Issues and Debates Key Terms Flashcards
Universality
Any underlying characteristics of human beings that is capable of being applied to all, despite differences in experience and upbringing
Gender Bias
When considering human behaviour, bias is a tendency to treat one individual or group in a different way. In terms of gender, research or theories may offer a view that does not represent male or female behaviour
Androcentrism
When normal behaviour is judged to a male standard
Alpha Bias
Theories that suggest there are real differences between men and women, these typically undervalue women
Beta Bias
Theories that ignore or minimize the differences between the sexes
Cultural Bias
Refers to a tendency to ignore cultural differences and interpret all phenomena through the “lens” of their own culture
Ethnocentrism
Judging other cultures by the standards and values of one’s own culture. In an extreme form, it is the belief in the superiority of one’s own culture which could lead to prejudice and discrimination
Cultural redativsm
The idea that norms and values can only be meaningful and understood within specific social and cultural contexts
Free Will
The notion that humans can make choices and are not determined by biological or external forces
Determinism
The view that an individuals behaviour is shaped or controlled by external or internal forces rather than an individual’s will to do something
Hard Determinism
Implies that free will is not possible as our behaviour is always caused by internal or external forces beyond our control
Soft Determinism
All events have causes,but behaviour can also be caused by our choices in the absence of coercion
Biological Determinism
Behaviour is caused by biological influences that we cannot control
Environmental Determinism
Behaviour is caused by features in the environment that we cannot control
Psychic Determinism
Behaviour is caused by unconscious conflicts that we cannot control
The Nature-Nuture Debate
Concerned with the extent to which aspects of behaviour are a product of inherited or acquired characteristics
Heredity
The genetic transmission of mental and physical characteristics from one generation to another
Environment
Any influence on human behaviour that is not genetic. This may range from pre natal influences in the womb through to cultural and historical influences at a societal level
The Interactionalist Approach
The idea that nature and nurture are linked to such an extent that it does not make sense to separate the two, so researchers instead study how they link and relate to each other
Holism
An argument or theory which proposes that it only makes sense to study an indivisable system rather than it’s parts
Reductionism
The belief that human behaviour is best explained by breaking it down into smaller parts
Biological Reductionism
A form of reductionism which attempts to explain social or psychological phenomena in terms of genes, hormones etc
Environmental Reductionism
The attempt to explain all behaviour in terms of stimuli-response associations that have been learned via experience
Idiographic Approach
An approach to research that focuses more on the individual case as a means of understanding behaviour, rather than aiming to formulate general laws of behaviour
Nomotheic Approach
Attempts to study human behaviour through the development of general principles and universal laws
Ethical Implications
The impact that psychological research may have in terms of the rights of other people. This includes the way in which certain groups of people are regarded
Social Sensitivity
Studies in which there are potential consequences or implications either for the participants or the individuals represented in the research
