re)Introducing Vygotsky’s thought: From historical overview to contemporary psychology.Frontiers in Psychology. 2019;10. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01515Seiffert-Brockmann J.Evolutionary psychology: A framework for strategic communication research.International Journal of Strategic Communication. 2018;12(4):417-432. doi:10.1080/1553118x.2018.1490291Kühn S, Kugler DT, Schmalen K, Weichenberger M, Witt C, Gallinat J.Does playing violent video games cause aggression? A longitudinal intervention study.Mol Psychiatry. 2019;24(8):1220-1234. doi:10.1038/s41380-018-0031-7Heyes C.What’s social about social learning?Journal of Comparative Psychology. 2012;126(2):193-202. doi:10.1037/a0025180Schunk DH.Social cognitive theory.APA educational psychology handbook, Vol 1: Theories, constructs, and critical issues. 2012;1:101-123. doi:10.1037/13273-005Leipold B, Bermeitinger C, Greve W, Meyer B, Arnold M, Pielniok M.Short-term induction of assimilation and accommodation.Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology. 2014;67(12):2392-2408. doi:10.1080/17470218.2014.931443

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Vasileva O, Balyasnikova N.(Re)Introducing Vygotsky’s thought: From historical overview to contemporary psychology.Frontiers in Psychology. 2019;10. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01515Seiffert-Brockmann J.Evolutionary psychology: A framework for strategic communication research.International Journal of Strategic Communication. 2018;12(4):417-432. doi:10.1080/1553118x.2018.1490291Kühn S, Kugler DT, Schmalen K, Weichenberger M, Witt C, Gallinat J.Does playing violent video games cause aggression? A longitudinal intervention study.Mol Psychiatry. 2019;24(8):1220-1234. doi:10.1038/s41380-018-0031-7Heyes C.What’s social about social learning?Journal of Comparative Psychology. 2012;126(2):193-202. doi:10.1037/a0025180Schunk DH.Social cognitive theory.APA educational psychology handbook, Vol 1: Theories, constructs, and critical issues. 2012;1:101-123. doi:10.1037/13273-005Leipold B, Bermeitinger C, Greve W, Meyer B, Arnold M, Pielniok M.Short-term induction of assimilation and accommodation.Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology. 2014;67(12):2392-2408. doi:10.1080/17470218.2014.931443

Vasileva O, Balyasnikova N.(Re)Introducing Vygotsky’s thought: From historical overview to contemporary psychology.Frontiers in Psychology. 2019;10. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01515

Seiffert-Brockmann J.Evolutionary psychology: A framework for strategic communication research.International Journal of Strategic Communication. 2018;12(4):417-432. doi:10.1080/1553118x.2018.1490291

Kühn S, Kugler DT, Schmalen K, Weichenberger M, Witt C, Gallinat J.Does playing violent video games cause aggression? A longitudinal intervention study.Mol Psychiatry. 2019;24(8):1220-1234. doi:10.1038/s41380-018-0031-7

Heyes C.What’s social about social learning?Journal of Comparative Psychology. 2012;126(2):193-202. doi:10.1037/a0025180

Schunk DH.Social cognitive theory.APA educational psychology handbook, Vol 1: Theories, constructs, and critical issues. 2012;1:101-123. doi:10.1037/13273-005

Leipold B, Bermeitinger C, Greve W, Meyer B, Arnold M, Pielniok M.Short-term induction of assimilation and accommodation.Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology. 2014;67(12):2392-2408. doi:10.1080/17470218.2014.931443

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