issues and debates

Question 1

What is alpha bias?

Answer 1

maximises gender differences in behaviour

Question 2

What is beta bias?

Answer 2

minimises gender differences in behaviour

Question 3

Gender bias results in…

Answer 3

Andocentrism

Question 4

Andocentrism is…

Answer 4

men’s behaviour represents the norm which views women’s behaviour as abnormal

Question 5

Example of beta bias

Answer 5

Women do not respond in the same way as men in the fight or flight mechanism. they have a “tend and befriend” mechanism(Taylor et al) Under conditions of threat, they tend to offspring to ensure their survival and affiliate with others for joint protection and comfort. - due to a surge in oxytocin

Question 6

Example of alpha bias

Answer 6

Freud’s psychoanalytical theory(Oepidus and Electra complex). This portrays women as inferior to men.

Question 7

what is universiality?
(way to reduce gender bias)

Answer 7

men and women are more similar than different regardless of time/culture

Question 8

a limitation point for gender bias is…

Answer 8

Gender differences are presented as fixed. Social stereotypes are presented as facts. Maccoby and Jacklin concluded that girls have better verbal ability and boys have better spatial ability
counterpoint- some stereotypes have a biological basis (ingalhalikar et al.)(biopsych)

Question 9

another limitation for gender bias is…

Answer 9

Bias in research methods used in the research and testing process. Male experimenters are more pleasant/encouraging to females so they perform better than their counterparts(Rosenthal).

Question 10

Universality is…

Answer 10

universal standards for behaviours and values in gender/culture

Question 11

A WEIRD sample is….

Answer 11

Westernised, educated, industrialised, rich, democratic people.Contrasts Universality

Question 12

Cultural bias is…

Answer 12

The tendency to judge all people in terms of your own cultural assumptions
my culture=norm
other culture=abnormal

Question 13

Ethnocentrism is….

Answer 13

Western culture is superior and other cultures behaviour that don’t conform to western culture is inferior

Question 14

Cultural relativism is ….

Answer 14

Behavior must be understood in the light of their own culture and not judged according to the standards of a different culture.

Question 15

Imposed etic is…

Answer 15

Applying a theory designed for one culture to another

Question 16

emic is…

Answer 16

looks at the beliefs, values, and practices of a culture from the perspective of the people within that culture.

Question 17

Socially sensitive research is…

Answer 17

research linked to a controversial social issue, with a risk of harming groups within society,represented by the research, such as women or ethnic minorities and the risk of harming participants in the research

Question 18

LIST Seiber and stanley’s aspect of reserch to consider when conducting socially sensitive research

Answer 18

-implications of research question may be controversial by making damaging prejudices credible
-use of research, it may be good for targeting certain groups but this may mean that other groups are judged wrongly.
-validity of socially sensitive research-some findings were originally objective-turned out to be suspicious/fraudulent
-confidentiality of people with aids, domestic abuse survivors.

Question 19

ethical implications is…

Answer 19

The impact psychological research has in terms of the rights of participants and the societies they represent
e.g. effects of romanian orphan studies on orphans around the world(paper 1 topic)

Question 20

examples of socially sensitive research

Answer 20

-Milgram used deception. participant teachers thought they were giving real electric shocks to confederates but they were actually fake
tip-relate socially sensitive research to ethical issues
affected public policy:
-> Bowlby maternal deprivation theory and attachment. Mothers are now given parental custody in cases of divorce and separation, before this it would usually be given to fathers
-> Burt found that intelligence is genetic via his twin studies.This helped to develop 11+ exams which separates children based on natural intelligence- whether you go to grammar scl or state scl. BUrt however made up a large amount of this data, and invented his research assistants. It is too late to change cos the gov already passed the policy

Question 21

discussion points-socially sensitive research

Answer 21

-cost/benefit analysis
- research may be beneficial
-APA apology-shows that socially sensitive research is harmful

Question 22

nomothetic is…

Answer 22

when general laws are established for everyone.
-uses large samples, and quantitative research methods e.g. experiments and correlational studies
e.G.- behaviourist and cognitive approach

Question 23

idiographicis….

Answer 23

Focuses on the unique individual. They gain insight into the individual’s experience-no comparing. Qualitative data obtained via unstructured interviews and open questions. e.g. humanistic psychology, psychodynamic

Question 24

objectivity and subjectivity

Answer 24

objectivity-basis of nomothetic approach, ensures replicability so that laws are established
subjectivity-basis of idiograohic approach-focuses on individual’s experience

Question 25

Define reductionism

Answer 25

understanding behaviour in terms of small and basic parts

Question 26

the 2 types of reductionism

Answer 26

-biological
-environmental

Question 27

environmental determinism is…

Answer 27

behaviour is learnt and acquired via interactions with the environment(stimulus-response) e.g. behaviourist app,

Question 28

define holism

Answer 28

analysing a person/behaviour as a whole or looks at complex factors which explains a behaviour as a whole

Question 29

define levels of explanation

Answer 29

The different ways of understanding behaviour. It becomes more reductionist and scientific as you go down.
1 )sociological—–>psychodynamic
2) psychological—->SLT then cognitive
3) biological —–>environmental reductionism
——–>biological reductionism(more reductionist than env., lower level of explanation)

Question 30

psychic determinism is….

Answer 30

(psychodynamic app.) Behaviour determined by unconscious conflicts repressed in childhood(stuck in a psychosexual stage)