Issues and Debates

Question 1

What is the aim of psychology?

Answer 1

Universality

Question 2

Definition of Universality

Answer 2

The idea that theories of psychology, can explain behaviour that is accurate to the experiences of men and women.

Question 3

What is a bias?

Answer 3

A view that is distorted in some way

Question 4

Definition of Gender Bias

Answer 4

The idea that research and theories in psychology, don’t equally reflect the experience of men and women.

Question 5

Androcentrism

Answer 5

The male view of behaviour dominates in theories because psychology is male-dominated.

This causes a male world view and may negatively affect women.

Question 6

Defintion of Alpha Bias

Answer 6

The differences of men and women are exaggerated and over emphasised.

Question 7

Example of Alpha Bias

Answer 7

Freud’s Psychodynamic approach:

• Saw femininity as ‘failed masculinity.’
• Bc girls can’t experience castration anxiety and Oedipus conflict.
• Therefore, they have weaker identification with their mothers, superegos and lower morality than men.

Question 8

Definition of Beta Bias

Answer 8

The differences between men and women are minimised, ignored or underestimated

Question 9

Example of Beta Bias

Answer 9

Taylor et al (2000) = Fight or flight research:

• Fight or Flight based on male animal response bc female hormones fluctuate
• Taylor et al = saw female evolved to have fight or flight to protect their young. And show ‘tend and befriend’ bhvr to get social networks for support
• shows men and women are different.

Question 10

Strengths of reflexivity

Answer 10

Increased the validity of research and reduced gender bias.

This is when researchers can objectively look at their work and identity how it can affect society.

Question 11

How can alpha bias lead to the discrimination of women?

Answer 11

Freud = ‘femininity is failed masculinity.’
Could have less opportunities for women
ETHICS

Question 12

How does Androcentrism lead to institutional sexism?

Answer 12

Men predominate at senior researcher level. So their researcher agenda will follow male concerns and female concerns will be marginalised/ ignored.

Question 13

How does androcentrism lead to dissemination of results?

Answer 13

Publishing bias towards positive results.

Results showing gender differences are more likely to get published.

Question 14

Definition of Culture Bias

Answer 14

The tendency to judge all people in terms of your now cultural assumptions.

Question 15

Definition of Ethnocentrism

Answer 15

A from of cultural bias. This is when we judge other cultures by the standards of our own culture.

Question 16

Definition of Cultural Relativism

Answer 16

This is the view that bhvr cannot be judged properly, unless viewed in the context of the culture it originates.

Question 17

Example of Cultural Relativism

Answer 17

Auditory hallucinations = listed as symptom of Sz in DSM, but not a mental illness in all cultures.

Question 18

Cultural Relativism is the opposite of what?

Answer 18

Ethnocentrism

Question 19

Definition of IMPOSED ETIC

Answer 19

Associated with ethnocentrism. This is when a technique or theory, developed in one culture, is used to study the bhvr of people in another culture.

Question 20

Definition of EMIC

Answer 20

Associated with cultural relativism. This is when indvls are studied and generalisations are only made within that culture.

Question 21

What is the problem of culture bias?

Answer 21

The findings only apply to the people in the research.

Culturally biased theories = problems with validity so generalisations can’t be made.

Question 22

Problems with ethnocentrism?

Answer 22

In its extreme form, a researcher could assume their culture is more superior (which may be intentional or unintentional). This can depict other cultures as less or inferior which is wrong.

Question 23

Example of Ethnocentrism and how is this a weakness?

Answer 23

Ainsworth Strange situation, showed an etic approach and didn’t incorporate cultural differences.

Depicted ‘secure’ attachment as the ideal.

Socially sensitive = showed German mothers as cold and rejecting.

Question 24

What is W.E.I.R.D?

Answer 24

Westernised 
Educated people from 
Industrialised 
Rich
Democracies

Question 25

Why is W.E.I.R.D participants a weakness of Culture Bias?

Answer 25

Heinrich (2010) showed 68% of participants were from the US and 95% were from industrialised nations.

Therefore, theories are based on WEIRD participants and non- WERID participants can be seen as inferior or abnormal.

Question 26

Strength of Culture Bias

Answer 26

Validity - Emergence of Cultural Psychology

Cultural Psychology is the study of how people shape and are shaped by their cultural experiences.

