SOCPSY 1Z03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Sociological Theory, Circular Reasoning

• School: McMaster University
• Department: Social Psychology
• Course: SOCPSY 1Z03
• Professor: Paul Galvin

Document Summary

Tentative explanation/prediction of why thing work a certain way. 5 families of theories: role, reinforcement, cognitive, symbolic interaction, evolutionary. Focuses on societal and external forces that affect the individual. Social behaviour is a result of someone playing a social role. Individuals act according to this: groups make sure that everyone is conforming. Doesn"t explain deviant behaviour (those who violate the roles) Doesn"t explain how these roles originated or how they can change. Micro focuses on the behaviour of the individual. We are more likely to perform certain behaviour when there is a positive outcome. Behaviour can be changed when we reinforce it with a positive outcome (conditioning) Stimulus & responses: events that change behaviour is called stimulus (saying sit to a dog, the behaviour change is called a response (dog sitting, reinforcement is favorable outcome (the treat) Behaviour is a result of reacting to environment. Doesn"t explain all types of human behaviour (when we don"t do things for outcome)