Review the Hock (2020) readings on social psychology theories and principles. Think about the influence of environmental and social context on behavior.

QUESTION

• Review the Hock (2020) readings on social psychology theories and principles. Think about the influence of environmental and social context on behavior.
• Reflect on the following social media scenario: You are reading posts in your favorite social media site, when you come across a post by a 19-year-old male. He writes that he was raped at a party last night and he’s afraid they will post pictures of it online. He is contemplating suicide. You notice three types of behaviors in the comments to him:

1. A small group of individuals are using profanity and belittling him. They are encouraging him to commit suicide.
2.  A larger group of individuals are making supportive comments and providing the number for a crisis help line.
3. Many of his online followers have not responded to his post.

• Think about how social psychology theories or principles could be applied to explain the types of comments made to the 19-year-old in the scenario.

Submit a 2- to 3-page paper that addresses the following:

• Describe the impact of social context on conformity, obedience, and helping behaviors.
• Explain how social psychology theories or principles could be applied to account for each of the responses in the scenario (e.g., which principles/theories could explain response type A; which principles/theories could explain response type B, and so on). Be sure to support your assertions with scholarly content.
• Provide at least one recommendation to help reduce the derogatory comments or increase the number of supportive comments in the scenario, based on what you have learned about social psychology.

Note: Support your statements with specific references to the Learning Resources and any additional sources you identify using both in-text citations and references. It is strongly recommended that you include proper APA format and citations.

ANSWER – Psychology Themes & Theories Of Psyc Week 6 Assignment 1

The impact of social context on behavior is a central concern in social psychology. Conformity, obedience, and helping behaviors are influenced by the social environment and can shed light on the different responses observed in the scenario involving the 19-year-old male victim of rape on social media. This paper will discuss the impact of social context on these behaviors and apply social psychology theories and principles to explain each type of response observed. Additionally, recommendations will be provided to address the derogatory comments and increase supportive comments based on social psychology principles.

Social context plays a significant role in shaping conformity, obedience, and helping behaviors. Conformity refers to the tendency to adjust one’s attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to align with group norms. The presence of others and the desire for social approval can lead individuals to conform to the majority opinion, even if it contradicts their personal beliefs (Hock, 2020). Obedience, on the other hand, involves complying with requests or commands from authority figures. Milgram’s classic study demonstrated how people can be influenced to engage in harmful actions under the influence of perceived authority (Milgram, 1974). Helping behavior, or prosocial behavior, refers to actions intended to benefit others. It can be influenced by factors such as empathy, social norms, and the presence of bystanders (Hock, 2020).

In the scenario, the three types of behaviors observed can be explained using social psychology theories and principles. The small group of individuals using profanity and belittling the victim, encouraging him to commit suicide, can be explained by theories of deindividuation and diffusion of responsibility. Deindividuation refers to the loss of self-awareness and personal identity in groups, which can lead to a reduction in inhibitions and an increase in aggressive or antisocial behavior (Hock, 2020). The anonymity of online platforms allows individuals to disengage from their personal identities, leading to a greater likelihood of engaging in negative behaviors without fear of social consequences. Diffusion of responsibility occurs when individuals feel less accountable for their actions in a group setting, leading to a diffusion of guilt or responsibility for the consequences (Hock, 2020). The presence of others who share similar negative attitudes and engage in derogatory comments further reinforces and normalizes this behavior.

The larger group of individuals making supportive comments and providing the crisis help line number can be explained by the social identity theory and the bystander effect. Social identity theory suggests that individuals strive to maintain a positive self-concept by identifying with and behaving in ways consistent with their in-group (Hock, 2020). In this case, individuals in the larger group may identify with the victim and demonstrate empathy and support to align with their social identity as caring and compassionate individuals. The bystander effect refers to the phenomenon where individuals are less likely to intervene in an emergency situation when there are more bystanders present (Hock, 2020). However, the larger group in this scenario may have overcome the bystander effect due to the online context, as the sense of diffusion of responsibility is reduced, and individuals can take on a more active role in providing support.

The lack of response from many of the victim’s online followers can be explained by pluralistic ignorance and the influence of social norms. Pluralistic ignorance occurs when individuals mistakenly believe that their private attitudes or beliefs differ from the group’s, leading to a conformity to perceived social norms (Hock, 2020). In this case, followers may assume that others are more knowledgeable about the situation or are better equipped to respond, resulting in a collective silence. Moreover, social norms can influence behavior by setting expectations for what is considered appropriate or acceptable (Hock, 2020). If there is no explicit norm established regarding responding to posts of this nature, followers

may be unsure of how to act, leading to a lack of response.

To reduce derogatory comments and increase supportive comments, it is important to consider social psychology principles. One recommendation is to foster a sense of social identity among social media users. By promoting positive social norms that emphasize empathy, compassion, and support, individuals may be more likely to identify with these values and engage in prosocial behavior. Online platforms can also implement moderation policies that enforce consequences for derogatory comments, thereby reducing the influence of deindividuation and diffusion of responsibility.

Additionally, raising awareness about the bystander effect and pluralistic ignorance through educational campaigns or informational posts can encourage individuals to take a more active role in providing support. By highlighting the impact of individual actions and dispelling misconceptions about the attitudes of others, people may feel more empowered to respond and overcome the social barriers that contribute to the lack of response in this scenario.

In conclusion, social context has a significant impact on conformity, obedience, and helping behaviors. The observed responses to the 19-year-old victim of rape on social media can be explained using social psychology theories and principles such as deindividuation, diffusion of responsibility, social identity theory, and the bystander effect. To address derogatory comments and increase supportive comments, promoting positive social norms, implementing moderation policies, and raising awareness about the bystander effect and pluralistic ignorance are recommended. By applying these principles, it is possible to create a more empathetic and supportive social environment online.

References:
Hock, R. R. (2020). Forty Studies that Changed Psychology: Explorations into the History of Psychological Research (8th ed.). Pearson.
Milgram, S. (1974). Obedience to Authority: An Experimental View. HarperCollins.