Issues and Debates

Question 1

define universality

Answer 1

any underlying characteristics of human being that could be applied to all despite differences of experiences and upbringing

Question 2

define bias

Answer 2

the term bias is used to suggest that a person’s views are distorted in some way, and in psychology there is evidence that gender is presented in a biased way.

Question 3

define beta bias and give an example

Answer 3

exaggerating the similarity between men and women
eg. Milgram / Zimbardo / Asch

Question 4

define alpha bias and give an example

Answer 4

exaggerating the differences between men and women
eg. psychodynamic approach

Question 5

define androcentrism and give an example

Answer 5

taking male thinking / behaviour as the accepted norm
eg. freud - psychosexual stages

Question 6

define gynocentrism and give an example

Answer 6

taking female thinking / behaviour as the accepted norm eg any topic in attachment

Question 7

define culture

Answer 7

the values, beliefs and patterns of behaviour shared by a group of people

Question 8

define cultural bias

Answer 8

the tendency to judge people in terms of one’s own culture

beta and alpha bias also fit in her two (exaggerating the similarities or differences of ones culture to another)

Question 9

define holism

Answer 9

considering all aspects of experience, including culture

Question 10

define ethnocentrism give an example

Answer 10

a culture bias leading to the belief in the superiority of your own culture, causing prejudice and discrimination towards other cultures
eg secure attachment

Question 11

define cultural relativism and give an example

Answer 11

the idea that norms and values can only be meaningful and understood within specific social and cultural contexts

appreciating that behaviour varies between cultures

eg intelligence

Question 12

define universality

Answer 12

believing that some behaviours are the same for all cultures

Question 13

define free will

Answer 13

view that people control their own behaviour by making real choices amongst alternative possibilities

Question 14

define determinism

Answer 14

view that free will is an illusion, and that our own behaviour is governed by internal or external forces over which we have no control and of which we are often unaware

Question 15

define hard determinism

Answer 15

Believes that all events, including human actions, are determined entirely by preceding causes and that free will does not exist

Question 16

define soft determinism

Answer 16

Accepts that events are determined by causal laws but maintains that free will can still exist.

Question 17

define biological determinism

Answer 17

behaviour is entirely the result of genetic factors

Question 18

define environmental determinism

Answer 18

behaviour is caused by previous experience learned through classical and operant conditioning

Question 19

define psychic determinism

Answer 19

human behaviour is the result of childhood experiences and innate drives

Question 20

define nature within the nature / nurture debate

Answer 20

assumes heredity is more influential
refers to innate influences on human behaviour and cognitions

Question 21

define nurture within the nature / nurture debate

Answer 21

view assumes environment and experiences is more influential in behaviour
suggests behaviour derives from learning and experiencing

Question 22

define interactionism

Answer 22

refers to a theoretical perspective that emphasises how both biological factors and environmental factors interact
it highlights the idea that our genes and environment work together to shape who we are

Question 23

define reductionism

Answer 23

explaining / studying complex and meaningful behaviours by breaking it down into smaller component parts for analysis

Question 24

define levels of explanation

Answer 24

basic unit level to more complex holistic level

Question 25

define biological reductionism

Answer 25

explaining behaviour at the level of genes, brain chemicals etc

Question 26

define environmental reductionism

Answer 26

explaining behaviour at the level of stimulus response units

Question 27

define experimental reductionism

Answer 27

breaking down complex behaviour into IV /DV relationships for experimental testing

Question 28

define machine reductionism

Answer 28

explaining behaviour in terms of mechanistic models

Question 29

define holism

Answer 29

human behaviour is best understood as an integrated experience rather than as a separate and distinct parts

Question 30

explain the nomothetic approach

Answer 30

based on the collection and examination of large amounts of quantitative data which are subjected to statistical analysis which can then be used to make general laws of behaviour techniques include lab experiments and observations

Question 31

explain the idiographic approach

Answer 31

research makes use of such techniques as in-depth interviews and case studies to focus on particular individuals or small groups and seeks insight into the unique personal experience of its subjects through the generation of data that is largely qualitative rather than quantities. techniques include interviews and Q sorts

Question 32

give examples of the nomothetic and idiographic approach

Answer 32

nomothetic - neurotransmitter research - drugs idiographic humanistic approach

Question 33

define ethical issues

Answer 33

issues arise when there is conflict between the rights of the participants and the aims of the researcher

Question 34

define ethical implications and give an example

Answer 34

consider the impact or consequences that psychological research has on the rights of other people in a wider context not just the persons taking part in the study eg Milgram or Bowlby

Question 35

define socially sensitive research

Answer 35

(Sieber and Stanley) used SS to describe where there are potential social consequences for the group of people represented by the research there are four areas to consider

Question 36

what are the four areas to consider within socially sensitive research

Answer 36

1) the research question - might research be damaging? 2) the method used - treatment of participants 3)the institutional context - who will use the data? who's funding it? 4) interpretation and application - how might the finding be interpreted ie informing governmental policy?

Question 37

identify the 4 BPS ethical guidelines

Answer 37

consent deception harm confidentiality