issues and debates Flashcards
alpha bias GENDER
exaggerated differences between men and women
beta bias GENDER
ignore or minimise the differences between men and women
androcentrism GENDER
viewpoints mainly focused from a man’s perspective
- psychology is male dominated
alpha bias example GENDER
Freud viewed femininity as failed masculinity
beta bias example GENDER
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
universality GENDER
the aim to develop theories that apply to all people, which may include real differences
alpha bias CULTURE
the assumption that there are significant differences between cultures (and that one specifically is superior)
e.g. collectivist vs individual cultures
beta bias CULTURE
assumes people from different cultures are all the same
ethnocentrism CULTURE
judging another cultures values using the standards of your own
how is the strange situation culturally biased? CULTURE
sampled only white middle class Americans - based off of western childrearing norms
how are IQ tests culturally biased? CULTURE
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
Determinism FW+D
assumptions that behaviour is controlled by internal or external forces therefore can be predictable
free will FW+D
the idea that you are capable of controlling your own behaviour
biological determinism FW+D
influence of genetics on behaviour (e.g. intelligence)
also influence brain structure + neurotransmitters
environmental determinism FW+D
behaviourists believe all behaviour is determined by experience
psychic determinism FW+D
Freud suggests behaviour is determined by innate drives and early childhood experience
hard determinism FW+D
sees free will as an illusion and believes every action has a cause
soft determinism FW+D
believes that these factors may influence your choice or decisions, but shouldn’t cause the behaviour itself
privacy ETHICS
asking questions without offending people or invading their privacy
confidentiality ETHICS
information must stay protected
deception ETHICS
causing the wider public to believe which isn’t true
informed consent ETHICS
participants should be aware of how taking part may affect them
cost benefit analysis ETHICS
if the costs outweigh the benefits it is unethical
consequence of socially sensitive research ETHICS
flawed research may unintentionally create social ‘norms’ or put certain groups at disadvantages
nomothetic approach N+I
looks at how humans share similar behaviour traits - establishing generalisations
- quantitative methods
idiographic approach N+I
looks at how our behaviour is different to each other - investigate what makes them unique
- qualitative methods
idiographic strengths N+I
- focuses on the individual - more in depth detail
- can predict behaviour from the individual
idiographic weaknesses N+I
- time and money consuming
- lack of objective evidence
nomothetic strengths N+I
- scientific approach - evidence and objective
nomothetic weaknesses N+I
- predictions can be made about groups but this may not apply to all individuals
holism H+R
studying the whole person to gain a full understanding of factors that might influence behaviour e.g. biological, environmental and social
holism strengths H+R
- looks at everything that may affect behaviour
- higher in ecological validity
holism weaknesses H+R
- overcomplicates simple behaviour
- neglects importance of biological explanations
