IDA Flashcards
What is determinism?
The view that free will is an illusion and that our behaviour is governed by internal or external forces over which we have no control.
And the causal law of determinism forms a basis of science
What is an example of an internal force?
Hormones influencing the way in which someone behaves.
What are the two degrees of determinism?
Hard
Soft
What is hard determinism?
The view that forces outside of our control shape our behaviour. It is incompatible with free will.
Biological determinism
The idea that all human behaviour is innate and determined by genes.
What is used to provide evidence for to support the idea of biological determinism?
Research into human genome
Environmental determinism
The view that behaviour is determined or cause by factors outside the individual. Says that out behaviour is caused by previous experience learned through classical and operant conditioning.
What does psychic determinism claim?
that human behaviour is the result if childhood experiences and innate drives, as in Freud’s model of psychological development.
Soft determinism
Alternative position favoured by psychologists. Suggests that some behaviours are more constrained than others and that there is an element of free will in all behaviour.
Who proposed the idea of soft determinism?
William James
What did William James find?
Some behaviours are more constrained than others and there is an element of free will in all behaviour .
Free will
The idea that we are able to have some choice in how we act and assumes that we are free to choose our behaviour, we are self determined.
What do humanistic psychologists believe?
That humans have free will and are able to make their own decisions, they are not determined by biological or environmental factors
What is a strength of determinism?
It is consistent with the laws of science and provides applicable evidence to everyday life. E..g thr notion that behaviour is orderly and obeys laws means that psychology can be considered extremely scientific. So research into behaviour can have beneficial implications. Led to improvement if treatments and interventions.
What is a weakness of determinism?
Humanist psychologists argue behaviour is bc of a single cause. Plenty of evidence. E.g. MZ twins have 80% similarity in intelligence scores and 40% similarity for depression scores. But MZ share 100% genes suggesting thr other 20% is caused by other factors. Demonstrated biological determinism is unable to explain all behaviour.
What do psychologists who take an idiographic approach focus on?
The individual and emphasise the unique personal experience of human nature
What do psychologists who take an idiographic approach favour?
Qualitative research methods (case studies, unstructured interviews)
What do qualitative research methods allow?
An in-depth insight into individual behaviour
Why do chase studies provide an example of an idiographic approach?
They provide in depth insight into an individual or small group which can be used to evaluate a theory.
What do psychologists who take a nomo approach do?
Concerned with establishing general laws and the use of statistical techniques to analyse data.
Who takes a nomo approach?
Biopsychologists when explaining disorders such as ocd. Social psychologists (milgram) to create general conclusions about human behaviour.
Strength of nomo approach
Considered as generally scientific. The use of experimental methods etc seen as strengths, e..g bio psych take when explaining ocd and claim it is caused by increased levels of dopamine and decreased levels of serotonin. Drug therapies are developed on basis of nomo and work by readdressing bio imbalances. Imp as research improves lives of people suffering.
Weakness of drug therapies
Aren’t successful for all parties. Some psych argue that alternative treatments (based on idio) are more suitable, such as CBt. As seek to understand and explain the disorder from patients pov. Nomo loses sight of whole person bc of fixation on quantitative data. Important as it provides evidence idio approach may be appropriate in treatment of mental illness.
What did the BPS do?
Outlined various requirements for psychological research to be considered ethical;no deception, right to withdraw and informed consent.
Sieber and Stanley
Produced social sensitivity. Which deserves studies eith potential social consequences for pps or the group represented.
What are the 4 aspects that raise implications?
Research question
Methodology used
Institutional Context
Interpretation and application of findings
Research question
Consider carefully, shouldn’t be damaging to members of particular group
Methodology used
Consider treatment of pp and the right to confidentiality
Institutional context
Should be mindful of how data is going to be used and who is funding
Interpretation and application of findings
Researcher needs to consider how their findings might be interpreted and applied to real world.
Limitation of ethics
Current ethical guidelines by BPS are too limited . E.g cover protection of pps but fail to consider wider effects research could have on those in society. This is issue bc harm come to those in society which are being represented. So the guidelines are too limited In protection.
Strength of ethics
Benefits of confusing socially sensitive research. E.g. studying it may promote a greater sensitivity and understanding of certain groups of people in society. Good bc can help to reduce prejudice and encourage acceptance.
