Social Psychology Issues - Essay Example

Social Psychology Social phsychology, it can be said is the search for truth, while searching for the truth we must explain and to explain we must understand. The problem thus is how can we understand everything around us. Stainton-Rogers et al stated that to establish the nature of something, we must first establish where the behavoiur has come from, which means we must find the cause. The only way this can be achieved is by empirically examining the phenomenon, we can not find the answer by simply looking at the entity being studied. Empirical evidence can show us the "cause and effect" it is only by examining this that social phycology can attempt to seek the truth, or, draw conclusions. Experimental psychology, Patrick McGhee has decribed as the most dominant form of psychology in north America and Europe. Whether or not this dominance is desirable, secure or important is another issue. In the perspective of experimental social psychology, the most scientifically efficient, intellectually rigorous method for understanding human social behaviour makes for the making of three assumptions viz: Social behavoiur is objectively describable and measurable Social behavoiur is not just spontaneous, random. It does not just occur chaotically or mysteriously. But is caused by a range of factors, internally and externally to individuals. Relationships between these behavouir and factors are regular in a way which holds true for most people most of the time. Experimental psychology can be viewed as the first of the three individual "visions" of social psychology. This "vision" when applied in to the understanding of Liv Ullman does not really explain anything about her success as a film star, but then goes to make us understand her person to the point of why she did what. When put under experimental psychology, the social psychology of Liv Ullman can be understood. The reasons for her being a committed UNICEF goodwill ambassador who has also travelled wide for the organisation can be explained. She is Norweigian, born in Tokyo and has a half Swedish daughter with Swedish Ingmar Bergman. Her vast travel experience may have contributed to her being multi-lingual which may have been useful to her in her many travels across the globe in furtherance of her humanitarian service as a UNICEF goodwill ambassasdor. The fact that she has continued in the movie industry as a director (even after retiring as an actress) is a confirmation of the experimental psychology. She will definitely be more comfortable in the movie industry than any other industry. Her role in the movie Scenes from a Marriage, which turned her into a feminist and cultural icon in the 1970s and also placed her as one of the most respected actress of her time was directed by Ingmar Bergman. The position the film put her may have influenced her going into humanitarian service. Her cross-cultural background- born in Tokyo; raised in Norway; married and worked with a Swede, whom she has a child for; and now married to an American- have all contributed to explain her many travels on humanitarian purposes as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador. Looking at this first "vision" of social psychology, it can be said that in understanding Liv Ullman, it is useful. But there are questions that it does not exactly provide answers to. Like how she became so good an actress and so much critical acclaim that has not yet been seen since the 70s. Her sense of security, even when she is not with the ones she loves, or in strange land have not been explained using this "vision". The second "vision" is humanistic and experiential. What this seeks to do is to blend the study of personal and social life in the actualities of lived experience. It tries to look at the lived world and the behavoiur of an individual to the experiences of this world. This vision regards people's experience and the meanings they attach to their actions and that of others. It believes behaviour has to be interpreted to be made meaningful. Thus the behaviour which is objectively observable and analysable is regarded as a myth. This is because psychological theories and research are only useful to help us understand better, our experience of being and living in the world. The basis of experiential social psychology is to help us make sense of our concious experience of personal being and relationships, and provide a basis for enhancing the ways in which we experience and live our lives. It will be seen that what Liv Ullman does as a director now is because of her experiential background. She has been in the movie world and actually made her mark in that industry. It is only logical that she goes back to the industry to continue work- maybe not in her initial capacity as an actress- since it is the one industry she will find most comfortable to work in. With gory pictures of children dieing from starvation that the ever growing and technology assisted media across the globe show everyday; the rate of poverty especially in Africa and other war ravaged parts of the world. It is only expected that anybody that has made something in life will want to give back to the community. With the kind of goodwill her name enjoys in the world, it is only logical that she, as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador will generate public sympathy and global recognition to the plight of millions of children across the world and also the activities of the UNICEF. She, as a proffessional actress was in the business of make-believe, and so had to assume the role of the person she was acting as. In a movie, the actor assumes the person he/she is acting as and forgets about being him or her self for that period. She may, for example, pretend to love another character in the movie, when in real life she is in love with another person. Her status as a superstar also puts her in a situation to meet with so many people from diverse background. These can explain her sense of security, even when she is "far away from the ones she loves". It will be seen that this second vision is really useful in the study of social psychology, especially when understanding Liv Ullman. We have thus been able to justify the use of experiential social psychology in understanding Liv Ullman. The third of the "visions" is critical social psychology. Margaret Wetherell has said that the underlying principle in this "vision" is 'social'. Humans are not veiwed as isolated individuals but rather as social beings. The dreams, hopes, fears and expectations of human may be the result of solitary reflections but the y also tell a lot about how humans fit into the society. This third "vision" studies identity and the development of a sense of self in this social matrix called the world. It looks at humans and how they have adapted to their social environment. This no doubt in my opinion, will be useful in understanding any personality. This is an open way of understanding the individual as discussions, research and arguments have to be advanced in dealing with the topic. When used on Liv Ullman, this third vision explains to us that her sense of security, even when she is not at home or with the ones she loves, is a way that she has socially adapted to her envirponment. Her proffession as a proffessional actress meant she will be away at locations shooting a movie or out on tours to promote her movie made it posible that she will not always be around those that she loves. Thus her ability to feel secure, albeit temporarily, shows how well she has adapted to the situation. This sense of security it can be advanced, is aided by her multi-lingual abilities, as she can communicate with people in Europe efffectively having an understanding of some major European languages and english being one of the languages means she can also communicate effectively in North America, where she lives now with her husband. Her education also prepared her for other tasks such as writing. It can be observed that she has successfully published two autobiographies. So also, working as an actress and being once married to a director has prepared her for a role as a movie director. She is also more comfortable living abroad than at home. This much she disclosed in her autobiography: Changing. This can be expressed to mean she is more comfortable being somebody else; acting, and critical social psychology can explain to us the reason to be that is as a result of her proffession and proffesional obligations. A critical social psychology is useful in understanding the person and personality of Liv Ullman. It can be seen that all three "visions" of social psychology are useful in the understanding of Liv Ullaman. Their usefulness in the understaning the behavioural patterns of humans cannot be overstated. References 1. Richards Stevens, Understanding the Self 2. Roger Sapsford, Issues for Social Psychology 3. Liv Ullman, Changing, 1976 4. Patrick McGhee, Experimental Social Psychology 5. Richard Stevens, Humanistic and Experiential Psychology, 6. Margaret Wetherell, Critical Social Psychology 7. Stainton-Rogers, 1995 Read More