All Definitions Flashcards
Alpha bias
When differences between male and females are overstated. For example, the difference in mating behaviours males and females is exaggerated, suggesting males are more promiscuous by nature.
Androcentrism
(Andro = male). A bias towards a male-centred view. In psychology, many subjects of important studies were male, resulting in general psychology paradigms being more male-centred.
Beta bias
When differences between males and females are understated. For example, the general consensus was the fight-or-flight response was equally adopted by male and female animals, whereas under scrutiny it was discovered females could also adopt the “tend-and-befriend” response.
Biological determinism
The idea that all human behaviour stems from your genetic code in some way.
Biological reductionism
The idea that behaviour can be reduced to simple physical components such as nerves and ions.
Cultural relativism
To view a person’s culture from the perspective of someone within that culture, rather than your own.
Determinism
The idea that things are predetermined and everything has a cause.
Environmental determinism
The idea that all human behaviour is a direct result of the environment and outside forces.
Environment reductionism
The idea that all behaviour can be reduced to simple responses to stimuli.
Ethnocentrism
A bias towards your own culture, and judging other cultures by that subjective standard.
Hard-determinism
The idea that free will is non-existent, all choices and behaviour arise due to pre-existent causes.
Holism
A type of learning approach that suggests that to understand human behaviour we must look at the human as a whole.
Idiographic approach
A type of learning approach that suggests we should focus on the unique experiences of each individual to understand human behaviour.
Interactionist approach
The idea that all human behaviour has multiple causes that stem from the simplest causes (genes) all the way to complex causes (social and cultural systems).
Nomothetic approach
A type of learning approach that suggests we should establish general laws of behaviour that can be applied to all people to understand human behaviour.
