Debates, Areas, Perspectives Flashcards
Biological area
How your biology affects your behaviour
Genetics, brain, nerves, hormones (internal factors)
Biological area strengths and weaknesses
S- understanding of our physiognomy
- scientific
- internally reliable
- internally valid
W-limitations on data collection rely on self report
- reductionist
- not ecologically valid
Studies that relate to biological area
Sperry - separate brain hemispheres and their functions
Blakemore and Cooper - visual cortex and brain plasticity
Maguire - hippocampus and brain plasticity
Casey - roles of the inferior frontal gyrus and ventral striatum
Biological area points for comparison
Lab experiments Low ecological validity High internal reliability High internal validity Scientific Biological determinism Nature side of the debate Reductionist
Cognitive area
Mind works like a computer - Inputting, processing, storing and retrieving information
Focus on internal mental processes (memory, attention, perception etc) can influence our behaviour
People make decisions based on how they behave
Strengths and weaknesses of cognitive area
S-understanding and improving mental processes
- extraneous variables are controlled
- highly replicable
W-rely on self report
- demand characteristics
- lacks ecological validity
Studies to in cognitive area
Moray - auditory attention, internal process
Loftus and Palmer - reconstructive memory
Grant - context-dependent memory
Simons and Chabris - visual attention
Cognitive area points of comparison
Lab experiments Lack ecological validity Relies on self report Adult participants Both sides of individual and situational debate Ethical
Developmental area
Behaviour is learned from environment
Early experiences affect later behaviour
Assumes behaviour changes over time
Strengths and weaknesses of developmental
S- useful for child care
- both quantitative and qualitative data
- reduce participant variables - study same ps over time
W-children so ethical issues
- research is constrained to time
- usually small samples
Studies in developmental area
Bandura - behaviour affected by a model
Kohlberg - changes in morality with age
Chaney - influence of funhaler on behaviour
Lee - differences in truth and lie telling across cultures
Developmental points for comparison
Holistic view Focuses on children Cross-cultural Both quantitative and qualitative data Nurture Unethical - children Situational
Social area
We behave differently depending on social roles or presence of Others
Other people and the environment influence our behaviour
Relationships with people influence our behaviour
Strengths and weaknesses of social area
S- practical applications
- explains real life events
- understand human behaviour better
W- ethnocentric
- time restricted
- socially sensitive
Studies in social area
Milgram - influence of authoritative figure on obedience
Piliavin - influence of people on helping others
Bocchiaro - obedience and whistle blowing with an authoritative figure
Levine - helping people who are struggling
Social points for comparison
Field experiments Lack ecological validity sometimes Mainly quantitative data Free will - determinism Situational Reductionist
Individual differences
Looks at why people fall out of the normal range
Looks at why people differ and how
Develop understanding of disorders