issues and debates advanced information Flashcards
What is free will
The notion humans can make their own choices and are not governed by any biological or external influences.
What is determinism
The view that an individuals behaviour is controlled by external or internal forces rather than the individuals will.
What is hard determinism
Implies that free will is not possible because our behaviour is always caused by internal or external events beyond our control.
What is soft determinism
All events including human behaviour have causes but behaviour can also be caused by conscience choices in the absence of coercion.
What is biological determinism
The idea behaviour is controlled by biological influences, like genetics, that we cannot control.
What is environmental determinism
The belief that behaviour is caused by features of the environment such as systems of reward and punishment that we cannot control.
What is psychic determinism
The belief that behaviour is controlled by unconscious conflicts we cannot control.
What is the scientific emphasis on causal explanations
Every principle in the universe has a cause and can be explained using universal laws. Lab experiments in psychology can be used for this.
What are the strengths of determinism
Determinism is scientific. Determinism means that general laws can be made about human behaviour. Psychology is therefore a science on equal footing with others.
Determinism means behaviour is caused. This has led to development of treatments like therapies that have benefitted many. Therefore the idea of determinism can improve peoples lives.
What are the limitations of determinism
Goes against law system. In court offenders are held responsible for their actions. Determinism says they are not exercising free will. therefore determinism does not work in the real world.
What are the strengths of free will
Everyday experience gives impression we are exercising free will. The choices we make on a given day are believed to be made by ourselves. Gives free will face validity.
Research suggests those with internal locus of controls are more mentally healthy. This suggests believing we have free will even if we do not has a positive impact on behaviour.
What are the limitations of free will
Brain scan evidence. Libet instructed participants to randomly flick their wrist. Libet found unconscious brain activity came half a second before the patient decided to move. Suggests even basic experiences are determined by our brain.
Why may middle ground be more appropriate in the free will determinism debate
Approaches with soft determinism may be more appropriate. Social learning theory for example believes that although environment is key for learning we are free to choose when to perform these behaviours. Suggests an interactionist approach may be the best explanation.
What is the idiographic approach
Comes from greek word “idios” which means own or private.
Psychologists using this approach will focus on the individual and emphasise unique personal experience of human nature.
People are studies as unique entities.
Does not seek to make universal laws or generalise to others.
What is the idiographic method
Favours qualitative research methods like case studies and unstructured interviews for example. They allow in depth insight into the individual. The humanistic approach has an idiographic perspective.
What is the nomothetic approach
Nomothetic comes from the greek word “nomos” which means law.
Psychologists who take this approach want to make universal laws based on study of large groups.
General laws provide a benchmark against which people can be measured.
What are nomothetic methods
Quantitative methods like experiments and correlations are favoured.
Relies on methods that are considered scientific.
Nomothetic approaches are used in approaches that employ scientific methods of measuring behaviour like the behaviourist approach.
What is AO3 for the idiographic approach
Idiographic approach can be used to challenge or support nomothetic general laws. E.g KF showed there were two different Short term memory stores challenging the multi-store model which said it was unitary.
However uses unscientific methods like case studies. Conclusions drawn can be subject to the interpretation of researcher. Therefore they can be subject to bias.
What is AO3 for the nomothetic approach
Nomothetic is more scientific. Testing is under standardised conditions data sets using group averages are used allowing for statistical analysis to occur. This for example allowed psychologists to establish average iq is 100 and normal range is 70-130.
However focus on general laws means the whole person is lost. Knowing 1% of people suffer from schizophrenia does not tell us what it is like to actually suffer from it. Richness of human experience is overlooked.
What is the AO3 for nomothetic and idiographic complimenting each other
Both can be used to consider the same issue from the different perspectives. Schaffers stages are nomothetic and bowlby’s 44 theives study is idiographic based on a series of detailed case studies. Considering both approaches together will provide a rich description of human behaviour and explanation of that behaviour.
What are ethical implications of research studies and theories overview
Ethical guidelines set out by the British psychological society. These include protecting participants from harm, right to withdraw and informed consent.
Ethical issues arise when rights of participants conflict with the aims of the researcher.
Ethical implications arise when the research will have wider impact on a group not just the one that took part in the study. Can be positive or negative.
What are ethical implications of a study (milgram’s study)
Milgram’s 1963 study meant participants were deceived so unable to give informed consent and had significant amounts of distress caused to them so were not protected from harm. They were also coerced to continue which jeopardises their right to withdraw.
On the other hand participants were debriefed after the experiment. There was also a follow up interview a year later which found there was no long term impacts.
The experiment had positive ethical implications as it may have changed the perception of Germans who followed Hitler from being evil.
What are ethical implications of a theory (Bowlby’s monotropic theory)
Bowlb’s theory has contributed to the development of child care practices which is a positive ethical implication.
On the other hand a negative implication is it can encourage a mother her place is at home with her child.
What is social sensitivity
Social sensitivity describes a study where there may be potential social consequences for the people involved in the study or those represented by it.
