Issues and Debates

Question 1

Beta bias

Answer 1

Exaggerating the similarities between men and women.

e.g Stamford Prison Experiment

Question 2

Beta bias

Answer 2

Exaggerating the similarities between men and women.

e.g Stamford Prison Experiment

Question 3

Alpha bias

Answer 3

Exaggerating the differences between men and women.

e.g. Psychodynamic approach

Question 4

Androcentrism

Answer 4

Taking male behaviour as the accepted norm.

e.g. Psychodynamic approach

Question 5

Gynocentrism

Answer 5

Taking female behavior as the accepted norm.

e.g. Schaffer + Emerson Glasgow study

Question 6

Implications of gender bias

Answer 6

Scientifically misleading research
Upholds stereotypical assumptions
Validating sex discrimination

Question 7

Reducing gender bias

Answer 7

Change sample
Double blind
Conclusions only relate to sample
Reflexivity

Question 8

Culture bias

Answer 8

Tendency to ignore cultural differences and interpret behaviour through the norms of your own culture.

Question 9

Ethnocentrism

Answer 9

Belief in the superiority of your own culture causing prejudice and discrimination.

Question 10

Emic behaviours

Answer 10

Behavioural constructs specific to a culture

Question 11

Etic behaviours

Answer 11

Behavioural constructs that are universal to all people.

Question 12

Imposed etics

Answer 12

When etics and emics get mistaken for each other.

Question 13

Cultural relevatism

Answer 13

Norms and values can only be understood within specific social and cultural contexts.

Question 14

Free will

Answer 14

We are able to control and choose our course of action.

Question 15

Determinism

Answer 15

Behaviour is determined/controlled by internal or external factors out of our control.

Question 16

Hard determinism / fatalism

Answer 16

Not responsible for our actions. No choice is possible.

Question 17

Soft determinism

Answer 17

All behaviour has a cause but involves choices.

Question 18

Biological determinism

Answer 18

Behaviour is controlled by biological factors.

Question 19

Environmental determinism

Answer 19

Behavior is controlled by the environment.

Question 20

Psychic determinism

Answer 20

Behaviour caused by unconscious conflicts.

Question 21

Nature

Answer 21

Human characteristics are innate and inheritable. Psychological characteristics are determined by biological factors.

Question 22

Nurture

Answer 22

Humans are born as black slates. Shaped by trial and error interactions.

Question 23

Relative importance

Answer 23

Relative contribution of nature and nurture in determining our behaviour.

Question 24

Diathesis stress model

Answer 24

Behaviour is caused by biological vulnerabilities when exposed to a trigger.

Question 25

Epigenetics

Answer 25

A change in genetics without a change in genetic code. Switch genes on and off.

Question 26

Constructivism

Answer 26

People create their own nurture by seeking the environment that suits their nature.

Question 27

Holism

Answer 27

Only makes sense to study a whole system. Greater than the parts.

Question 28

Levels of explanation

Answer 28

Varying reductions from low level biological explanations to high level holistic view

Question 29

Biological reductionism

Answer 29

Breaking down behaviour into genes and hormones.

Question 30

Environmental reductionism

Answer 30

Expletives behaviour due to stimulus response.

Question 31

Experimental reductionism

Answer 31

Breaking complex behaviour into iv and dv

Question 32

Machine reductionism

Answer 32

Analogy of machine to simplify human behaviour. Ignores emotion and motivation.

Question 33

Nomothetic

Answer 33

Quantitative scientific research
Larger groups
Create laws and models to predict behaviour

Question 34

Idiographic

Answer 34

Detailed qualitative study with few participants
Focuses on uniqueness of individuals
Case studies, interview, self report