Individual Differences Area Flashcards
What are the studies in the individual diffs area and how do they pair
classic: Freud (1) and Gould (2) contemporary: Baron-Cohen (1) and Hancock (2)
What is the background for frueds study
Came up with the theory of psychosexual development where sexual impulses are already present in a new born child and obtained via satisfaction from their own body through a series of pre destined erotogenic zones. 1. Oral stage - thumb sucking is a sexual manifestation as the child’s mouth is acting like erotogenic zone 2. Anal stage- child gains pleasurable sensations from anus 3.- phallic stage- between ages of 2 and 5 where notice difference in genitals and rise of castration fear from girls not having ps. Oedipus complex occurs where boy sees father as rival for mother’s affection 4. Latency-sexual developed and intense rest in other areas like hobby’s 5.genital- sexual instinct from puberty. Also part of psychodynamic perspective that unconscious mind reveals itself in dreams and slips of tongue
What is the aim for Freuds study
To document the case of little Hans (a boy going through the phallic stage) and to confirm his theories about the Oedipus complex by looking for evidence
What was the research method for Freud’s study
Longitudinal as took place over 3 years and different sets of data on same p, case study as in depth detail about one p, also action research (research conducted in course of occupation to improve practice as Freud trying to improve treatment of patients)
What was the sample for Freud’s study and sampling method
One boy ‘Little hans’ from ages 2-5 from Austria. Freud out out call asking friends for observations of sexual lives of children, Freud had connection with hans parents and his father gave info (self selecting?)
What is the procedure for Freud’s study
Hans father recorded details of little hans behaviours and conversations and ,ads his own interpretations which he sent in weekly letters to Freud. Freud replied with his own interpretations and gave guidance on what he should discuss with hans and what behaviours to look for
What were the findings from Freud’s study
phobia of horses biting him- interpreted by Freud who said Hans was concerned his widdler would be cut off (castration anxiety) due to his mums threat 15months earlier to get doctor A to cut it off due to him having his hands on it (logical reason was he heard someone say don’t put finger near white horse or it’ll bite you), he was also fearful of blinkers around horses eyes and black bits around their mouths- interpreted as horse being Hans father with blinkers his glasses and bit his moustache. Also fearful carts falling over- Hans father asked, when horse fell down, did you think of daddy, Hans said perhaps yes it’s possible which was seen as desire for father to die so Hans could have mum (leading and Oedipus but logical was he saw it fall and was scared). Hans afraid when in bath, mother would let him go underwater and drown- death wish against sister so he could have mum attention and scared as thought punishment for this. ‘Seduction attempt’ after bath, Hans asked mum to powder penis but she said it’s not proper. Hans went into parents bead at night and in morning said he saw a big giraffe and a crumpled one- father said big one was him as big neck=penis and crumpled was mother and fact he came to them was desire for her genital organ (logical was that he went to zoo recently). Had plumber fantasy of removing butt and widdler with pincers and replacing them W bigger versions- bigger represented him desiring to be like dad (overcoming castration complex) when playing with imaginary friends he said we has a dad, his mum was the mum and his dad was grandad (overcoming Oedipus as not killing dad off)
Conclusions from Freud’s study
‘Evidence’ for his psychosexual stages and that boys during phallic stage develop an Oedipus complex and his phobias are a result of unconscious anxieties displaced onto objects (fear of dad finding out displaced to fear of horses)
What is the background for Gould’s study
The first intelligence tests were developed in France (early 1900s) and used to identify low iq children for special schools, later adopted in the us. The tests had to be completed individually and were time consuming. When us entered WW1, they needed a test to be administered to large groups at the same time so yerkes developed a test and believed intelligence was influenced genetics
What were the aims for Yerkes study that Gould researched
Wanted to produce reliable and valid measurements of intelligence and prove that psychology was objective and quantifiable like other sciences. Gould wanted to show that the intelligence tests were flawed
What was the research method for Gould/yerkes
Quasi experiment as race was naturally occurring iv, experiential design was independent and repeated measures. Gould’s was a review as checked original study for validity
What was yerkes sample and sampling method
Opportunity sampling- from may-July 1917, 1.75 million us army male recruits were tested.
What was the method for yerkes study (design and administration of tests)
The army alpha test was given to literate recruits (written test), 8 parts, less than 1 hour and included number sequences, unscrambling sentences, multiple choice qs and solving analogies. It was completed at same time as officers shouting instructions, examples: Christy Mathewson is a famous writer, artist, baseball player or comedian? (Culturally bias questions) the army beta test given to illiterate ppl and those who failed alpha, involved picture based tests (maze running, cube counting, translating numbers into symbols, picture completion), instructions written in English and 3/7 parts answers had to be in writing. (Had to have knowledge of numbers hard for illiterate and required pencil work) individual examination test was a spoken test if people failed beta.
How were the tests meant to be carried out and how were they actually and what problems did this cause in yerkes research?
Alpha should have been for literate but many spent little time in education and que for beta was long so standards for alpha were lowered but not across all camps (some those who went up to 3rd grade were considered literate and some anyone who could read was)- black and immigrants were disadvantaged due to poverty and segregated schools (systematic bias) those who failed Alpha weren’t always given beta as 1/5 failed but given individual testing instead. Tests took place in chaotic conditions causing difficulty such as shouting
What were the findings from yerkes study
E.G Boring analysed 160,000 cases for analysis and converted the scales of the three tests to a common standard and then reported 3 ‘facts’: 1. Average mental age of a white American adult is 13 (just above moron level) 2. Darker people of Southern Europe and Slavs of Eastern Europe were less intelligent than fair people of western/Northern Europe with average mental ages of 11.34 for Russians, 11.04 for Italians and 10.74 for polish 3. Black recruits scored lowest W average mental age 10.41. This was because of systemic biases and was measuring level of schooling and cultural knowledge not intellectual ability but was used by yerkes to provide a genetic explanation for differences. Recruits would have been ‘utterly confused or scared shitless’ and ‘could not have been in a frame of mind to record anything about innate abilities’ = from gould
