Issues And Debates

Question 1

Nature vs nurture

Answer 1

Descartes - Mind-body Dualism
John Locke - “tabula rasa” blank sheet of paper
Lange - MZ 77% > 12% DZ Incarceration.

Plomin - Niche-picking, voluntarily choosing environment to supplement inherited genes (advantage).
Reciprocal effects (eugenics) = an emerging field of science which shows that environment (e.g. childhood xp) CAN shape genetic expression. ‘Set in stone’ is untrue; Nature and nurture a false dichotomy.

Question 2

Idiographic and Nomothetic

Answer 2

Should:
Holt - False dichotomy. Idiographics are used to make generalisations. NO such thing as unique individual.
Stephenson’s Q methodology - incorporates both detail (idio) and lots of participants (nomo)

Question 3

Ethical implications

Answer 3

Sieber & Stanley - moral duty + many positive outcomes
1. Research Q
2. Conduct & Treatment of participants
3. Institutional context (publish all > selected findings)
4. Interpretation and application of research findings (consider risks, explain meanings, limitations, and assumptions - but may be difficult to predict).

Scarr - research in unrepresented groups and issues can help eliminate prejudices and stereotypes.

Question 4

Socio-biological theory

Answer 4

Gender bias on promiscuity:
Genetically determined for males but for females against their nature

Question 5

Culture bias

Answer 5

Takano & Osaka - 14/15 studies analysed between US and Japan, found no evidence of traditional distinction of individualistic/collectivist. Perhaps less of an issue.

Etic = Universality
Emic = Reflective of one’s own culture.

Question 6

Free will vs determinism

Answer 6

Siong soon - activity of brain 10 seconds before conscious awareness
William James - when the jury is out, Belief IN > THAT, aligns with internal LOC.