Issues and Debates

Question 1

What is Holism?

Answer 1

Holism is viewing people as indivisible beings consisting of a “self” that can only be studied in context.

Question 2

What is Reductionism?

Answer 2

Reductionism is viewing people as a complex system that consists of many small parts we should study separately.

Question 3

What are the types of reductionism?

Answer 3

• Biological
• Environmental
• Experimental

Question 4

What are the types of holism?

Answer 4

• Gestalt
• Humanistic
• Cognitive

Question 5

What does the Genotype argument in nature suggest?

Answer 5

Inherited genetic information that determines who we are.

Question 6

What does the Evolution argument in nature suggest?

Answer 6

The evolution argument in nature suggests that adaptive pressures from natural selection are behind all our characteristics.

Question 7

What are the two arguments for Nature?

Answer 7

Genotype and Evolution.

Question 8

What are the arguments for Nurture?

Answer 8

Behaviourism, social learning theory and environment.

Question 9

What does the behaviourism nurture argument say?

Answer 9

It says that we’re 100% shaped by our experiences.

Phobics must have original trauma.

Question 10

What does the Social learning theory nurture argument say?

Answer 10

It says that our behaviour is learned & reinforced vicariously through observation of role models.

Question 11

What does the Environment nurture argument say?

Answer 11

Our families/friends/school causes behavioural outcomes.

Question 12

What are the 3 types of gender bias?

Answer 12

• Androcentrism
• Alpha Bias
• Beta Bias

Question 13

Explain Beta gender bias?

Answer 13

IGNORING gender differences. Assuming male results apply to females.

Question 14

Explain Alpha gender bias?

Answer 14

EXAGGERATING gender differences. Assuming that male results apply to females.

Question 15

What is Ethnocentrism?

Answer 15

Ethnocentrism is over emphasis of one culture/imposing its norms.

Question 16

What is Cultural relativism?

Answer 16

Idea that behavior can’t be judged unless its viewed in the context of the culture that it is performed in.

Question 17

Alpha bias in culture

Answer 17

Exaggerating cultural differences.

Question 18

Beta bias in culture.

Answer 18

Ignoring cultural differences.

Question 19

Beta

Answer 19

Ignoring

Question 20

Alpha

Answer 20

Exaggerating

Question 21

What is free will in Psychology?

Answer 21

Free will is the ability to make a meaningful choice between possible behaviours. (we can choose point of action)

Question 22

What is Determinism in Psychology?

Answer 22

Determinism is the idea that all behaviours depend on situational factors. (behaviour is fixed before point of action)

Question 23

What are the 3 types of determinism?

Answer 23

The 3 types of determinism are:

• Hard determinism
• Soft determinism
• Reciprocal determinism

Question 24

Explain Hard determinism in terms of causality?

Answer 24

Direct causality (A causes B)

Question 25

Explain Soft determinism in terms of causality?

Answer 25

Indirect causality (A causes B, when C is present)

Question 26

Explain Reciprocal determinism in terms of causality?

Answer 26

Interactive causality (A,B and C contribute to causing each other)

Question 27

What are the 4 approaches types of determinism?

Answer 27

The 4 approaches types of determinism are: - Biological determinism - Environmental determinism - Psychic determinism - Scientific determinism

Question 28

What does the Biological determinism say?

Answer 28

Biological determinism says that certain genes will make you turn out a certain way.

Question 29

What does the Environmental determinism say?

Answer 29

Environmental determinism says that experiences shape who you are and what you do?

Question 30

What does Psychic determinism say?

Answer 30

Psychic determinism says that internal unconscious factors decide our behaviour.

Question 31

What does Scientific determinism say?

Answer 31

Scientific determinism says that all events must have a cause.

Question 32

What are two arguments for free will?

Answer 32

- The humanistic approach believes in free will | - Moral responsibility is another important free-will argument.

Question 33

What are the features of an Idiographic design?

Answer 33

- Focus on individual and recognises uniqueness - Qualitative methods of investigation - Private subjective and conscious experiences

Question 34

What are the features of an Nomothetic design?

Answer 34

- Attempts to establish laws and generalisations - Objective knowledge through scientific methods - Quantitative methods of investigation

Question 35

What are the strengths of a Idiographic design?

Answer 35

The strengths of an idiographic design are: - Provides a more complete understanding of individual. - Satisfies key aim of science - Findings can serve as a source of ideas or hypotheses for later study. - The focuses mean the individual feels valued and unique.

Question 36

What are the strengths of a nomothetic design?

Answer 36

The strengths of a nomothetic design are: - Regarded as scientific (precise method) - Has helped psychology as a whole become scientific - Combines biological and social aspects.