Issues and Debates Flashcards

Question

What is an emic approach?

Answer 1

approach functions from inside a culture and identifies behaviours that are specific to that culture

Answer 2

The belief that our own group or culture is superior to all other groups or cultures

Answer 3

Ainsworth's suggested secure attachment was a baby showing moderate distress when separated by mother - in Japan, babies are rarely left alone so would be insecurely attached for showing distress on separation

Answer 4

judging a culture using its own standards instead of your own

Answer 5

P - A strength of free will is its practical value. Ev - Roberts et al. (2000) found that adolescents who believed in fatalism, that their lives were controlled by external events, were more likely to develop depression. Ex - Those with an internal locus of control are more optimistic. L - This suggests that believing in free will can positively impact mental health and behavior.

Answer 6

P - Determinism has a role in responsibility in law. Ev - The hard determinist stance is inconsistent with the legal system, where offenders are held responsible for their actions. Ex - The legal system assumes defendants exercised free will in committing crimes. L - This suggests determinist arguments don't apply in real-world legal contexts.

Answer 7

P - Evidence supports determinism, not free will. Ev - Libet et al. (1983) found brain activity occurred half a second before participants consciously decided to move. Ex - Participants were unaware of brain activity that preceded their decision. L - This suggests our sense of free will may be determined by unconscious brain processes.

Answer 8

P - Conscious awareness of decisions supports free will. Ev - People become aware of decisions milliseconds after they start acting, suggesting they may have made the decision to act. Ex - Our conscious awareness is a read-out of unconscious decision-making processes. L - This suggests that evidence against free will may not be appropriate as a challenge to it.

Answer 9

Argues is behaviour a matter of free will or are we the product of internal and/or external influences?

Answer 10

suggests humans are free to make their own choices view of HA approach implies we can reject biological and environmental influences on our behaviour

Answer 11

Hard and soft

Answer 12

suggests all human action has a cause and it should be possible to identify these causes

Answer 13

suggests all human action has a cause but people have the freedom to make choices from a restricted range of options

Answer 14

Biological Environmental Psychic

Answer 15

behaviour is determined by biological influences such as genetic, hormonal and evolutionary factors we cannot control

Answer 16

free will is an illusion behaviour is as a result of conditioning behaviour is caused by forces we cannot control

Answer 17

idea that behaviour is caused by unconscious psychodynamic conflicts that we cannot control behaviours as a result of childhood experiences and innate drives that could influence our behaviour

Answer 18

nativists argue that human characterisitcs are innate - result of genes psychological characterisitcs determined by biological factors like eye colour and height

Answer 19

empiricists argue that the mind is a blank slate at birth and is shaped by interaction with the environment

Answer 20

a change in genetic activity without changing the genetic code lifestyle and events we encounter from activities like smoking, trauma and war leave marks on our DNA genes switching genes on/off can be passed down to future generations

Answer 21

important perspective in nature-nurture debate our natures may predipose us to certain things but they aren't unlocked without the environment

Answer 22

behaviour is caused by biological/ environemental vulnerability which is only expressed when coupled with a biological / environemtal trigger Diathesis stress model

Answer 23

P - Poor research design has long-term impacts. Ev - Burt’s (1955) claim that IQ is genetic and fixed at 11 led to the 11+ exam, limiting education for many. His evidence was later discredited, but the system remained. Ex - SSR must be planned with care to ensure findings are valid. L - Valid SSR prevents enduring harm to specific groups.

Answer 24

+) adoption studies C.P-> children pick environments appropriate to their nature +) support for epigenetics +) RWA

Answer 25

P - A strength of the nature-nurture debate is adoption studies. Ev - Adopted children are more similar to their adoptive parents (environmental influence) or biological parents (genetic influence). Ex - Rhee and Waldman (2002) found genetic influences accounted for 41% of variance in aggression. L - This shows how research can separate nature and nurture influences.

Answer 26

P - A strength is the real-world application of the debate. Ev - Nestadt et al. (2010) found a heritability rate of 0.76 for OCD, suggesting it is highly heritable. Ex - This understanding can inform genetic counseling for those at high genetic risk of OCD. L - This shows that the nature-nurture debate is not just theoretical but has practical significance.

Answer 27

P - Children create their own nurture through niche-picking. Ev - A naturally aggressive child may choose aggressive friends, reinforcing aggressive behavior (Plomin). Ex - This suggests it's unhelpful to separate nature and nurture in isolation. L - Nature and nurture interact, making it difficult to examine them separately.

Answer 28

P - Support for epigenetics shows environmental factors affect future generations. Ev - During the 1944 Dutch famine, women who were pregnant had babies with low birth weight, and these children were more likely to develop schizophrenia (Susser & Lin, 1992). Ex - This shows that environmental stressors can leave lasting genetic markers. L - These markers can influence offspring health, supporting the role of epigenetics.

Answer 29

P - A strength is the real-world application of the debate. Ev - Nestadt et al. (2010) found a heritability rate of 0.76 for OCD, suggesting it is highly heritable. Ex - This understanding can inform genetic counseling for those at high genetic risk of OCD. L - This shows that the nature-nurture debate is not just theoretical but has practical significance.

Answer 30

P - A limitation of holism is its lack of practical value. Ev - Holistic accounts of behavior become complex, making it hard to prioritize factors for treatment, e.g., in depression. Ex - If many factors contribute to depression, it's difficult to identify the most influential one. L - This suggests holistic approaches may lack practical value, while reductionist approaches could be more useful.

Answer 31

P - A strength of reductionism is its scientific status. Ev - Reductionism breaks down target behaviors into smaller, measurable parts, making research more controlled and objective. Ex - This allows for experiments and observations to be conducted reliably, using behavioral categories. L - This scientific approach enhances psychology's credibility, placing it on par with natural sciences.

