issues, debates and perspectives Flashcards
individual explanations?
looks to factors within individuals to explain their behaviour
situational explanations?
looks to factors beyond the individual to explain behaviour
areas of socially sensitive research?
harm
stigma
political consequence
positions of the ethical considerations debate?
being totally ethical
doing valid research
reductionism?
process of studying and breaking down complex behaviours to focus on the influence of single factors
holism?
considers the interacting factors, assuming that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts
individual explanation: psych & the courtroom?
when a witness who is confident in their testimony is more likely to influence the jury
penrod & cutler
individual explanation: crime prevention?
zero tolerance policing’s reduction in crime could reflect an increase in the resident’s self restraint
individual explanation: historical context of mental illness?
mental health is most often considered an individual difference
suggesting an individual explanation for what we call mental illness
individual explanation: alternatives to the medical model?
cognitive explanation
more individual than the behaviourist
considers how people’s cognitive processes work differently, leading to cognitive distortions
individual explanation: impact of advertising on children?
social learning theory emphasises the importance of a child’s cognitive processes and expectations when it comes to determining how they will respond to an advert
only taking on what is seen as appropriate
individual explanation: pre-adult brain development?
brain structure and function has an obvious role
eg. an individual who is an adult has less activity in the ventral striatum so gambles differently to an adolescent
situational explanation: psych and the courtroom?
from jury’s point of view, their decision is based on characteristics of others who are part of the environment
situational explanation: crime prevention?
physical and social disorder, both of which are situational factors, make an area more vulnerable to crime
success of zero tolerance policing supports situational approach
situational explanation: historical context?
rosenhan points out how the situation of having a diagnosis led to otherwise normal behaviours being interpreted as symptoms
also gives situational explanation for depersonalisation and powerlessness felt by patients
situational explanation: alternatives to the medical model?
behaviourism’s conditioning (classical, operant, slt) support a situational explanation
situational explanation: impact of advertising on children?
social learning theory leads to a situational explanation as behaviour is modelled on what is experienced in the child’s environment
situational explanation: pre-adult brain development?
situational factors such as abuse/neglect as a child can lead to more risk taking as an adolescent as they have different levels of serotonin
social sensitivity: psych and the courtroom?
research often highlights points of prejudice and discrimination
dixon et al points out how black individuals with brummie accents are more likely to be seen as guilty
sigall and ostrove points out how attractive individuals receive lighter sentences
social sensitivity: crime prevention?
zero tolerance policing can disproportionately affect black individuals
stop and search measures most likely to affect young black men
(9x more likely to be stopped)
social sensitivity: historical context?
rosenhan’s study could possibly be used to harm the mentally ill by allowing their symptoms to be ignored
or be used to eradicate important measures for the mentally ill politically
social sensitivity: alternatives to the medical model?
therapies such as cbt allow the patient to regain control of their reality
however szasz’s work could be used to invalidate the mentally ill and cause them harm
social sensitivity: impact of advertising on children?
attacking two areas of sensitivity: gender differences and advertisers rights
research could be swarmed by the media and politicians for their own agendas
social sensitivity: pre-adult brain development?
research can be used politically to better understand how to prevent adolescents from harm via engaging in risk taking behaviour, such as graduated drivers licenses
ethical considerations: psych and the courtroom?
content ps exposed to may be distressing for mock trials
however far less distressing than in a real trial