← Psychology syllabus

ScotlandPsychology

Social Behaviour

4 dot points across 4 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

What causes aggressive behaviour?

Aggression: the nature of aggression, biological, psychological and social explanations of aggressive behaviour, factors that increase aggression, and the research evidence and methods used to study it.
The SQA Higher Psychology Social Behaviour optional topic on aggression: biological explanations such as genetics and brain factors, psychological and social explanations such as social learning and frustration-aggression, the factors that increase aggression, and the research evidence and methods used to study it.
13 min answer →

Why do people conform to groups and obey authority?

Conformity and obedience: the nature of conformity and obedience, explanations of why people conform and obey, factors that affect them, and the key research evidence and methods used to study social influence.
The SQA Higher Psychology mandatory Social Behaviour topic on conformity and obedience: types and explanations of conformity, explanations of obedience, the factors that increase or reduce social influence, and the key research evidence and methods including Asch, Milgram and Zimbardo.
13 min answer →

Why are people prejudiced, and how can prejudice be reduced?

Prejudice: the nature of prejudice and discrimination, explanations of why prejudice develops, methods of reducing prejudice, and the research evidence and methods used to study it.
The SQA Higher Psychology Social Behaviour optional topic on prejudice: the nature of prejudice and discrimination, explanations such as social identity theory, realistic conflict and the authoritarian personality, methods of reducing prejudice, and the research evidence and methods used to study it.
13 min answer →

Why do we form, maintain and end relationships?

Social relationships: the nature of social relationships, explanations of why relationships form, are maintained and break down, factors affecting attraction, and the research evidence and methods used to study relationships.
The SQA Higher Psychology Social Behaviour optional topic on social relationships: factors affecting attraction, explanations of why relationships form and are maintained such as social exchange and equity theory, why relationships break down, and the research evidence and methods used to study them.
13 min answer →