Answer 32

P - A limitation of reductionism is its lack of context. Ev - Reductionist explanations, focusing on genes or neurotransmitters, don't consider the context in which behavior occurs. Ex - This means these explanations may lack meaning or a full understanding of the behavior. L - Therefore, reductionist explanations can only form part of a complete explanation.

Answer 33

+) may lack practical value -) the need for higher level explanations +) scientific status C.P -> only part of explanation

Answer 34

P - A limitation is the need for higher-level explanations. Ev - Some social behaviors only emerge in a group context, such as in the Stanford prison experiment. Ex - The behaviour of the group, not individual participants, was key to understanding the results. L - This shows that higher or holistic-level explanations can provide a more valid account of certain behaviours.

Answer 35

Debate which position is preferrable for psychology studying the entire person or studying components of a person

Answer 36

several ways to explain behaviour

Answer 37

proposes that it only makes sense to study a whole system as the whole is greater than the sum of it's parts

Answer 38

based on scientific principle parsimony it suggests all phenomena should be explained using simplest principles

Answer 39

Socio-cultural level Psychological level Physical level Environemental level Psychological level Neirochemical level

Answer 40

suggests all behaviour can nbe explained through neurochemical, psychiological, evolutionary genetic influences

Answer 41

proposes that all behaviour is acquired through interactions with the environment

Answer 42

P - One strength is that they complement each other. Ev - For example, case studies like HM provide detailed insights into brain functioning and memory. Ex - This means unique data enhances general understanding. L - This shows focusing on individuals can help form scientfic laws of behaviour.

Answer 43

+) idiographic and nomothetic approaches work together C.P -> idiographic approach alone is restricted -) individual experience is lost in the nomothetic approach +) both approaches fit with science

Answer 44

P - The idiographic approach on its own is restricted. Ev - It lacks a baseline for comparison and can be unscientific and subjective. Ex - This means it’s difficult to build general theories without nomothetic research. L - This shows that idiographic research alone is insufficient for understanding behaviour.

Answer 45

P - The approaches align with the aims of science. Ev - Nomothetic research uses standardization, control, and statistical testing. Idiographic research uses triangulation and reflexivity to ensure objectivity. Ex - This means both approaches contribute to scientific rigor in psychology. L - This shows they raise psychology’s status as a science.

Answer 46

P - One limitation is that individual experience is lost. Ev - The nomothetic approach focuses on general laws and may overlook personal experiences. For example, knowing the 1% lifetime risk of schizophrenia doesn't reveal the lived experience of the disorder, which is crucial for therapy. Ex - This means it can fail to provide meaningful insights for therapeutic practice. L - Therefore, it may struggle to relate to individual experiences.

Answer 47

Debate over which is preferreable idiographic - detailed study of 1 individual / 1 group to provide in depth understanding OR nomothetic - study of larger groups with the aim of discovering norms, universal principles or laws of behaviour

Answer 48

small number of ppts initially focus on understanding individual but generalisations may be made based on findings qualitative research : interviews, emergent themes interviewed , conclusions formed

Answer 49

general principles of behaviour (laws) are developed and then applied to individual situations like therpaies Quantitative research: hypotheses formualted, samples of people gathered, data analysed for statistical significance

Answer 50

Freud's explanation of phobia was based on the detailed study of Little Hans over many years

Answer 51

Skinner studied animals to develop the general laws of learning

Answer 52

P - Policymakers rely on socially sensitive research (SSR). Ev - Governments use research to inform social policies on childcare, education, mental health, and crime. This is better than relying on politically motivated views. Ex - The Office for National Statistics (ONS) collects and shares objective data about the UK’s economy, society, and population. L - Psychologists play a vital role in producing high-quality research on socially sensitive topics.

Answer 53

P - A strength of SSR is the benefits for the group studied. Ev - The DSM-I listed homosexuality as a disorder, but it was removed in 1973 after the Kinsey Report (1948) showed it’s a normal variant of human sexual behavior. Ex - The report used anonymous interviews with 5,000 men. L - This highlights the importance of researching sensitive topics for change.

Answer 54

P - There may be negative consequences that could have been anticipated. Ev - Research on the criminal gene suggests people may not be responsible for their wrongdoings. Ex - This implies that socially sensitive topics require careful consideration of potential outcomes. L - Researchers must consider the consequences of their findings when studying sensitive issues.

Answer 55

+) SSR benefits the group studies C.P -> negative consequences that couldve been anticipated +) policymakers rely on SSR -) poor research design may have a long-term impact

Answer 56

due to conflict between the need for valid research findings and preserving the rights of ppts

Answer 57

Ethical guidelines protect ppts and guide researchers

Answer 58

Psychologists must be aware of the consequences of socially sensitive research. For example, studying depression can impact participants' well-being, while research on long-term memory, although it is less socially sensitive in students could influence exam policies. Researchers must carefully consider the effects their findings may have on both individuals and society.

Answer 59

Consequences

Answer 60

it shapes how findings are interpreted. For instance, focusing on alternative relationships may emphasize homosexual ones while neglecting heterosexual relationships, leading to biased or incomplete conclusions. (Kitzinger and Coyle 1995)

Answer 61

informed consent, confidentiality and psychological harm e.g - inerviewing victims of domestic abuse - ppts may worry about ex-partners finding out what they said and ppts may find experience of talking about abusive experiences stressfuil

Answer 62

Researchers need to consider how their findings might be used, as they could inadvertently give scientific credence to prejudices. For example, flawed IQ tests during WW1 contributed to prejudice against Eastern Europeans and people unfamiliar with U.S. presidents.