EXPLAINING BEHAVIOR FROM DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES

For this Discussion, you will explore social psychology, personality psychology, and sociology in their approaches to explaining behavior. Consider the following scenario of Jason:

Jason is a college student accused of making and distributing methamphetamine. If charged and convicted, Jason’s dreams of medical school would be dashed. How would a social psychologist explain Jason’s behavior and his decision to take this risk?

TO PREPARE

• Review the Learning Resources for this week and consider how a social psychologist would approach and explain Jason’s behavior and decision.
• Also, consider how a personality psychologist or a sociologist would explain Jason’s behavior and decision. Consider how each approach is different from a social psychologist’s approach. Post an explanation of Jason’s behavior from the perspective of a social psychologist. Support your explanation with references to social psychology theory and research.

• LEARNING RESOURCES

  Required Readings

• Aronson, E., Wilson, T. D., Akert, R. M., & Sommers, S. R. (Eds.) (2019). Social Psychology (10th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.
  • Chapter 1, “Introducing Social Psychology”