Issues and debates

Question 1

What is holism?

Answer 1

Proposes that it only makes sense to study behaviour as the whole system

Question 2

What is reductionism?

Answer 2

Argues that it is best to explain behaviour by breaking it down into smaller parts

Question 3

Hollistic approach example- Gesalt psychology

Answer 3

The view that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Therefore this is arguing that human processes are more complex than the constituent parts so focusing on individual aspects of behaviour will not give a full accurate picture

Question 4

What is biological reductionism?

Answer 4

Assumes that all human behaviour can be explained through basic biological means such as the influence of genes and hormones.
For example, the biological explanation of OCD explains that is is caused by low levels of serotonin.
Although this could be argued as being oversimplistic, it has allowed researchers to establish causal relationships in a controlled way and has led to the development of biological therapies such as SSRIs

Question 5

What is environmental reductionism?

Answer 5

Explains behaviour in terms of stimulus response links that have been learned through experience.
E.g behaviourist approach is based on environmental reductionism such as Pavolv showing that dogs can learn to salivate to the sound of a bell
Ignores influence of cognitive processes

Question 6

What is a problem with environmental reductionism?

Answer 6

Studies very often carried out on animals which creates a problem of being able to generalise.
Human brains are much more complex and often nurture plays more of a role

Question 7

Wha is experimental reductionism?

Answer 7

The assumption that human behaviour can be studied effectively in simple experiments when complex behaviour is reduced to isolated variables. Allows researchers to study different factors that influence human behaviour

Question 8

Levels of explanation

Answer 8

Types of reductionism are based on levels of explanation.
Lower levels- biological explanations
Middle level- psychological
High level- cultural

e.g depression:
low serotonin
schema
media pressures

Question 9

What is gender bias?

Answer 9

Occurs when men and women are treater represented differently. Psychology has historically been a male dominated field and therefore many theories represent a male point of view (androcentrism)

Question 10

What is alpha bias?

Answer 10

When the difference between males and females are exaggerated

Question 11

What is beta bias?

Answer 11

When any gender differences are ignored

Question 12

Example of alpha bias

Answer 12

Freud’s theory of psychoanalysis which viewed femininity as a form of ailed masculinity and so exaggerates differences.

Also it has been found that studies showing a difference between men and women are more likely to be published

Question 13

Example of beta bias

Answer 13

Fight or flight response
Research carried out its males and the results have been generalised to females
However, research has suggested that women actually use a tend or befriend system when confronted with a threat, showing that it is wrong to ignore differences

Question 14

Reducing gender bias- feminist approach

Answer 14

Feminist psychologists have died to redress the balance by recognising some biological differences whilst also recognising the impact of society and culture. Furthermore, feminist psychology aims to use the findings to help address issues. For example, some research has found that females are less effective leaders and so suitable training programmes have been put in place

Question 15

Gender bias- Rosenthull (1966)

Answer 15

Found that male experimenters change their behaviour to be more friendly towards female participants. Therefore, it may be that males and females aren’t significantly difference and that it is research methodology in research which is biased

Question 16

What is nature?

Answer 16

The view that behaviour is the product of innate biological factors

Question 17

What is nurture?

Answer 17

The view that behaviour is the product of environmental influences

Question 18

What is the nature nurture debate

Answer 18

The extent to which aspects of behaviour re down to nature or nurture

Question 19

Nature example

Answer 19

Biological explanation of aggressino which explains that a dysfunction in the operation of the MAOA gene leads to abnormal activity of the MAOA enzyme. Explains that this affects levels of serotonin and low levels of serotonin are linked to aggressive behaviour

Question 20

Nurture example

Answer 20

The behaviourist approach suggests we are born as blank slates on which experiences are written on. E.g the learning explanation of attachment formation

Question 21

Explain the interactionist approach

Answer 21

The view that nature and nurture can world together. Therfore, researchers often study how they interact and influence each other.
e.g the schizophrenia diathesis stress model which explains that poeple are born with a vulnerability but will only go on to develop it if triggered by a stressor such as the stress of living in an urban area

Question 22

Twin studies in the nature nurture debate

Answer 22

• Nearly all twin studies highlight the need for an interactionist approach
• E.g Nestadt et al 2010 examined previous twin studies in relation to OCD and found an average concordance rate of 68% for MZ and 31% in DZ twins
• This provides evidence for a strong genetic component because MZ twins share 100% genes in comparison to DZ who share 50%
• However, the results also highlight the role of nurture and concordance isn’t 100% in MZ

Question 23

Interactionist practical applications

Answer 23

Led to the improvement of treatments in many illnesses such as using a combination of drug therapy and family therapy in schizophrenia which has been proven to be effective

Question 24

Separating nature from nurture

Answer 24

-It is difficult to separate nature from nurture. Once a child is born, they are immediately exposed to lots of stimuli and experiences and so any behaviours can’t be traced to one particular cause. E.g the fact that MZ twins have high constance rates doesnt necessarily mean that it is genetic. They may have a higher concordance rate because they are treated more similarly than DZ