Issues And Debates Flashcards
Psychic determinism
The belief that behaviour is caused by unconscious conflicts that we cannot control
Environmental determinism
The belief that behaviour is caused by features of the environment (such as systems of reward and punishment) that we cannot control
Biological determinism
The belief that behaviour is caused by biological (genetics, hormonal, evolutionary) influences that we cannot control
Soft determinism
States that all events, including human behaviour have causes ,but behaviour can also be determined by our conscious choices in the absence of coercion
Hard determinism
Implies that free will isn’t possible as our behaviour is always caused by internal or external events beyond our control
The idiographic approach
Focuses more on the individual case as a means of understanding behaviour rather than formulating general laws of behaviour
Nomothetic Approach
Attempts to study human behaviour through the development of general principles and universal laws
What is socially sensitive research?
Research that could lead to negative consequences for either the people of institutions participating directly, or the group of people the research is about
What are some of the question you should yourself as a researcher?
1) what are the implications for society?
2) how does it impact the ptps, organisations and wider community?
3) what are the potential practical implications of the research?
4) what is the validity of the research like?
How can you reduce the negative effects of SSR?
1) must consider research question carefully
2) methodology must consider the treatment of ptps and their right to confidentiality
3) institutional context ( if funded by private organisation, how and what do they intend to use the findings)
4) researcher needs to consider how their findings might be interpreted and applied in the real world
What 4 groups did Seiber and Stanley (1988) outline may be affected?
1) Members of social groups being studied (eg racial and ethnic groups)
2) friends or relatives of those taking part, where individuals may become famous or infamous (eg Genie’s mother)
3) the research team
4) institution in which the research is conducted
Who carried out brain scans of violent criminals and found they tended to have subtle damage to areas of the brain associated with impulse control, he suggested that it was a marker for criminals and to save misery and money, children should be screened for these markers and have ‘something done about it’
Raine (1996)
What are the arguments against SSR?
1) often creates ethnical dilemmas
2) risk of misinterpretation
3) misinterpreted or sensationalised by the media (could lead to a public misunderstanding and harm)
4) may put vulnerable groups at risk
5) political backlash
What are the arguments for SSR?
1) better understanding of issues and ability to gain a greater acceptance and reduce prejudice
2) has been of benefit to society (eg EWT, this can be flawed and shouldn’t be used without corroboration, also aware that childrens’ EWT are just as reliable as adults)
3) psychologists have devised methods to resolve issues raised
What research did Humphreys (1970) conduct
The practices and social interactions of gay men meeting in a public toilet for sex. He posed as a gay man and met/talked to his ptps. To find out more about their backgrounds, he took their car number plates and used a contact in the police to find out where they lived. He concluded most of the stereotypes were untrue and their public sexual interactions were not harmful
