Issues And Debates AO3s Flashcards
Case for free will
Robert et al
Everyday experiences give us the impression that we are exercising free will through choices we make on any given day – this gives face validity to the concept of free will
Research suggests people who have an internal locus of control tend to be more mentally healthy
Study by Robert et al demonstrated adults with belief in fatalism were more likely to develop depression. So even if free will doesn’t exist, if we believe we do it’ll have a positive impact on our mental health and behaviour
Case against free will
Libet, and later soon et al
Studies by Libet and more recently Chun Siong Soon et al demonstrated that brain activity that determines outcomes of simple choices may predate our knowledge of having made such a choice
Research found that brain activity related to whether to push a button with left or right hand occurs before ppts are aware of making the decision
Shows that even the most basic experiences of free will are determined by our brain before we become aware of them
Case for determinism
Determinism is consistent with the aims of science
Notion that human behaviour obeys law puts psychology on an equal level with other sciences
The prediction and control of human behaviour has led to treatments and therapies many have benefited from, eg those with schizophrenia lose control over their thoughts casting doubt over the concept of free will – mental illness behaviour seems to be determined
Case against determinism
Hard determinism is not consistent with the way our legal system operates, offenders are held accountable for their own actions
Determinism as an approach is unfalsifiable, it is based on the idea that causes of our behaviour always exist even if they may not be found, this is impossible to prove wrong
Suggests deterministic approach to human behaviour may not be as scientific as it appears
Case for idiographic approach
The approach provides a complete and global account of the individual
This could either compliment the nomothetic approach by shedding light on general laws or could conversely challenge such laws
For instance a single case study may generate hypotheses for further study (case of HM)
Also, in cases of brain damaged individuals like HM, findings may reveal important insights about normal functions which may contribute to our overall understanding
Case against idiographic approach
On the other hand even supporters recognise the narrow and restricted nature of this approach
Freud was criticised for his Oedipus complex as it was largely developed from the detailed study of a single case – little Hans
Meaningful generalisations cannot be made without further examples, as there is no baseline which behaviour can be compared to
Methods associated with the idiographic approach tend to be less scientific as conclusions are subjective to the researcher and are open to bias
Case for nomothetic approach
More scientific, mirroring methods employed within the natural sciences – testing under standardised conditions, using data sets that provide group averages, statistical analysis, prediction and control eg in IQ tests
Such processes have enabled psychologists to establish norms of “typical” behaviour, giving psychology greater scientific credibility
Case against nomothetic approach
Accused of losing the whole person within psychology
Knowing there is a low risk of developing a disorder tells us little about what life is like for someone suffering the disorder. Similarly in lab studies involving tests, ppts are treated as scores rather than individuals and their subjective experience of a situation is ignored
In search of generalities, nomothetic approaches overlook richness of human experience
Ethical implications of research and studies
Benefits of socially sensitive research
Scarr
Despite the ethical implications associated with research into controversial topics, Scarr argues studies of underrepresented groups and issues may lead to a greater sensitivity and understanding of them. Helping reduce prejudice and increase acceptance
This research has also benefited society. Research into the reliability of EWT has reduced the number of miscarriages within the legal system
Suggesting socially sensitive research has a valuable place within society
Ethical implications of research and studies
Social control
A large number of US states enacted legislation that led to the sterilisation of many citizens on the grounds that they were a strain on society and were unfit to breed
Includes people who were mentally ill or addicted to substances
The fact that socially sensitive research has been used to fuel discriminatory practices in the past is an argument against its widespread adoption
Ethical implications of research and studies
Research has manipulative power
Socially sensitive research has been used by institutions to shape social policy despite full consideration of the effects of the environment on characteristics such as intelligence
There is research that seems harmless but has socially sensitive consequences, for instance a study found popcorn sales went up if images of it were flashed too quickly to see during a movie – later these findings were proved to be falsified
Although this study had little consequence, it showed research has the potential to manipulate the public which has obvious ethical implications
