Social Psychology Perspective: The Grinch

In “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” consider the change in the Grinch’s attitudes at the end of this story from a Social Psychology perspective:

• How were the Grinch’s attitudes formed in the first place?
• How did the Who’s manage to change his attitudes? What social psychology process played a role in his attitude change?
• In terms of attribution, do you think it was something about the Grinch himself that caused his heart to grow three sizes in the end, or was it something about the situation, or both? Support your opinion.
  © BrainMass Inc. brainmass.com March 22, 2019, 12:54 am ad1c9bdddf
  https://brainmass.com/psychology/social-psychology/social-psychology-perspective-grinch-attitudes-development-517095
  Solution Preview

Hi,

The Grinch is an excellent example of the social psychology perspective. In order to successfully answer this question you must first understand this branch of psychology. Social Psychologists believe that we learn behaviors through observing and mimicking the behavior of others. This branch of psychology attempts to explain human behavior from a social context.

How the Grinch’s attitude formed in the first place: The story doesn’t give an explanation as to why The Grinch hates the Who’s nor the Christmas season. On the hand, it is apparent that The Grinch resents the commercialism of the holiday, the cheerful noise, and the fact that the Who’s are full of the Christmas spirit. It’s obvious that the Grinch isolated himself from the Who’s because he was different. When it comes to Christmas, The Grinch can’t …