P3: Issues and Debates

Question 1

Gender Bias

Answer 1

Differential treatment and/or representation of males/ females based on stereotypes and not real experiences

Question 2

Example of gender bias

Answer 2

Assuming M/F develop diff ways simply because of their sex

Question 3

Why does gender bias occur

Answer 3

As a result of universiality

Question 4

Gender bias: Universiality and what it results in

Answer 4

R attempt to universalise their findings regardless of differences such as gender this results in important sex differences being ignored

Question 5

Two types of gender bias

Answer 5

Alpha
Beta

Question 6

GB: Alpha bias and example

Answer 6

Tendency to exaggerate difference between sex
eg Buss evolutionary theory argues M and F are jealous of diff aspects in romantic relationships, M jealous of sexual acts F jealous of emotional acts

Question 7

GB: Beta bias and example

Answer 7

Tendency to minimise or ignore sex differences
eg according to biological psych everyone has same response to stress
This is beta bias as assumes M/F stress response is same when could be influenced in diff ways by sex specific hormones

Question 8

GB: Consequence of beta bias and example

Answer 8

Can lead to androcentrism as behav is judged according to male standard as M/F diff ignored
-Leads to male centred research in psych
-eg in topic of social influence Asch only studied males in his research in conformity and generalised his findings to females, problem as females may react diff to conformity pressures which Asch didnt take into consideration

Question 9

OTW of gender bias

Answer 9

OTW GB is a significant issue in psychological research

Question 10

Cultural bias

Answer 10

Tendency to ignore cultural differences and interpret all phenomena from ones own culture

Question 11

CB: How does cultural bias occur

Answer 11

When psych try to univeralise their findings (apply them to all people regardless of differences such as culture)

Question 12

CB: What form of cultural bias occurs and where is it often shown and example

Answer 12

Ethnocentrism; where someone sees their own cultural group as the superior dominant group
-Often shown by the fact everything is judged to the western standard, most carried out by western R on western samples which means western norms of behav is applied to other cultures
-eg Ainsworth Strange Sit

Question 13

CB: How is Ainsworth SS an example of ethnocentrim

Answer 13

-Criticised for being an example of imposed etic
-As it reflects norms and values of American culture, Ainsworth judged attachment to a western standard eg anxiety on seperation factor being key of attachment
-Issue is other cultures have diff practices raising kids which isnt reflected in SS
-Unfair conclusion

Question 14

CB: How to avoid CB+ethnocentrism

Answer 14

Cultural relativism (avoiding imposing an etic approach and following an EMIC approach)
-Emic approach= functions within certain cultures and identifies behavs that are specific to that culture
-Psych should be more mindful of cultural relativim as well as ethics and moral standards, can only be meaningful within specific social and cultural context

Question 15

CB: Emic approach

Answer 15

-Emic approach= functions within certain cultures and identifies behavs that are specific to that culture
-Psych should be more mindful of cultural relativim as well as ethics and moral standards, can only be meaningful within specific social and cultural context

Question 16

OTW CB

Answer 16

OTW psych should be careful to avoid VB where cultural diff ignored and attempt to follow an emic approach of cultural relativism

Question 17

What are the debates (4)

Answer 17

-Det vs Free will
-Red vs Holism
-Nature vs Nuture
-Idiographic vs Nomothetic

Question 18

Determinism and 2 examples

Answer 18

Argument behav is determined by factors outside our control
-In OB, Atavistic Theory, facial features determine OB
-In OCD, Genetic Exp, genes determine OCD

Question 19

Free will and 2 examples

Answer 19

Argument that individuals are free to choose how they behave
-In Approaches, Humanistic, we choose how we behav
-In approaches, SLT, mediational processes

Question 20

2 Types of determinism

Answer 20

Hard
Soft

Question 21

Hard Det and example

Answer 21

All behaviour has a cause/ is determined. All behaviour should be predictable=fatalism
eg OCD genetics

Question 22

Soft Det and example

Answer 22

Behav has a cause BUT is subject to experience/ own experience is important so theres an element of free will
eg SLT

Question 23

Nature

Answer 23

Degree which human behaviour is determined by biology
-Behav is caused by innate characteristics

Question 24

Nuture

Answer 24

Degree which human behaviour is determined by learning through interacting w environment

Question 25

Interactionist Approach (in nature vs nuture debate) and 2 examples

Answer 25

Behav is often a result of interactions between nature AND nuture
eg diathesis stress model
eg epigenetics; when something you experience in environment affects your genetic code

Question 26

Socially Sensitive R?

Answer 26

where the topic area and/or group studied can have implications for society/certain groups in
society
* potentially leading to a change in, or justification for, the way these groups are treated/perceived