Issues And Debates Flashcards
What is the nature-nurture debate?
It discusses the relative contributions of genetics (nature) and environment (nurture) to human behavior.
True or False: The reductionist approach in psychology simplifies complex behaviors to basic components.
True
Fill in the blank: The __________ perspective emphasizes the importance of mental processes and how they influence behavior.
cognitive
What is determinism in psychology?
The idea that all behavior is determined by preceding events and causes, leaving no room for free will.
Multiple Choice: Which of the following is NOT an approach in psychology? A) Biological B) Cognitive C) Emotional D) Psychodynamic
C) Emotional
What does the term ‘validity’ refer to in psychological research?
The extent to which a study measures what it claims to measure.
True or False: Ethical considerations in psychology are unimportant when conducting research.
False
What is the main focus of the social approach in psychology?
How individuals’ thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the presence of others.
Fill in the blank: The __________ approach focuses on observable behaviors and disregards mental processes.
behaviorist
What is meant by the term ‘gender bias’ in psychological research?
When research findings are skewed due to a focus on one gender over the other.
Multiple Choice: Which research method is often considered the gold standard for establishing causation? A) Case Study B) Experiment C) Survey D) Observation
B) Experiment
What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative research?
Qualitative research focuses on exploring concepts and experiences, while quantitative research involves numerical data and statistical analysis.
True or False: A longitudinal study follows the same subjects over a period of time.
True
What does ‘reliability’ mean in the context of psychological testing?
The consistency of a research study or measuring test.
Fill in the blank: The __________ model suggests that behavior is a result of the interplay between biological, psychological, and social factors.
biopsychosocial
What is the purpose of a control group in an experiment?
To provide a baseline for comparison against the experimental group.
Multiple Choice: Which of the following is a potential ethical issue in psychological research? A) Informed consent B) Deception C) Debriefing D) All of the above
B) Deception
What is the focus of the psychodynamic approach?
The influence of the unconscious mind and early childhood experiences on behavior.
True or False: The cognitive approach views humans as passive learners.
False
What does the term ‘sample bias’ refer to in research?
When the sample in a study is not representative of the population, leading to skewed results.
Fill in the blank: The __________ theory posits that individuals engage in behaviors to meet their basic needs before higher-level needs.
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
Multiple Choice: Which psychological approach emphasizes the role of free will and self-actualization? A) Behaviorism B) Humanistic C) Cognitive D) Biological
B) Humanistic
What is the significance of peer review in psychological research?
It ensures the quality and credibility of research before publication.
True or False: Cultural bias can affect the generalizability of psychological research findings.
True
What is gender bias?
A type of bias where psychological research or theory may offer a view that does not justifiably represent male and female experiences
What rate the two types of gender bias
Alpha and beta bias
What is alpha bias
Theories that over exaggerate or overestimate differences between sexes- usually undervalues members of either sex but typically female. The problem with this is that is causes misrepresentation
What is beta bias
Beta bias tends to underestimate the differences between sexes. This usually occurs when females aren’t part of the research group and then it is assumed that findings can be generalised and apply to both genders
What is androcentrism
Androcentrism is a consequence of beta bias. A male centred piece of research that uses male standards to define ‘normal behaviour’.
This means female behaviour is often seen as abnormal, different or inferior by comparison
What are some implications of gender bias for females- at best and at worse
At best, this leads to female behaviour being misunderstood and misrepresented (either overestimating/exaggerating or underestimating/minimising gender differences)
at worse pathologies (i.e. seen as a sign of psychological instability or disorder). Therefore, it becomes normal for women to feel abnormal. Such research may create misleading assumptions about female behaviour, fail to challenge negative stereotypes and validate discriminatory practices.
What can the effects of gender bias do to women’s positions within society
It may provide scientific ‘justification’ to deny women opportunities within the workplace or wider society. Androcentrism can allow for stereotypes to form where people beleive women’s behaviour to be abnormal
In contrast, male anger is seen as a rational response to external pressures and a normal behavioural response. This could lead to an increase in diagnosis of mental illness. This could also lead to an increase in domestic violence between husbands and wives. Consequently, gender bias in research is not just a methodological problem– it can have damaging consequences which affect the lives and prospects of women in society.
What is cultural bias
Tendency to ignore cultural differences and interpret all phenomena’s through the lens of ones own culture
What is ethnocentrism
A type of cultural bias. It is the use of our own cultural ethnic group to use as a basis for judgements about other groups. There is a belief of superiority within ones own cultural group.
We expect cultural differences in behaviours from one society to another, as different norms and values influence the way people think and behave in different places. However, in Psychology, there are areas of research which have ignored or misinterpreted these differences and imposed an understanding based on the study of one culture alone. This is cultural bias.
What did Rosenzweig find about cultural bias
64% of the world’s 56,000 researchers in psychology are American.
In Baron and Byrne’s (1991) textbook on social psychology 94% of the studies referred to were from North America, compared with 2% from Europe, 1% from Australasia, and 3% from the rest of the world.
What is hard determinism?
Implies free will is not possible as out behaviour is always caused by internal or external factors beyond our control.
It is compatible with the scientific approach (biological and behaviouristic approaches)
What is soft determinism?
All human behaviours have causes, but behaviour can also be determined by conscious choices. We also have conscious mental control.
What is biological determinism
the belief that behaviour is caused by biological influences (i.e. physical) that we cannot control e.g. genes, hormones, neuroanatomy, nervous system, evolutionary factors. ( biological approach)
What is environmental determinism
the belief that behaviour is caused by features of the environment and other agents of socialisation (external factors) that are beyond our control e.g. rewards, punishments, associations. (Behaviourism approach)
What is psychic determinism
the belief that behaviour is caused by unconscious conflicts (repressed emotions) from our childhoods. (Psychodynamic approach)
What is free will
Human make choices that are not determined by biological or external forces. Therefore we are self-determining. (Humanism approach)
How could you use the frustration aggression hypothesis to evaluate free will and determinism.
The scientific approach looks at cause and effect relationships and the ability to make reliable predictions about behaviour. Frustration and aggression is a cause and effect relationship, therefore, treatments or therapies can be developed to help people with aggressive behaviours that stem from frustration. You need determinism to do this.
However your also need to account for other factors besides frustration such as environmental, emotional or psychological explanations. Furthermore, science also needs to be falsifiable. This is not possible with Free Will. You can falsify specific aspects of determinism but not the idea as a whole.
What is the nature nurture debate
Nature debate suggests that human characteristics can be hereditary, determining how genetically determined a behaviour or characteristic is.
The nurture debate believes we were born a blank slate and behaviour is a result of experience and learning.
The nature nurture debate is not only one or the other, it debates to what extent each factor influences behaviour.
What are some possible examples of nature nurture debate within the rest of this course
- Gottesmans test of schizophrenia
- Bowlby’s monotropic attachment theory- innate tendency to form attachments for survival advantage. Learning explanations of attachment- we learn to form attachments as a result of classical and operant conditioning (associations and reinforcements)
- Psychopathology- biological explanations of OCD e.g. brain structures, biochemistry. Mower’s two- process model of phobias, learning phobias through classical and operant conditioning (associations and reinforcements)
What type of approach would you can the nature nurture debate
An interactionalist approach
What did Maccoby and jacklin 1974 say the four differences between girls and boys were
Girls have greater Verbal ability
Boys have higher visuals and spsacial ability
Boys have higher arithmetical ability
Girls are less aggressive e
