issues and debates

Question 1

alpha bias GENDER

Answer 1

exaggerated differences between men and women

Question 2

beta bias GENDER

Answer 2

ignore or minimise the differences between men and women

Question 3

androcentrism GENDER

Answer 3

viewpoints mainly focused from a man’s perspective

- psychology is male dominated

Question 4

alpha bias example GENDER

Answer 4

Freud viewed femininity as failed masculinity

Question 5

beta bias example GENDER

Answer 5

fight or flight response study

- all male sample - generalised to females, even though it was later found out women do not respond the same as men

Question 6

universality GENDER

Answer 6

the aim to develop theories that apply to all people, which may include real differences

Question 7

alpha bias CULTURE

Answer 7

the assumption that there are significant differences between cultures (and that one specifically is superior)
e.g. collectivist vs individual cultures

Question 8

beta bias CULTURE

Answer 8

assumes people from different cultures are all the same

Question 9

ethnocentrism CULTURE

Answer 9

judging another cultures values using the standards of your own

Question 10

how is the strange situation culturally biased? CULTURE

Answer 10

sampled only white middle class Americans
- based off of western childrearing norms

Question 11

how are IQ tests culturally biased? CULTURE

Answer 11

the definition of intelligence differs from culture to culture, so one might be defined intelligent according to one culture’s standards, but below average in others

Question 12

Determinism FW+D

Answer 12

assumptions that behaviour is controlled by internal or external forces therefore can be predictable

Question 13

free will FW+D

Answer 13

the idea that you are capable of controlling your own behaviour

Question 14

biological determinism FW+D

Answer 14

influence of genetics on behaviour (e.g. intelligence)

also influence brain structure + neurotransmitters

Question 15

environmental determinism FW+D

Answer 15

behaviourists believe all behaviour is determined by experience

Question 16

psychic determinism FW+D

Answer 16

Freud suggests behaviour is determined by innate drives and early childhood experience

Question 17

hard determinism FW+D

Answer 17

sees free will as an illusion and believes every action has a cause

Question 18

soft determinism FW+D

Answer 18

believes that these factors may influence your choice or decisions, but shouldn’t cause the behaviour itself

Question 19

privacy ETHICS

Answer 19

asking questions without offending people or invading their privacy

Question 20

confidentiality ETHICS

Answer 20

information must stay protected

Question 21

deception ETHICS

Answer 21

causing the wider public to believe which isn’t true

Question 22

informed consent ETHICS

Answer 22

participants should be aware of how taking part may affect them

Question 23

cost benefit analysis ETHICS

Answer 23

if the costs outweigh the benefits it is unethical

Question 24

consequence of socially sensitive research ETHICS

Answer 24

flawed research may unintentionally create social ‘norms’ or put certain groups at disadvantages

Question 25

nomothetic approach N+I

Answer 25

looks at how humans share similar behaviour traits - establishing generalisations
- quantitative methods

Question 26

idiographic approach N+I

Answer 26

looks at how our behaviour is different to each other - investigate what makes them unique
- qualitative methods

Question 27

idiographic strengths N+I

Answer 27

• focuses on the individual - more in depth detail

- can predict behaviour from the individual

Question 28

idiographic weaknesses N+I

Answer 28

• time and money consuming

- lack of objective evidence

Question 29

nomothetic strengths N+I

Answer 29

• scientific approach - evidence and objective

Question 30

nomothetic weaknesses N+I

Answer 30

• predictions can be made about groups but this may not apply to all individuals

Question 31

holism H+R

Answer 31

studying the whole person to gain a full understanding of factors that might influence behaviour e.g. biological, environmental and social

Question 32

holism strengths H+R

Answer 32

• looks at everything that may affect behaviour

- higher in ecological validity

Question 33

holism weaknesses H+R

Answer 33

• overcomplicates simple behaviour

- neglects importance of biological explanations