Issues ane Debates - Paper 3

Question 1

Free Will vs Determinism Debate

Answer 1

The extent to which we are self determining and free to choose our thoughts and actions (free will).

Vs

The extent to which our behaviour is controlled by internal and external forces (determinism).

Question 2

Free Will + Link to which Approach?

Answer 2

The extent to which we are self-determining and free to choose our thoughts and actions.

Central to Humanistic Psychology

• Theorists such as Maslow and Rogers argued that self-determination was crucial for human beings.
• Self actualisation and development can only be experienced when a person takes self-responsibility.

Question 3

Determinism

Answer 3

Determinism suggests that external or internal forces control an individuals behaviour.

Question 4

Hard Determinism

Answer 4

Internal and external forces control everything we think and do (have little room to make decisions).

• Human behaviour has a cause so it should be possible to identify and describe these causes.

Question 5

Soft Determinism

Answer 5

People have some conscious mental control over behaviour.

• We have some freedom in everyday life to make choices within internal and external forces.
• May provide a compromise in the free-will vs determinism debate.

Question 6

Biological Determinism

Answer 6

Behaviours are biologically determined.

• Goes deeper than just the influence of genes on our physical characteristics but suggests our behaviour are genetically determined. 🧬

Question 7

Environmental Determinism + Linked to which Approach

Answer 7

Behaviour is caused by previous experience through classical and operant conditioning.

• Behaviourist Approach.

Question 8

Psychic Determinism

Answer 8

Freud suggested that Human Personality was formed from our innate drives and also our early experiences (internal and external forces). 🤱🏻👨‍🍼

Question 9

Strength of Free Will (Free-will vs Determinism Debate).

Answer 9

P - Free will approach suggests we how have conscious control of how we feel/behave.

E - This is especially important for treatment of mental health as it gives individuals control and responsibility for their recovery.

E - In addition, people who have Internal LOC (Locus of Control), believing they have high influence over their behaviour tend to be more mentally healthy.

L - This means taking the Free-will approach have have a positive impact on the mind and behaviour.

Question 10

Criticism of Free Will (Free-will vs Determinism Debate).

Answer 10

P - Neurological Studies of decision making have revealed evidence against free-will.

E - Studies by Libet have demonstrated the brain activity that determines the outcome of simple choices may predate (come before) our knowledge of having made such a choice.

E - Research found that brain activity occurred up to 10seconds before ppts report being consciously aware of making that decision.

L - This shows that even our most basic experiences of free-will are decided and determined by our brain before we become aware of them.

Question 11

Strength of the Determinism (Free-will vs Determinism).

Answer 11

P - Determinism is consistent with the aims of science, this has implications for research and treatments.

E - Science focuses on investigating causes and making predictions, a deterministic view allows the causes of human behaviour to be identified.

E - This means therapies and treatments can be developed if behaviour can be predicted and controlled. For example: SSRI’s and OCD.

L - This means taking a deterministic view can lead to improvements in patients lives and has practical applications.

Question 12

Criticism of Determinism (Free-will vs Determinism).

Answer 12

P - A deterministic stance isn’t consistent with the way in which our legal system operates and has implications for society.

E - In addition, a deterministic view can be socially sensitive. E.g. MAOA gene for aggression.

E - If a certain genetic makeup predisposes people to violent crime behaviour it is not clear whether they can be held responsible for their actions.

L - A deterministic view therefore poses issues for the justice system as rehabilitation may seem impossible and it is unclear what to do with individuals who are found to have the gene.

Question 13

Other View (Balanced Position in Free-will vs Determinism Debate).

Answer 13

P - A soft determinism position may provide a compromise in the free-will vs determinism debate.

E - E.g. Approaches which have a cognitive element such as SLT recognise the influence of both free-will and determinism.

E - For instance, Bandura argued that although environmental factors in learning are key, we are free to choose who or what we attend to and when we perform certain behaviour.

L - This means a soft-determinism position is a more balanced approach to the free-will vs determinism debate.

Question 14

Idiographic vs Nomothetic Debate

Answer 14

The central argument between idiographic and nomothetic approaches to psychological investigation is whether the ultimate AIM of psychological research is to:

Discover universal laws of behaviour (Nomothetic). 🌍

OR

Develop an in-depth understanding of unique cases (Idiographic). 🧍🏻‍♀️

Question 15

Idiographic Debate

Answer 15

Focuses on the individual case as a means of understanding behaviour.🧍🏻‍♀️

Question 16

Nomothetic Debate

Answer 16

Aims to discover universal laws/theories of behaviour. 🌍

• Seeks to make generalisations about behaviour.

Question 17

Strength of Idiographic Debate.

Answer 17

P - Idiographic approach, with its in-depth qualitative methods of investigation, provides a complete and global account of the individual.

E - This may compliment the Nomothetic approach by shedding further light on general laws or indeed challenging such laws.

E - E.g. a single hypothesis may generate hypothesis for further study (HM’s study).

L - This means that findings from idiographic methods may reveal important insights about normal functioning which may contribute to our overall understanding.

Question 18

Criticism of Idiographic Debate.

Answer 18

P - May not be scientific.

E - Methods associated with the idiographic approach such as case studies often rely on subjective interpretations and are open to bias.

