Issues & Debates AO1

Question 1

Gender bias

Answer 1

The differential treatment or representation of men and women based on stereotypes rather than a real difference

Question 2

Alpha bias

Answer 2

A tendency to exaggerate differences between men and women, suggesting
that there are real and enduring differences between the two sexes. The consequences are that theories devalue one gender in comparison to the other, but typically devalue women

Question 3

Androcentrism

Answer 3

The consequence of beta bias occurs when all behaviour is compared to a male standard, often to the neglect or exclusion of women.

Question 4

Beta bias

Answer 4

A tendency to ignore or minimise differences between men and women. Such theories tend to ignore questions about the lives of women, or insights derived from studies of men will apply equally well to women

Question 6

Cultural bias

Answer 6

The tendency to judge all cultures and individuals in terms of your own cultural assumptions. This distorts or biases your judgements

Question 7

Cultural relativism

Answer 7

The view that behaviour, morals, standards and values cannot be judged properly unless they’re viewed in the context of the culture in which they originate

Question 8

Ethnocentrism

Answer 8

An example of alpha bias and leads to beta bias. Seeing things from the point of view of ourselves and our social group. Evaluating other groups of people using the standards and customs of one’s own culture. In its extreme it can discriminate and belittle other cultures.

Question 9

Determinism

Answer 9

Belief that behaviour is controlled by external or internal factors acting upon the individual, beyond their control. 3 types: biological, environmental and psychic.

Question 10

Biological determinism

Answer 10

View that behaviour is always caused by internal biological forces beyond our control, such as the influence of genes. Eg, genes like serotonin or dopamine may determine our behaviour

Question 11

Environmental determinism

Answer 11

Belief that behaviour is caused by previous experience through classical and operant conditioning. Eg phobias are a result of conditioning.

Question 12

Psychic determinism

Answer 12

Freud’s theory of personality suggests adult behaviour is determined by both innate drives and early childhood experience. These result in unconscious conflicts over which we have no control, therefore determine behaviour. Eg psychosexual stages

Question 13

Free will

Answer 13

Each individual has the power to make choices about their behaviour, without being determined by internal or external forces beyond their control.

Question 14

Hard determinism

Answer 14

All behaviour can be predicted, according to the action of internal and external forces. Therefore, there can be no free will.

Question 15

Soft determinism

Answer 15

A version of determinism which allows some elements of free will. Eg the cognitive approach suggests individuals can reason and make descisions within the limits of their cognitive system

Question 16

Interactionist approach

Answer 16

View that the processes of nature and nurture work together rather than in opposition. Argues the link between the two is too big to seperate their influence.

Question 17

Diathesis stress model
(Evaluation of nature/nurture)

Answer 17

A diathesis is a biological vulnerability. Not everyone with candidate genes will develop the associated disorder. The expression of the gene is dependent of an experience that forms as a stressor to trigger the condition.

Question 18

Holism

Answer 18

Perceives the whole experience of behaviour like memory or a mental disorder rather than individual features. Study behaviours as part of an indivisible system

Question 19

Reductionism

Answer 19

Breaks complex phenomena into more simple components and implies this is desirable as it is better understood in terms of a simpler level of explanation.

Question 20

Levels of explanation

Answer 20

Highest level- cultural and social explanations of behaviour
Middle level- psychological explanations of behaviour
Lower level- biological explanations of behaviour

Question 21

Idiographic approach

Answer 21

Method of investigating behaviour which focuses on individuals and emphasises their uniqueness. Subjective and rich human experience is used as a way of explaining behaviour.

Question 22

Ideographic methods

Answer 22

Produces qualitative data, studying the individual and not groups and therefore not generalising findings to others
Eg case study of HM which informed further research into the different types of long term memory

Question 23

Nomothetic approach

Answer 23

Seeks to formulate general laws of behaviour based on the study of groups and therefore use of statistical, quantitative techniques. Attempts to summarise the differences between people through generalisations

Question 24

The 3 general laws in the nomothetic approach & general methods

Answer 24

1) classifying people into groups.
2) Establishing the principles of behaviour that can be applied to people in general
3) Establishing dimensions along which people can be placed, compared and measure.
➡️ scientific method where influence of extraneous & confounding variables are removed, allowing reliable conclusions to be drawn.

Question 25

Socially sensitive research

Answer 25

Any research that may have direct social consequences for the PPts in the research.

Question 26

Ethical guidelines

Answer 26

Psychological harm, deception, confidentiality, right to withdraw , debrief and consent

Question 27

Biological reductionism

Answer 27

Reducing behaviour to biology as it’s based on the premise that we are organisms.

Question 28

Environmental reductionism

Answer 28

Suggest all behaviour can be explained in terms of simple stimulus response links. Eg phobias and classical conditioning