This aims to avoid ethnocentrism by, using an emic approach with local researchers.

This shows, modern researchers are becoming more mindful and aware of the dangers of cultural bias - taking steps to avoid it.

Question 27

Definition of Determinism

Answer 27

Individual behaviour is controlled by either internal or external forces. Behaviour is predictable.

Question 28

Definition of Hard Determinism

Answer 28

The view that all behaviour can be predicted bc there’s no free will.

Question 29

Definition of Soft Determinism

Answer 29

A version of determinism which acknowledges some level of free will.

Question 30

Definition of Psychic Determinism

Answer 30

Behaviour is determined by innate drives + early experiences. Associated with Freud + the psychodynamic approach.

Question 31

Definition of Biological Determinism

Answer 31

Behaviour is determined by our genes, + subsequently neurotransmitters e.g serotonin + dopamine. Associated with the biological approach.

Question 32

Definition of Environmental Determinism

Answer 32

Behaviour is caused by previous experience, though classical + operant conditioning. Associated with behaviourism.

Question 33

Definition of Scientific

Answer 33

Argues all behaviour is predictable, has a cause + therefore, can be explained by general laws.

Question 34

Similarities between science and determinism

Answer 34

Scientific determinism applies these ideas by testing the cause and effect through changing the IV and measuring the effects on the DV.

The results from controlled research is made into general laws.

Free will is not compatible with science bc it can’t be tested, controlled or manipulated in a systematic way. To let the researcher see the effects on bhvr.

Question 35

Definition of Free will

Answer 35

An individual is seen as being capable of self-determination and has an active role in controlling their behaviour.

Question 36

A strength of Determinism

Answer 36

Hard determinism suggested by the biological approach or behaviourism has led to treatments, therapies such as CBT.

Therefore, determinism has beneficial application I the real world.

Question 37

A strength of Free Will (can be made into a weakness)

Answer 37

EXTERNAL VALIDITY.

Common sense idea that humans have free will.

Justice system is base don free will.

Question 38

Definition of Nativist

Answer 38

Believes human characteristics are inherited

Question 39

Definition of Heritability Coefficient

Answer 39

Represents the degree to which two people are similar. This shows the concordance between two people.

Question 40

Definition of Empiricist

Answer 40

Believes people are a blank slate (Tabula Rasa) at birth.

Question 41

Definition of Relative Importance

Answer 41

Addressing the importance of the findings and how they contribute to psychology.

Question 42

Definition of Diathesis Stress Model

Answer 42

Biological or environmental vulnerability (diathesis) can be triggered (either biological or environmental).

Question 43

Example of Diathesis Stress Model in OCD

Answer 43

Aetiologically heterogenous is the diathesis.

Cromer et al (2007) environment is very influential. Especially in severe patients who experiences traumatic events in their lives. (Trigger)

Question 44

Definition of Epigenetics

Answer 44

A change in our genetic activity without changing the genes themselves. This is caused by the interaction with the environment.

Lifestyle leaves marks on DNA which switches on/off genes. Changes way genes in expressed

Question 45

A strength of the nature-nurture debate

Answer 45

APPLICATION - OCD
Nestadt et el (2010) = 0.76 heritability rate (high)

Genetic counselling for people and give advice for those who do have a background, to find ways not to trigger it.

Debate is not just important theoretically, but practically as well.

Question 46

Strength of Epigenetics

Answer 46

INTERNAL VALIDITY - Nazis
Dutch Hunger Winter in 1944 was caused by Nazis blocked food distribution to the Dutch.

This led to 22,000 people dying and women who was pregnant during the famine, birther low weight babies.

These babies, when they grew up, were 2x more likely to have Sz in comparison to the general pop.

This supports epigenetic ‘markers’ influence the health of the offspring.

Question 47

What is Phenylketonuria?

Answer 47

A rare but potentially serious inherited disorder

This is when babies can’t breakdown amino acids phenylalanine which builds up in their brain and blood.

This can lead to brain damage and learning disabilities

Question 48

How does this relate to the nature-nurture debate?

Answer 48

This can be treated by having a low protein diet and controlling the uptake of other foods such as carbs.

Question 49

Why in the interactionist approach central to the current debate?

Answer 49

Nature and nurture cannot be separated

Better understanding come if we understand how they work together.