Psychology Ethics: Social Control
This flashcard set explores the concept of social control, defined as the regulation of behaviour for societal purposes. It outlines how psychology aims to predict and control behaviour, sometimes leading to ethical concerns. Examples include behaviour conditioning in Learning Psychology, and the concept of negative social control, where influence is enforced through punishment or ridicule.
Define ‘social control’.
The regulation of other people’s behaviour for social purposes.
Key Terms
Define ‘social control’.
The regulation of other people’s behaviour for social purposes.
Explain the two goals of psychology that relate to social control.
Prediction of the behaviour allows us to control the behaviour if it is deemed harmful or undesirable.
Give an example of where social control may be seen in psychology.
In Learning Psychology where they condition someone to behaviour in a certain way in which they are being socially controlled.
Define ‘negative social control’.
The regulation of other people’s behaviour for social purposes through punishment or ridicule.
Define ‘positive social control’.
The regulation of other people’s behaviour for social purposes through reward or approval.
Identify the 6 types of social control.
1) Legitimate power
2) Reward power
3) Expert power
4) Referent power
5) Coercive power
6) Informational power
Related Flashcard Decks
Study Tips
- Press F to enter focus mode for distraction-free studying
- Review cards regularly to improve retention
- Try to recall the answer before flipping the card
- Share this deck with friends to study together
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
Define ‘social control’. | The regulation of other people’s behaviour for social purposes. |
Explain the two goals of psychology that relate to social control. | Prediction of the behaviour allows us to control the behaviour if it is deemed harmful or undesirable. |
Give an example of where social control may be seen in psychology. | In Learning Psychology where they condition someone to behaviour in a certain way in which they are being socially controlled. |
Define ‘negative social control’. | The regulation of other people’s behaviour for social purposes through punishment or ridicule. |
Define ‘positive social control’. |
|
Identify the 6 types of social control. | 1) Legitimate power |
Define ‘legitimate power’. | The belief that a person has the right to make demands and expect others’ compliance as form of social control. |
Define ‘reward power’. | The person has the ability to reward another person for their compliance as a form of social control. |
Define ‘expert power’. | The person has a high level of skills and knowledge gaining more trust from people as a form of social control. |
| The person’s perceived attractiveness and respect as a form of social control. |
Define ‘coercive power’. | The belief that a person can punish others for non-compliance as a form of social control. |
Define ‘informational power’. | A person’s ability to control the information that they disclose to others to accomplish something as a form of social control. |
What are the 4 main elements of evaluating issues of social control? | 1) Effectiveness of using social control to better someone |
Identify 2 areas of Social Psychology that have elements of social control. | 1) Jigsaw classroom technique 2) Assertive Community Therapy |
Describe how the jigsaw technique in Social Psychology has good and bad elements of social control. | GOOD |
Describe how assertive community therapy in Social Psychology has elements of social control. | C - Gomory (2001) found that some on the programme were offered little choice in decisions and found it patronising - therefore having legitimate power |
Describe how the findings and conclusions of Sherif’s (1954) study can be used as a form of social control. | F - In Stage 2 friendship levels of the Rattlers were 7% and 6% for the Eagles compared to Stage 3 of 36% for the Rattlers and 23% for the Eagles |
Identify 2 areas of Cognitive Psychology that have elements of social control. | 1) EWT and Cognitive Interview 2) Cognitive Behavioural Therapy |