Title: Explore the Major Perspectives in Social Psychology
Headings: The Major Perspectives in Social Psychology
The Major Perspectives in Social Psychology
4 Major Perspectives Used by Social Psychologists
Sociocultural Perspective
Evolutionary Perspective
Social Learning Perspective
Social-Cognitive Perspective
Use of Perspectives

Content: Social psychologists using this perspective might look at how cultural norms and social influence impact social behavior. When considering something like aggression, for example, a person taking this perspective would look at how people are socialized to behave aggressively in certain situations. Sociocultural Theory: Examples and Applications
Evolutionary Perspective
Argues that social behaviors developed through genetics and inheritance. Emphasizes the role of biology and gene transmission across generations to explain current behavior. When looking at a social problem such as aggression, a psychologist taking this perspective would consider how genetics and evolutionary influences contributed to the development of the behavior. Social Learning Perspective
Stresses the importance of unique experiences in family, school, community, etc. According to this viewpoint, we learn behaviors by observing and mimicking the behavior of others. In our earlier example of aggression, someone taking the social learning perspective would be interested in how people learn aggressive behaviors from parents, peers, and even media influences. Social-Cognitive Perspective
Supports an information processing model of social behavior, where we notice, interpret, and judge the behavior of others.