A Level Psychology at Spalding Grammar School

Social Psychology studies how our behaviour and our thinking is affected by the social situation we are in. In particular, it looks at crowds and mob mentality, peer pressure and conformity, uniforms and anonymity.

The main assumption of Social Psychology is that SITUATIONS put an incredible pressure on people to behave a certain way. This approach is much more interested in situations than it is in dispositions. When reading these studies, try to bear dispositions in mind because not everyone reacts in the same way when put in a particular situation.

Another assumption of Social Psychology is that social situations can be studied scientifically. Some psychologists try to re-create social situations in a controlled environment, but this is very difficult to do realistically. Others try to go out "into the field" to study social situations in the real world. When reading these studies, ask yourself how realistic the situations being studied are and whether there are other factors (variables) at work in the real world that psychologists cannot control.

• Download and view the Social Approach Slideshow
• Use the Lecture Handout to take notes
• Access the Social Approach handout
• Access the Social Studies handout

Behavioural study of obedience

Click the picture to view the Milgram page. We will be posting up slideshows, handouts, web links and a complete summary of the study.

Good samaritanism: an underground phenomenon?

Click the picture to view the Piliavin page. We will be posting up slideshows, handouts, web links and a complete summary of the study.

Rethinking the psychology of tyranny

Click the picture to go to the Independent Study page where you will be able to research this study. Read the summary then download the slideshow and note-taking sheets. Then download and attempt the assessment questions.