Issues and Debates Flashcards
What is the definition of nature?
The belief that the cause of behaviour is innate and present from birth
What is the definition of nurture?
The belief that humans are born as a blank slate (tabula rasa) and behaviours are learnt from environmental interactions
What is interactionism?
The middle ground between nature and nurture- some behaviours from predetermined from birth, others a result of environement exposure
What is the definition of freewill?
Individuals have control over their behaviour and are responsible for their own actions (behvaiours are hard to predict due to choice)
What is the definition of determinism?
What’s the difference between hard and soft determinism?
Behaviour is caused by factors outside of a person’s control
Hard- Biological causes (DNA), Soft- Environmental causes (childhood experience)
What is the definition of reductionism?
Behaviour is best understood when we reduce explanations to single or very few causes- allows to establish cause and effect
What is the definition of holism?
Behaviour can only be understood if we look at the whole picture of influences on behaviour (multiple causes work together)
What’s the definition of the individual debate?
Behaviour is caused by features of the person (e.g. personality/ genes)- different behaviour depends on individual characteristics
What is the definition of the situation debate?
Environment or situation causes behaviour (presence of others, location)- all will react the same to similar situational factors
How can psychology be scientific?
- Objective
- Falsifiable
- Establishes cause and effect
- Generates quantitative data
- Uses lab experiments
- Reliable (controls and standardisation)
How can psychology be unscientific?
- Subjective
- UnfalsifiableDoesn’t establish cause and effect
- Generates qualitative data
- Uses self reports/ field observations
- Lacks reliability
How can research be socially sensitive?
- S- Stigma- stereotypes groups
- C- Controversial in it’s conclusions
- A- able to shape laws/ social policy
- R- Risks harm
Why would research not be socially sensitive?
It doesn’t S.C.A.R or impact society in any significant/ meaningful way
What are the ethical issues under respect?
- Informed consent
- Right to withdraw
- Confidentiality
Which ethical issue falls under the heading integrity?
Deception
