Issues and debates. Indiv debates 2 Flashcards
All A03 free will vs Determinism
due to acknowlegement of the debate,
(+)more scientific research conducted as determinism is regarded as scientific. led to OCD treatment
(-) Determinism takes away responsibility of individual- no choice - justice system
due to acknowlegement of the debate,
(+) possible factors weighed up, leading to a more theoretical and suitible outcome e.g: justice system ‘extensdive analysis of data and variables. true outcome revealed
(-)neurological studies of decision making have revealed evidence against free will
(+)Overall, more beneficial to combine determinism and free will when explaining behaviour. e.g: interactionalist - cognitive element = soft determinsim e.g: bandura atttention and motivastion + envieonment
(-)neurological studies of decision making have revealed evidence against free will
Soon et al (2008), demonstrated brain activity determines outcome of simple choices before we are aware of having made the choice . brain activity indicates whether we will press button with left or right hand up to 10 seconds before consciously aware of pressing button
Nature Nurture A03
(-) Can’t only use nurture side of debate as environment contains many factors. e.g: concordance rates of MZ twins are never 100% because of differences in upbringing experiences. more practical to combine both
(-) Can’t only use nature side of debate - ethical implications. more practical to combine both
(-) both are extremely Deterministic. nature may lead to eugenics. Nurture may lead to control and manipulation techniques on society. .: extremely negative consequences
(+) Both have strong correlations with hard determinism. can predict and create laws of behaviour. More scientifically credible
(+) Acknowledgment sparks empirical research. e,g: depression, serotonin vs environmental events. results in more solid and comprehensive topic matters
(-) Can’t only use nature side of debate - ethical implications.
e.g: Charles Whitmen had pea size tumour on brain and did mass shooting. may recieve sentance that isn’t acceptable for crime he committed
Holism vs Reductionism A03
(+) Reductionism is scientific
(-) reductionism oversimplifies complex ideas e.g: neurones and genetics don’t fully explain socail behaviours
(+) Also strenght in Holism. often variables only understood when looking at all factors. more complete. e.g: zimbardo only make sense when take into account all individuals
(-)Holistic is non-scientific e.g: Humanistic approach has lack of empirical evidence and loose concepts. therefore these appraoches may struggle to determine how to treat problems such as depression, challenge irational thoughts or work on low levels of serotonin
(-) on the whole, more practical to take and interactionist appraoch. Led to combining reductionist and holsitic treatemetns such as drug therapy combined with family therapy
Idiographic vs Nomothetic
(+) idiographic encourages in depth, qualitative methods that take into count indiv diff. could challenge nomothetic general laws
(-) idiographic - meaningful generalisations not possible. e.g Freud
(+) nomothrtic is scientifiv . promotes research which mirrors natural sciences: standardised conditions, statistical analysis, prediciton and control. scientifically credible
(-) nomothetic Loses the whole person. e.g: lab studies produce scores without acknowleging the individauls experience, thus we are viewed as machines. Ignore subjective experience which determines human behaviour
(-) Adopt both methods. (depending on research and topic). E.g: LTM. nomothetic general laws = all have ep sema proced memory. Idiographic = Clive wearing case study demonstrated different stores . unecesary to separate the two
(-) nomothetic Loses the whole person.
e.g: lab studies produce scores without acknowleging the individauls experience, thus we are viewed as machines. Ignore subjective experience which determines human behaviour
A03 for Culture Bias
(-)focusing on cultural bias and arguing for cultural relativism can distract from the fact that not all concepts in psychology are culturally different
(+) highlighting cultural bias has led to more cross-cultural research challenges typical western ways of viewing world
(-) Issue with condicting same research in different cultures as Variables under review may not be same across all cultures- operationalised separately
(+)Culture bias no longer an issue as the distinction between collectivist and individualistic cultures no longer relevant
(-) Western participants more used to research process
A03 for gender bias
(-) alpha bias in research - can reinforce gender stereotypes e.g: Bowlby
(-) There is often underlying sexism in research process.
(+) Acknowledging and highlighting gender bias leads to equality in the psychological research process - samples
(-)arguing for equality may draw attention away from specific needs of each gender. e.g: suicide rates
(+) Acknowledging gender bias has led to emergence of feminist psychology
A03 Socially sensitive research
evaluate whether it should be conducted or not
(-)Misinterpretations of findings can shape public policy 1920s
(+)Modern SSR is highly controlled E.g: ethical commitee. means justified
(-) Ethical committee assessments subject to subjectivity + effects can only be known when public
(+)P.A- unreliability of EWT
(-)Misinterpretations of findings can shape public policy
Socially sensitive research
evaluate whether it should be conducted or not
1920s-30s, large number of American states legalised the compulsory sterilisation of many citizens on the grounds of they were ‘feeble minded’ .
Supported by many psychologists at the time
(-) There is often underlying sexism in research process.
Rosenthal (1966) found that male experimenters were more pleasant, friendly and encouraging to female participants. This investigator effect may lead to invalid conclusions because females may act differently to males because of the experimental set up, rather than the change in IV. Ultimately, this means results from research lack internal validity.
(+) Feminist psychology
For example, Worrell (1992), a feminist psychologist, put forward a number of criteria that should be adhered to in order to avoid gender bias in psychological research and create more gender equality in research findings. Therefore, this has lead to important changes in how psychological research is conducted in order to provide more equity between the genders.
(+) highlighting cultural bias has led to more cross-cultural research challenges typical western ways of viewing world
criticizm led to Van Ijzendoorn whcih led to understanding of different child rearing practices in countries such as Isreal
(-)focusing on cultural bias and arguing for cultural relativism can distract from the fact that not all concepts in psychology are culturally different
e.g: interactional synchrony between mother and child is innate and universal.
Furthermore, Elkman suggested basic facial features and emotions are universal.
Should study which behaviours are culturally relative AND which are universal
