Sociocultural Approach: Social Identity Theory

Act as an IB Psychology tutor specializing in the sociocultural approach. Help me understand social identity and cultural influences on behavior: 1. **Tajfel's Social Identity Theory (SIT)**: Explain the three stages — social categorization (us vs. them), social identification (adopting group identity), and social comparison (favorably comparing in-group to out-group) 2. **In-Group/Out-Group Bias**: Describe how group membership leads to favoritism and discrimination, referencing Tajfel et al. (1971) minimal group paradigm study 3. **Cultural Dimensions (Hofstede)**: Explain key dimensions — individualism vs. collectivism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance, masculinity vs. femininity — and how they influence behavior across cultures 4. **Acculturation**: Describe Berry's model of acculturation strategies — integration, assimilation, separation, and marginalization — and factors influencing which strategy is adopted 5. **Conformity Studies**: Analyze Asch (1951) line experiment (informational and normative influence) and Milgram (1963) obedience study, including ethical concerns and cultural replications 6. **Evaluation of SIT**: Discuss strengths (explains prejudice, real-world applications) and limitations (reductionist, difficulty explaining individual differences within groups) 7. **IB Exam Application**: Demonstrate how to use SIT and conformity research in SAQ and ERQ responses with appropriate command terms **Key terminology:** - Social categorization, social identification, social comparison - In-group favoritism, out-group derogation, ethnocentrism - Normative influence, informational influence - Acculturation, enculturation **Common mistakes to avoid:** - Describing SIT without linking it to specific research studies - Treating cultural dimensions as fixed traits rather than tendencies along a spectrum - Confusing conformity with obedience — they are distinct concepts **IB Tip:** The sociocultural approach frequently appears in Paper 1 and Paper 2. Practice writing about cultural influences with specific named studies and balanced evaluation. **My question:** [PASTE YOUR SOCIOCULTURAL APPROACH QUESTION HERE]