issues n deb p2

Question 1

Define ‘Universality’ when applied to gender.

Answer 1

All research is assumed to apply to equally to both genders.

Question 2

Define ‘Androcentrism.’

Answer 2

Male bias. The stance that the behaviour of men is taken as the norm and that the behaviour of a woman, if it differs, is atypical.

Question 3

What are the three mains ways gender bias occurs?

Answer 3

Male Samples, male behaviours as standard, biological differences emphasis.

Question 4

Define ‘alpha bias’.

Answer 4

The attempt to exaggerate the differences between the genders.

Question 5

Define ‘beta bias’.

Answer 5

The attempt to downplay the differences between the genders.

Question 6

Define ‘ethnocentrism.’

Answer 6

The assumption that one ethnic group is superior to another, or to all other ethnic groups.

Question 7

Define ‘cultural relativism.’

Answer 7

The opinion that there is no global ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ and that it is important to consider the behaviour of the individual within their culture before making a judgement. Context is vital. Social norms are culturally relative.

Question 8

Define ‘free will’.

Answer 8

The ability to behave the way we want. Our actions are voluntary and we have freedom of choice.

Question 9

Define ‘determinism’.

Answer 9

The opposing view to free will. Determinism is the idea that there is no control or choice on our course of action.

Question 10

Define ‘hard determinism’.

Answer 10

Human behaviour is determined by external forces and the actions are out of control.

Question 11

Define ‘soft determinism.’

Answer 11

The idea that behaviour is determined, but that humans also have the ability to exercise free will if necessary. It ackowledges that determinism exsists but there is also the ability to choose in some circumstances.

Question 12

Define ‘biological determinism.’

Answer 12

Any form of biological influence on the body. Examples of this can be found in three main biological mechanisms; genetics, brain physiology and biochemistry.

Question 13

Define ‘environmental determinism’.

Answer 13

The idea that our behaviour is determined by environmental influences.

Question 14

Define ‘psychic determinism’.

Answer 14

This form of determinism considers the role of the unconscious on our conscious thought and how that affects behaviour. Largely advocated by the psychodynamic approach.

Question 15

Define ‘nativism’.

Answer 15

The nature side of the debate.

Question 16

Define ‘empiricism’.

Answer 16

The nurture side of the debate.

Question 17

What is the ‘interactionist approach?’

Answer 17

It takes a stance somewhere between the extreme nature and extreme nurture positions. It argues that the true answer to the nature-nurture debate is that in reality both genetics and the environment play part in behaviour.

Question 18

Define ‘holism’.

Answer 18

The argument that behaviour should be viewed as a whole rather than one specific cause or element.’

Question 19

Define ‘reductionism.’

Answer 19

An explanation which suggests a single cause or explanation.

Question 20

Define the ‘idiographic approach’ to research.

Answer 20

When an explanation considers the individual placing emphasis on the self. It argues that generalising from person to person is difficult because of their uniqueness.

Question 21

Define the ‘nomothetic approach’ to research.

Answer 21

The idea that people can be regarded as groups and theories/explanations are therefore generalisable.

Question 22

Define the ‘humanistic approach’.

Answer 22

This approach adopts an idographic stance and actively rejects any attempts to generalise across all humans.

Question 23

Define ‘social sensitivity’.

Answer 23

Any psychological research that has wider ethical implications that impact outside of the research context. It may affect these groups in society;

• The participants in the research/their friends or family.
• The researcher(s)
• Groups potentially impacted by socially sensitive researcher include sub-groups; ethinic/religous/political or sexual minorities.