IDA

Question 1

What is determinism?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

What is an example of an internal force?

Answer 2

Hormones influencing the way in which someone behaves.

Question 3

What are the two degrees of determinism?

Answer 3

Hard

Soft

Question 4

What is hard determinism?

Answer 4

The view that forces outside of our control shape our behaviour. It is incompatible with free will.

Question 5

Biological determinism

Answer 5

The idea that all human behaviour is innate and determined by genes.

Question 6

What is used to provide evidence for to support the idea of biological determinism?

Answer 6

Research into human genome

Question 7

Environmental determinism

Answer 7

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.

Question 8

What does psychic determinism claim?

Answer 8

that human behaviour is the result if childhood experiences and innate drives, as in Freud’s model of psychological development.

Question 9

Soft determinism

Answer 9

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.

Question 10

Who proposed the idea of soft determinism?

Answer 10

William James

Question 11

What did William James find?

Answer 11

Some behaviours are more constrained than others and there is an element of free will in all behaviour .

Question 12

Free will

Answer 12

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.

Question 13

What do humanistic psychologists believe?

Answer 13

That humans have free will and are able to make their own decisions, they are not determined by biological or environmental factors

Question 14

What is a strength of determinism?

Answer 14

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.

Question 15

What is a weakness of determinism?

Answer 15

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.

Question 16

What do psychologists who take an idiographic approach focus on?

Answer 16

The individual and emphasise the unique personal experience of human nature

Question 17

What do psychologists who take an idiographic approach favour?

Answer 17

Qualitative research methods (case studies, unstructured interviews)

Question 18

What do qualitative research methods allow?

Answer 18

An in-depth insight into individual behaviour

Question 19

Why do chase studies provide an example of an idiographic approach?

Answer 19

They provide in depth insight into an individual or small group which can be used to evaluate a theory.

Question 20

What do psychologists who take a nomo approach do?

Answer 20

Concerned with establishing general laws and the use of statistical techniques to analyse data.

Question 21

Who takes a nomo approach?

Answer 21

Biopsychologists when explaining disorders such as ocd.
Social psychologists (milgram) to create general conclusions about human behaviour.

Question 22

Strength of nomo approach

Answer 22

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.

Question 23

Weakness of drug therapies

Answer 23

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.

Question 24

What did the BPS do?

Answer 24

Outlined various requirements for psychological research to be considered ethical;no deception, right to withdraw and informed consent.

Question 25

Sieber and Stanley

Answer 25

Produced social sensitivity. Which deserves studies eith potential social consequences for pps or the group represented.

Question 26

What are the 4 aspects that raise implications?

Answer 26

Research question
Methodology used
Institutional Context
Interpretation and application of findings

Question 27

Research question

Answer 27

Consider carefully, shouldn’t be damaging to members of particular group

Question 28

Methodology used

Answer 28

Consider treatment of pp and the right to confidentiality

Question 29

Institutional context

Answer 29

Should be mindful of how data is going to be used and who is funding

Question 30

Interpretation and application of findings

Answer 30

Researcher needs to consider how their findings might be interpreted and applied to real world.

Question 31

Limitation of ethics

Answer 31

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.

Question 32

Strength of ethics

Answer 32

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.