Key Idea: The sociocultural approach explains behaviour through the group — identity, conformity, culture — and how we absorb and adjust to it.
Topic 2.3 at a glance
- Identity & groups — Social identity theory (us/them), social learning theory (observe & imitate).
- Social influence — Conformity, compliance techniques, cognitive dissonance.
- Culture — Cultural dimensions, enculturation, acculturation; emic vs etic.
Groups · Influence · Culture
IB-style questionExplain[6 marks]
In the context of human relationships, explain how group membership can influence behaviour, using one sociocultural concept.
🔒 Model answer plan
See the mark-by-mark plan — for / against / judgement, with marking guidance — in study mode.
Social identity theory? Categorise → identify → compare → favour the in-group (bias).
Enculturation vs acculturation? Absorbing your own culture vs adjusting to a new one.
Individualism vs collectivism? 'I' cultures value independence; 'we' cultures value group harmony (an average, not a rule).
Sociocultural answers score well by naming the mechanism and the risk (in-group bias, ethnocentrism, stereotyping).