E - The emphasis on in-depth data collection and the difficulties in arriving at justifiable generalisations contradicts the central purpose of any mature science: To explain the most variation in the fewest possible terms so that phenomena can be predicted and controlled.
OR - This goes against the Features of Science such as Objectivity. (Because Louis’ brain is fried and trying to not complicate it)

L - Research practises that do not address these goals can seem scientifically pointless.
OR - Therefore Idiographic Debate may take away from the credibility of Psychology as a Science.

Question 19

Strength of Nomothetic Debate.

Answer 19

P - Considered scientific, unlike the Idiographic debate.

E - The use of experimental (quantitative) methods, controlled measurement and the ability to predict behaviour, are all seen as strength of Nomothetic Approach.

E - Furthermore, controlled methods allow for replication to examine reliability of findings which has helped psychology establish itself as a science.

L - The development of theories and empirical testing are just one of the key features of science that are employed by the Nomothetic Approach.
OR - Therefore adds to the credibility of Psychology as a Science as Replication is a key feature of science.

(This is because Louis’ brain is fried and needs easier things to remember).

Question 20

Criticism of Nomothetic Approach.

Answer 20

P - Criticism = loses sight of the ‘whole person’ due to its fixation on quantitative data and statistical analysis.

E - Furthermore, only provides superficial understanding of human behaviour. E.g. Milgram’s study found 65% of ppts obeyed an authority figure and inflicted a 450V shock because they were ordered to.

E - However, results fail to provide an explanation of why each person obeyed, and there may have been very different circumstances that led to the obedience found in each ppt.

L - This means, in search of general laws, the Nomothetic Approach may overlook human experience.

Question 21

Other (Balanced Position) of Idiographic vs Nomothetic Approach.

Answer 21

P - Holt (1967) argues that the Idiographic Nomothetic Approach is a false distinction.

E - Many approaches in psychology take advantage of both approaches and therefore the 2 approaches can be viewed as complimentary rather than contradictory.

E - E.g. Freud used a combined approach. He employed idiographic methods to study people and also used those insights to generate laws about human development in his theory of personality.

L - In reality, many approaches may use both methods of investigation, and it could be argued the distinction between idiographic and nomothetic is inappropriate and that psychologists should employ both methods depending on the nature of the research question.

Question 22

What are Ethical Implications of Research Studies?

Answer 22

The Ethical Implications provide a mechanism to safeguard individuals who are indirectly affected by psychological research. 🔬

Sieber and Stanley identified 4 aspects in the research process in which ethical issues with social consequences may occur.

Question 23

What are the 4 aspects in the research process in which ethical issues with social consequences may occur.

Answer 23

1. The Research Question.
2. Conduct of Research and Treatment on Ppts.
3. Institutional Context.
4. Interpretation and Application of Findings.

Question 24

Why could the Research Question have ethical implications?

Answer 24

The kind of research question could be damaging to members of a particular racial group or sexual orientation because it could add scientific support to current prejudices.

Question 25

Why could the Conduct of the Research and Treatment of Participants have ethical implications?

Answer 25

Researcher’s main concerns should be the confidentiality of the info collected - (e.g. if a participant confesses to a crime, should confidentiality be maintained?)

Question 26

Why could the institutional context have ethical implications?

Answer 26

Research that is funded and managed by private institutions can produce data that has the potential to be misused and/or misunderstood.

Sometimes, the media may obtain reports of research and misreport the findings.

Question 27

Why could the Interpretation and Application of the Findings have ethical implications?

Answer 27

Research findings may be used for purposes other than originally intended.

• This was the case with the development of IQ tests by psychologists.
  They were used to demonstrate the inferiority of certain groups of people.
  Furthermore, they were used as evidence to suggest that some people were ‘feeble-minded’ and therefore needed to be sterilised (a practice in the US in the early 20th century).

Question 28

Strength of Ethical Implications of Research Studies and Theory.

Answer 28

P - Because there are difficulties with socially sensitive research, we might think that it would be better to try to avoid it and save minority groups from negative consequences.

E - Scarr (1988) has argued that studies of underrepresented groups and issues may generate a greater sensitivity and understanding of these areas which can also create wider benefits for society.

E - Sieber and Stanley believe that to ignore sensitive research is not a responsible approach to science. They suggest that avoiding controversial topics is an avoidance of responsibility.

L - Therefore, psychologists have a duty to conduct socially sensitive research.

Question 29

Criticism of Ethical Implications of Research Studies and Theory.

Answer 29

P - Many groups in society (e.g. elderly or minority groups etc) have suffered from consequences of having been excluded from research or have been misrepresented when they have been included.

E - Because they have suffered misrepresentation, they may have also missed out on benefits of research.

E - Furthermore, there is also increased potential for a more indirect impact on the ppt’s family and the groups that the ppt represents (e.g. elderly etc).

L - Researchers therefore must therefore go beyond safeguarding the interests of the individual in research and take into consideration the likely impact of the research on the larger group of which the ppt is a member.

Question 30

Practical Application of Ethical Implications of Research Studies and Theory.

Answer 30

P - However it is important to recognise that not all socially sensitive research is controversial and some is desirable and beneficial to society.

E - E.g. Research examining eye-witness testimony (EWT), especially the use of child-witnesses.

E - Research by Flin et al, found that young children can be reliable witnesses if they are questioned in a timely and appropriate manner.

L - In this area, socially sensitive research has resulted in a good working relationship between psychologists and the legal profession to help improve the accuracy and validity of children eye-witnesses.