PSY 02        SOCIAL INTERACTION MAXINE JACKSON

Social

Interaction

(Psy 02)

Word Count

1,445

Maxine Jackson

February 2008

   Social interaction is part of social psychology; this investigates the reasons for human change, whether that change is thinking, feeling or behaviour. Depending on perspective a change in a person’s beliefs could be due to education or propaganda.

Social influence is the investigation of how others influence a person’s way of life. What makes an individual change their beliefs of their behaviour?

Social psychology areas include the investigation of several different topics, for example:

  • Stereotypes standardised image or conception of a type of person, ect. Categorise
  • Prejudice an opinion formed beforehand, esp. An unfavourable one based on inadequate facts
  • Discrimination unfair treatment of a person, racial group, minority, ect. Action based on prejudice
  • Frustration annoyance, disappointment, dissatisfaction, grievance, irritation, resentment
  • Aggression an attack or harmful action, esp. An unprovoked attack by one country against another, any offensive activity, practice, etc. Psycho. A hostile or destructive mental attitude.
  • Conformity compliance, allegiance, conventionality, agreement, conformance, harmony
  • Obedience the condition or quality of being obedient. Act or an instance of obeying; dutiful or submissive behaviour.

Collins English Dictionary & Thesaurus (2000)

The aim of this assignment is to look at and evaluate the research theories and examine how they relate to a given case study.

CASE STUDY

Louise Brown is a single white female. She has two children that she has chosen to raise alone. Ms Brown has a full time job working for a highly paid company. Her children attend boarding school Monday to Friday and spend the weekends with their mother.

Due to personal reasons beyond her control Ms Brown has decided to move her family over 150 miles away from their current home.

Ms Brown moved to a neighbourhood mainly home to black African families. The mass majority of families consist of a hard working father on a low income, four to five children and a mother who stays at home and cares for her family. The families in this neighbourhood are all on low incomes and very few own their own home. They are hard working and loyal to each other.

Moving house is a difficult time for anyone. It can be expensive and stressful. For Ms Brown the move is especially hard as she has the extra hardship of moving to a culturally, racially and financially different neighbourhood to what she is used to. It’s difficult for Ms Brown to adjust to the new environment and it is also difficult for the people in the neighbourhood to adjust to Ms Brown and her family.

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Visually the people in this neighbourhood are different to Ms Brown and her family, the main difference is the colour of skin.

An outsider to the neighbourhood could experience stereotyping. Ms Brown might see these people in a certain way. Stereotypes are often negative, yet they can be positive and sometimes neutral.

“...stereotypes and stereotyping is of interest to social psychologists because stereotypes are frequently and easily activated...”

Cardwell M et al (2001:12)

Stereotyping may lead to prejudice and discrimination. Prejudice ...

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