Basic Assumptions

Question 1

What is the basic assumption of the social area?

Answer 1

• Behaviour is influenced by the actual, imagined or implied presence of others.

Things that influence our behaviour and thought processes processes:
- others people
- our relationships with others
- the environment
- social context (all human behaviour occurs within a social context)

Question 2

What is the basic assumption of the cognitive area?

Answer 2

• Behaviour is controlled by our internal thought processes.
• It can be largely explained in terms of how the mid works.
• The mind works in a similar way to a computer (the information processing approach) : inputting, storing and retrieving data.

Question 3

What is the basic assumption of the developmental area?

Answer 3

• behaviour is an ongoing process, in which changes occur throughout the lifespan, from cradle to grave.
• life changes are influenced by inherited factors (nature) and experiences (nurture).
• this area investigates social, cognitive and biological influences