Matt is 16 years old and has been getting into fights when he goes out with his friends - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 16 - 2017 - Paper 1

Social impact theory outlines that factors such as strength, immediacy, and the number of people influencing an individual can lead to social behaviours such as aggression. In Matt’s case, his peers could be influencing his fights, especially if they have a high-status over him.

From a biological perspective, hormones such as testosterone are known to influence aggressive behaviour. At 16 years old, Matt is likely experiencing increased levels of testosterone, which may contribute to his propensity for aggression.

Matt's involvement with friends who might encourage aggressive behaviour, combined with his biological predisposition, suggests that both social and biological factors interplay in his behaviour. Therefore, it cannot be solely attributed to one aspect without considering the wider context of his adolescence.

While social psychology captures the group dynamics potentially at play, it may overlook individual differences in personality or other internal factors that could contribute to Matt’s behaviour. Similarly, biological explanations alone do not account for the situational influences surrounding Matt.