Issues And Debates Key Words Flashcards
Universality
An underlying characteristic of human beings that is capable of being applied to all despite differences of experience and upbringing
Bias
The tendency to treat one individual or group in a different way to others
Gender bias
Psychological research or theory that offers a view that does not justifiably represent the experience and behaviour of men or women. It may be the representation of one gender only
Alpha bias
The attempt to exaggerate or overestimate the differences between the genders
Beta bias
The attempt to downplay or underestimate the differences between the genders
Androcentrism
When men’s behaviour is the standard against which women’s behaviour is compared. Female behaviour is often judged to be “abnormal”, “deficient” or “inferior” by comparison
Culture bias I&D
Overlooking cultural differences by looking at human behaviour from the perspective of one’s own culture
Ethnocentrism
A type of cultural bias that involves judging other cultures by the standards and values of one’s own culture
Cultural relativism
The idea that human behaviour can only be meaningful and understood within specific social and cultural contexts
Imposed Etic
A test, measure or theory devised in one culture that is used to explain behaviour in another culture
Collectivist cultures
Refers to cultures such as India and china that are said to be more conformist and group orientated
Collectivist cultures
Refers to cultures such as India and china that are said to be more conformist and group orientated
Individualistic cultures
Refers to western countries like the us and uk that are thought to be more independent
Etic approach
Studying behaviour across many cultures to find universal human behaviours
Culture bound syndromes
Groups of syndromes classified as treatable illnesses in certain cultures that are not recognised as such in the west
Emic approach
Studying cultures in isolation by identifying behaviours that are specific to that culture
Ethical guidelines
A set of principles set out by the BPS to help psychologists behave with honesty and integrity
Ethical issues
These arise when a conflict exists between the rights of the participants in research studies and the goals of the researchers to produce authentic valid and worthwhile data
Ethical implications
The impact that psychological research may have in terms of the rights of other people, especially participants. This includes at a societal level, influencing public policy and or the way in which certain groups of people are viewed
Socially sensitive studies
Studies in which there are potential consequences or implications either directly for the participants in the researchers or for the class of individuals represented by the research
Free will
The notion that humans can make choices and their behaviour and thoughts are not determined by biological or external forces
Determinism
The view that an individuals behaviour is shaped or controlled by internal or external forces, rather than an individuals will to do something
Hard determinism
The view that all behaviour is caused by something (internal or external forces), so free will is an illusion
Soft determinism
The view that behaviours may be predictable (caused by internal or external forces) but there is also room for personal choice from a limited range of possibilities, basically a restricted free will.
Biological determinism
The belief that behaviour is caused by biological (genetic, hormonal, or evolutionary) influences that cannot be controlled
Environmental determinism
The belief that behaviour is caused by features of the environment (such as systems of reward and punishment) that cannot be controlled.
Psychic determinism
The belief that behaviour is caused by unconscious psychodynamic conflicts that cannot be controlled
Causal explanations
Based on the principle that every event has a cause which can be explained using general laws.
Nature-nurture debate
The debate is concerned with the extent to which aspects of behaviour are a product of inherited or acquired characteristics
Heredity
The genetic transmission of both mental and physical characteristics from one generation to another
Environment
Any influence on human behaviour that is non genetic. This may range from prenatal (before birth) influences in the womb to cultural and historical influences at a societal level.
Interactionist approach
A way to explain the development of behaviour in terms of a range of factors, including both biological and psychological. Such factors combine in a way that cannot be predicted by each one separately
Diathesis stress model
A way of explaining the interactionist approach. A model to show how a disposition of a gene plus a life event leads to the development of a behaviour.
Holism
An argument or theory which suggests psychologists should only study an invisible system rather than is constituent parts.
Reductionism
The belief that human behaviour is best explained by breaking it down into smaller constituent parts
Biological reductionism
A form of reductionism that attempts to explain social and psychological phenomena at a lower biological level
Environmental reductionism
A form of reductionism that attempts to explain phenomena based on stimulus response bonds and learned associations
Levels of explanation
Different ways of viewing the same phenomena. Some ways are more reductionist than others.
Idiographic approach
Derived from the word ‘idios’ meaning ‘private’. This approach focuses more on the individual case as a means of understanding behaviour, rather than aiming to formulate general laws of behaviour.
Nomothetic approach
Derived from the word ‘nomos’ meaning ‘law’. This approach aimed to study human behaviour through the development of general principles and universal laws.
