Issues And Debates

Question 1

Hard Determinism

Answer 1

Our behaviour is determined and excludes possibility of free will

Question 2

Soft determinism

Answer 2

Some aspects of behaviour are determined, the rest is open to free will

Question 3

Biological determinism

Answer 3

Our behaviour is determined by biological factors e.g. Genetic explanations

Question 4

Environmental determinism

Answer 4

Our behaviour is determined by our environment e.g. Learning theories

Question 5

Gender bias

Answer 5

When differences between genders aren’t considered properly

Question 6

Alpha bias

Answer 6

Gender differences are exaggerated

Question 7

Beta bias

Answer 7

Gender differences are minimised

Question 8

Androcentrism

Answer 8

Gender bias in favour of males as research has come from a male-centred view

Question 9

Cultural bias

Answer 9

Differences between cultures haven’t been considered properly

Question 10

Ethnocentrism

Answer 10

Bias in favour of one culture as research has only been conducted in that culture

Question 11

Cultural relativism

Answer 11

A person’s own background effects their views and behaviours

Question 12

Imposed etic

Answer 12

Method from one culture is imposed upon other different cultures

Question 13

Emic

Answer 13

Focus on one culture for local use only

Question 14

Nature

Answer 14

Our behaviour is caused by innate factors

Question 15

Nurture

Answer 15

Our behaviour is a consequence of the environment

Question 16

Idiographic approach

Answer 16

Conducting research on individuals and how they behave

Question 17

Nomethetic approach

Answer 17

Conducting research on groups in order to create theories

Question 18

Social sensitivity

Answer 18

Any research which the the area may be regarded as emotionally sensitive

Question 19

Reductionism

Answer 19

The idea that complex behaviours can be explained by looking at components at a lower level

Question 20

Biological reductionism

Answer 20

Behaviour can be explained by the biology of the person

Question 21

Environmental reductionism

Answer 21

Behaviour can be explained by environmental circumstance affecting the person at that time

Question 22

Holism

Answer 22

The idea that complex behaviours can’t be explained by reducing them to a lower level