IB Psychology 2.3 Sociocultural Approach Key Definitions

The process of psychological and cultural change that follows sustained contact between people from different cultural backgrounds. Individuals adapt to the norms, values, and behaviours of the host culture while negotiating which parts of their heritage culture to retain.

A systematic error that skews results in a particular direction.

A form of social influence where individuals change their behavior in response to a direct request from another person or group.

A change in behaviour, attitude, or belief that results from real or imagined pressure from a group, even when no specific request or direct order has been made.

Measurable scales, originally developed by Geert Hofstede, along which whole societies vary in values, beliefs, and behaviour, allowing systematic comparison across cultures.

The process by which individuals learn and adopt the cultural norms, values, and behaviors of their society.

A research approach that compares cultures using standardised categories defined from outside.

An approach that studies psychological phenomena from inside a specific cultural community, using concepts built within that culture.

The theory that a person's sense of self is shaped by group memberships, producing in-group favouritism and out-group discrimination.

Social learning theory (SLT), developed by Albert Bandura, proposes that humans learn social behaviour by observing and imitating others. Reinforcement, punishment, and the perceived similarity between observer and model all shape whether the behaviour is reproduced.

The extent to which a measure accurately reflects the construct it is intended to measure.