issues and debates🎓

Question 1

what does free will suggest?

Answer 1

We are self-determining and free to choose our thoughts and actions-not determined by biological or external factors.

Question 2

what is hard determinism?

Answer 2

implies that free will isn’t possible as our behaviour is always controlled by internal/external events beyond our control

Question 3

what does determinism mean?

Answer 3

view that individuals behaviour is shaped or controlled by internal or external forces rather than an individuals will todo something

Question 4

what is soft determinism?

Answer 4

the view that all events including human behaviour have causes, but behaviour can also be determined by our conscious choices in the presence of pressure

Question 5

what is biological determination?

Answer 5

-the belief that behaviour is caused by biological influences that we cannot control

Question 6

what does the biological approach emphasise?

Answer 6

the role of biological determinism in behaviour

Question 7

what’s an example of biological determinism?

Answer 7

we don’t control our physiological and neurological processes, therefore we are biologically determined in ways we cannot control

-mental disorders are thought to have a genetic basis and aggression has been linked to the effect testosterone

Question 8

what is environmental determinism?

Answer 8

• belief that behaviour is caused by features of the environment that we can’t control
• we may think we act independently but our behaviour has been shaped by environmental events, as well as agents of socialisation (parents, teachers)
• skinner described free will as an illusion and argues all behaviour is a result of conditioning

Question 9

what is psychic determinism?

Answer 9

freud, emphasis on biological drives and instincts

human behaviour controlled by repressed childhood conflicts in the unconscious.

no such thing as accident or slip of tongue says freud.

Question 10

why is determinism consistent with the aims of science ao3?

Answer 10

• the experience of mental disorders ie schizophrenia, where sufferers experience a loss of control over their thoughts and behaviour, casts doubts over the concept of free will
• thus, in terms of mental illness behaviour would appear to be determined
• thus, internal validity of the concept of determinism is increased

Question 11

A03✅

what supports free will?

2 strengths

Answer 11

-
Ppl make every day choices where we are seen to be constantly exercising free will. this gives face validity to the concept of free will as it exercises face validity.
-
ppl who have an internal locus of control tend to have more free will, as they believe they have more influence over their lives. they tend to be more mentally healthy. Roberts et al found that adolescents who believed external forces controlled them were at higher risk of depression

Question 12

what does the scientific explanations say?

Answer 12

• basic principles of science is that every event in the universe has a cause and that causes can be explained by general laws.
• knowledge and formulation of causes are important as they allow scientists to predict and control events in the future.
• hence lab experiments enable researcher to stimulate conditions of test tube and remove extraneous variables in attempt to control and predict human behaviour

Question 13

what do lab experiments do in the explanation of scientific emphasis for free will and determinism?

Answer 13

enable researcher to stimulate conditions of test tube and remove extraneous variables in attempt to control and predict human behaviour

Question 14

what is the idiographic approach?

Answer 14

focuses on the individual case as a means if understanding behaviour rather than aiming to formulate general laws of behaviour

Question 15

what is an example of the idiographic approach?

who took approach to study humans?

Answer 15

humanistic approach is best example of idiographic perspective.
-Rogers and Maslow took a phenomenological approach to study of humans and were only interested in documenting the conscious experience of the individual.

Question 16

what is the nomothetic approach?
what’s it closely aligned with?
main aim? ao3

Answer 16

study human behaviour through the development of general principles and universal laws.
main aim to produce laws of human behaviour.
aligned closely with methods that were regarded as scientific.

Question 17

AO3✅

Strength of idiographic approach?

Answer 17

qualitative methods provide a global account for the individual self.

may also compliment the nomothetic approach as it shines light on general laws/challanges them.

for example, case of HM. focus on individual but sheds light on other topics.

Question 18

AO3❌

weakness of idiographic approach?

Answer 18

narrow and restricted-criticism of freud on his concepts like oepedius complex was based of little Hans study.

meaningful generalisations can’t be said without further examples, as there’s no baseline to compare behaviour with.

this is also least scientific

Question 19

AO3✅

strength of nomothetic approach?

Answer 19

more scientific research, as tests are under standardised conditions.

averages, stat testing etc

these processes have allowed psychologists to establish ‘norms’ of human behaviour

Question 20

when do we see ethical issues arise?

Answer 20

when there’s a conflict between psychology’s need to gain valid research whilst preserving the rights and dignity of ppts

Question 21

why were ethical guidelines introduced?

Answer 21

to protect those involved In research

Question 22

what is difficult to guard?

Answer 22

social impact of psychological research once its been concluded

Question 23

what may happen to how researchers work was represented or misrepresented?

Answer 23

researcher may have little say in it

Question 24

why are some subjects more socially sensitive than others?

Answer 24

because they attract a great deal of attention in the media on info that could be considered personal

Question 25

what do psychologists have to do?

Answer 25

they have a social responsibility to carry our socially sensitive research? Aronson 1999

Question 26

who identified concerns that researchers should be mindful of when conducting socially sensitive research?

Answer 26

Joan seiber and liz Stanley 1988

Question 27

what did seiber and Stanley say about implications?

Answer 27

wider effects should be considered as some studies can be seen as giving scientific credence to prejudice or discrimination, such as ppl studying racial basis of intelligence

Question 28

what did sieber and Stanley say about uses/public policy?

what is this related to?

Answer 28

questioned what would research reused for and what would happen if it was used for wrong purposes.

idea that findings may be adopted by govt for political ends or to shape public policy

Question 29

what did sieber and Stanley say about validity of research?

what have modern social constructionist researchers said?

Answer 29

some finds that were presented as objective and value-free in the past have acc turned out to be highly suspect, and In some cases, fraudulent.

more upfront about their own biases and preconceptions and include comments on the reflexive nature of their work in their publications

Question 30

AO3

✅what are the benefits of socially sensitive research?

who argues this?

what can it reduce?

how does it help? example?

Answer 30

Sandra scarr

says that studies of unrepresentative groups and issues may promote greater sensitivity and understanding of these

can help reduce prejudice and encourage acceptance

benefits society- eat has reduce the risk of miscarriages or justice within legal system suggesting sensitive research plays a valued role in society

Question 31

AO3 ETHICS

❌why do we need to be careful how we frame the question?

example?

what do kitzinger and Coyle say?

what does this suggest?

Answer 31

Bieber and Stanley say bc it may influence how findings r interpreted

cross-cultural research may be blighted by cultural superiority and ethnocentrism

research into alternative relationship have caused heterosexual bias within homosexual relationships were compared and judged against heterosexual norms

investigators must approach their research with an open mind and be prepared to have their preconceptions challenged if they are to avoid misrepresenting minority groups

Question 32

AO3

❌why is it important on who gains?

who has used research on this and what for?

what is an example of this? and what was later revealed?

what then happened?

Answer 32

bc it may have sensitive consequences

government and institutions to shape social policy

in 1950s research into subliminal msgs was used by marketing companies to advertise products. a study claimed that sales of coke and popcorn increased hugely when images Popped up on cinema screens to quickly for audience to be aware of them. later revealed that Packard had made his findings up.

little damage however it has ethical issues as it manipulates public and raises issue of who benefits out of research