Key debates Flashcards
Freewill
Acknowledges that we can control our behaviour using our thoughts and so can overcome determinants at will. The strength of this is that it is consistent with the justice system which says we are responsible for our behaviour.
Approaches: behaviourist, humanistic
Determinism
This approach identifies factors which cause our behaviour. This is a strength because if the cause is identified treatments can be developed. It is consistent with the scientific method.
Approaches: biological, behaviourists
Soft determinism
This suggests that we have some choice in how to behave within limits set by our biology and environment. This is a compromise and more realistic.
Nomothetic
Approaches which generate general laws to explain the behaviour of large groups of people. They focus on the similarities between humans. The strength of being nomothetic is it allows future behaviour of people to be predicted.
Idiographic
Approaches which recognise the differences between individuals and sees us as having unique causes of behaviour. They tend to use the case study method of research. The strength is that the cause of behaviour of an individual is understood fully, however this cannot be generalised to all people.
Nature
Approaches which study the internal/biological factors which control our behaviour.
Nurture
Approaches which study the external factors such as upbringing and culture which control our behaviour.
Interactionist
Modern theories recognise that behaviour is often controlled by the interaction of internal and external factors.
Reductionist
Break behaviour down to study individual casual variables, the strength is that cause and effect can be established. Fundamental causes are biological factors and stimulus-response links.
Holistic
Recognising that many factors work together to control behaviour, thought, family and society. This is a higher level explanation but will be more difficult to test scientifically.
Objective
Studying observable behaviour which can be seen and measured to produce evidence to support theories. This is consistent with the scientific approach but there are many aspects of behaviour which can’t be seen and measured directly, e.g. our conditions.
Subjective
Studying behaviour by using self-report methods to investigate people’s thoughts and feelings. The strength is that it helps us to fully understand the reasons for people’s behaviour, however what is reported is open to bias and then has to be interpreted by the researcher.
