Key Terms Flashcards
Universality
Any underlying characteristic of human beings that is capable of being applied to all, despite differences in experiences and upbringing
Bias
When considering human behaviour, bliss is a tendency to treat one individual or a group in a different way from others.
Gender bias
Psychological research or theory may offer a view that does not justifiably represent the experience and behaviour of men and women
Androcentrism
Male-centred, when ‘normall behaviour is judged according to a male standard (meaning that female behaviour is often judged as ‘abnormal’ by comparison)
Alpha bias
Research that focuses on differences between men and women, and therefore tends to present a viewthat exaggerates these differences
Beta bias
Research that focuses on singularities between men and women and therefore tends to presents a view that ignores or minimises differences.
Culture bias
A tendency to interpret all phenomena through the ‘lens’ of ones own culture, ignoring the effects that cultural differences might have on behaviour
Ethnocentrism
Judging other cultures by the standards and values of one’s own culture. Is its extreme form, its the belief in superiority of one’s own culture which may lead to prejudice/ discrimination towards other cultures
Culture relativism
The idea that norms and values, as well as ethics and moral standards, can only be meaningful and understood within specific social and cultural contexts
Imposed Eric
A test, measure or theory devised in one culture that is used to explain behaviour in another culture.
Etic Approach
Studying behaviour across many cultures in order to find universal human behaviours
collectivist culture
Refers to cultures such as India and China that are said to be more conformist and group orientated
Emic approach
Studying cultures in isolation by identifying behaviour that are specific to that culture
Individualistic culture
Refers to western countries (like US )that to are thought be more independent
Cultural bound syndromes
Groups of syndromes classified as treatable illnesses in certain cultures that are not recognised as such the West.
Free Will
The not on that humans con make choices and their behaviour / thoughts are not determined by biological or external forces
Determinism
The view that an individualsbehavier is shaped or controlled by internal or external forces rather than an individuals will to do something
Hard determinism
The view that all behaviour is caused by something (internal or external forces) free so will is an illusion
Soft determinism
The view that behaviours may be predictable (caused by int/ext forces) but there also is room for personal from choice a limited of possiblities (restricted free will)
Biological determinism
The belief that behaviers is caused by biological (genetic, hormonal, or evolutionary ) influences that we can’t central
Environmental determinism
The belief that behaviervis caused by features of the environment (such as systems of rewards and punishment) that me can’t central.
Psychic determinism
The belief that behaviouris caused by unconscious psychodynamic conflicts that he can’t control
Nature-nurture debate
Concerned with the extent to which aspects of behaviour are a product of inherited or acquired characteristics
Heredity
The genetic transmission af berth mental + physical characteristics from one generation to another
Environment
Influence an human behaviour that’s non-genetic. This may range from prenatal influences in womb to cultural+ historical influence at a societal level
Interactions approach
A way to explain the development af Behavior in terms of a range of factors, including biological + physchological ones. Most importantly, such factor don’t simply add together but combore in away that can’t be predicted by each one separately
Holism
Argument or theory which proposes that it only makes sense to study an indivisible system (as a whole) rathe than its constituent (individual) parts
Reductionism
The belief that human behavierris best understood by studying the smaller constituent (individual) parto
Levels of explanation
The idea that there are several ways (levels) that can be used to explore behaviour.
• The lowest level considers physiological / biological explanations.
•The middle levels considers psychological explanations.
• The highest level considers social and cultural explanations.
Biological reductionism
A form of reduction com which attempts to explain behave an at biology the lowest cal lend (genes, hormones etc. )
Environmental reductionism
The attempt to exploring all bebavierr in terms of stimulus-response links that have been learned through experience.
Ideographic
Derived from word ‘idios’ meaning ‘private’ an approach to research that focuses more on the individual al case as a means of understanding behavieri, rather than aiming to formulate general laws of behaviour
Nomothetic
Derived from word ‘nomos’ meaning ‘law’, an approach that aims -to study human behaviour through the development of general principles and universal laws.
Ethical implications
The consequences of any research (studies/theory) in terms af the effects on individual participants or on the way in which certain groups or people are subsequently regarded. May beconsequences on a wider societal level.
Ethical guidelines
A set of principles set out by the bps to help psychologists behave honestly + with integrity
Ethical issues
These arise when a conflict exists between the rights af the participants in research studies on the goals of the researchers to produce authentic, valid + worthwhile data.
Social sensitivity
Seiner + Stanley (1988) “studies in which there are potential consequences or implications, either directly for the participants in the research or for the class of individuals represented by the research.
