Issues and debates key terms Flashcards
Universality
Any underlying characteristic of human beings that is capable of being applied to all, despite differences of of experience and upbringing. Gender bias and culture bias threaten the universality of findings in psychology.
Gender bias
When considering human behaviour, bias is a tendency to treat one individual or group in a different way from the others. In the context of gender bias, psychological research or theory may offer a view that does not justifiably represent the experience and the behaviour of men or women. (usually women)
Androcentrism
Male-centred, when ‘normal’ behaviour is judged according to a male standard (meaning that female behaviour is judged to be abnormal in comparison)
Alpha bias
Research that focusses on differences between men and women, and therefore tends to present a view that exaggerates these differences.
Beta bias
Research that focusses on similarities between men and women and therefore tends to present a view that ignores minimises differences.
Cultural bias
A tendency to interpret all phenomena through the ‘lens’ of ones own culture, ignoring the effects that cultural differences might have on behaviour.
Ethnocentrism
Judging other cultures by the standards and values of ones own culture. In its extreme form it is the belief in the superiority of ones own culture which may lead to prejudice and discrimination towards other cultures.
Cultural relativism
The idea that norms and values, as well as ethics and moral standards, can only be meaningful an understood within specific social and cultural context.
Free will
The notion that humans can make choices and their behavioural/thoughts are not determined by biological or external forces.
Determinism
The view that an individual’s behaviour is shaped or controlled by internal or external forces rather than an individual will do something.
Hard determinism
The view that all behaviour is caused by something (internal or external factors), so free will is an illusion.
Soft determinism
The view that behaviour may be predictable (caused by internal or external factors) but there is also room for personal choice from a limited range of possibilities (restricted free will).
Biological determinism
The belief that behaviour is caused by biological (genetic, hormonal and evolutionary) influences that we cannot control.
Environmental determinism
The belief that behaviour is caused by features of the environment ( such as systems of rewards and punishments) that we cannot control.
Psychic determinism
The belief that behaviour is caused by conscious psychodynamic conflicts that we cannot control.