issues and debates

Question 1

reductionism-holism

Answer 1

the best way to explain behaviour is breaking down complex phenomena into simple components // human behaviour is too complicated to be broken down- best way to understand behaviour is to look at the system as a whole.

Question 2

benefits of reductionism

Answer 2

very scientific, reductionism underlies most psychological research as behaviour can be tested by reducing it to a set of variables.

Question 3

limitations of reductionism

Answer 3

can simplify complex behaviour, but it is limited in explanation.

Question 4

benefits of holism

Answer 4

takes into account the complex interactions of phenomena- the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Question 5

limitations of holism

Answer 5

much less scientific, can be difficult to navigate and predict.

Question 6

determinism-free will

Answer 6

no behaviour occurs by chance, all caused by biology, upbringing and environment- over which we have no control // everything happens by chance, no behaviour is predetermined. can become anything we choose.

Question 7

benefits of determinism

Answer 7

more scientific as it isolates variable to examine them under scientific conditions. more credible to society. emphasis on cause and effect allows positive changes to be made.

Question 8

limitations of determinism

Answer 8

often reductionist as views cannot relate to everyday experience. cannot always predict behaviour, which it implies. does not account for individual experiences.

Question 9

benefits of free-will

Answer 9

emphasis on the individual. fits in with societal view of individual responsibility.

Question 10

limitations of free-will

Answer 10

concept of free will may be culturally relative. unscientific, no clear term of what it is and it cannot be tested.

Question 11

nature-nurture

Answer 11

all behaviour is predetermined by hereditary, innate factors. present at birth or emerges as people mature // all behaviour is result of interactions with the environment, no predispositions to behaviour at birth.

Question 12

benefits of nature-nurture

Answer 12

distinction helps us identify which behaviours are inherited or learned, and can be helpful to discover some behaviours are inherited, rather than due to poor upbringing.

Question 13

limitations of nature-nurture

Answer 13

reductionist and simplistic to divide explanations as they often combine. discovering behaviours are inherited may lead us to ignore the effects of the environment.

Question 14

individual-situational

Answer 14

something about the person is used to explain behaviour // something about the situation is used to explain behaviour.

Question 15

benefits of individualism

Answer 15

holistic- it gives a complete understanding of an individual. helps to balance the neglect of uniqueness in psychology. good for counselling.

Question 16

limitations of individualism

Answer 16

can replicate and predict, but not generalise to other people- limits usefulness. the idea that people are so unique they cannot be compared is contradicted by psychological research.

Question 17

benefits of situationalism

Answer 17

links to science and determinism- credible. the ability to generalise and compare is useful in predicting and controlling behaviour.

Question 18

limitations of situationalism

Answer 18

leaves us with a superficial understanding of one person. people might get different questions wrong, but still get the same score.

Question 19

psychology as a science

Answer 19

needs to be objective, falsifiable, and replicable.

Question 20

ethnocentrism

Answer 20

perceiving your own culture as being superior to another

Question 21

ethics

Answer 21

respect- informed consent, right to withdraw, confidentiality.
competence- work within ability, consult with colleagues.
responsibility- protection of participants, debrief.
integrity- deception.

Question 22

social sensitivity

Answer 22

cost-benefit analysis, potential harm, avoiding stigma, political consequences.

Question 23

usefulness

Answer 23

if research adds to our knowledge and can be applied to real world situations.

Question 24

what is deductive reasoning?

Answer 24

something is theorised and a hypothesis is created to test it

Question 25

what is inductive reasoning?

Answer 25

taking specific information and making a broader generalisation

Question 26

what is objectivity?

Answer 26

not imposing own ideas when interpreting research

Question 27

what is falsifiability?

Answer 27

whether a hypothesis can be proved true or false by evidence

Question 28

what is a paradigm?

Answer 28

a common set of general laws

‘psychology does not have a unified paradigm, but the approaches do’

Question 29

what is empirical?

Answer 29

information gathered through direct experience

Question 30

what is causality?

Answer 30

whether a cause and effect relationship can be established

Question 31

arguments for psychology as a science

Answer 31

it is a research based subject with investigation at its core; uses the scientific method by manipulating IVs and using controls; creates hypotheses to be tested empirically like other sciences

Question 32

arguments against psychology as a science

Answer 32

its subject matter is humans, which cannot be investigated in the same way

Question 33

what are individualist cultures?

Answer 33

cultures that emphasise self-interest and of one’s immediate family, personal autonomy, initiative and achievement

Question 34

what are collectivist cultures?

Answer 34

cultures that emphasise loyalty to the group, interdependence, and the belief that group decisions are more important than individual ones