Paper 2 Sec B

Question 1

Discuss red/hol

Answer 1

Strengths:
Reductionism: controlled procedure so more scientific.
Holism: valid explanations of human behaviour as it takes into account all factors
Weakness:
Reductionism: too highly controlled so lacks ecological validity
Holism: more time consuming as tries to account for multiple influences on behaviour.

Question 2

Compare the social and cognitive area in relation to the freewill/ determinism debate.

Answer 2

Both the social and cognitive area support the idea that behaviour is determined by external factors.

The cognitive area that focuses on mental processes is more deterministic as it’s hard to alter a persons thinking while the social area is more freewill as we can change people’s behaviour by changing the behaviour of those around them.

Question 3

Strengths and weaknesses of freewill/ determinism

Answer 3

Strength of freewill:
Makes it possible to hold people accountable for their actions (Rosenhan bad treatment of mental patients). Comment- can prosecute someone for choosing to behave this way.
Weakness:
It’s difficult to prove that an action is actually the result of freewill (Milgram- 35% walked away before the end). Comment- 35% who walked away showed that they were in control of their actions so there was a determining force more powerful than the situation milgram had created e.g. their upbringing/ moral principles.

Strength of determinism:
It makes it possible for us to know how certain things will affect people (verbs in Loftus and Palmer). Comment- if we know what causes undesirable behaviours, we can try to change or stop those causes.
Weakness:
It can be socially sensitive (Levine: ‘simpatia’ cultures more likely to help people)
Comment- insulting to Brazilians as it says that the reason they help is because of their culture rather than kindness.

Question 4

Discuss questions

Answer 4

Point (strength/ weakness)
Example from core study
Comment CAN BE IN CONTEXT OF CORE STUDY link to point.

Question 5

Strengths of staying in the ethical guidelines

Answer 5

Strengths:

• Improves reputation of psychology as an academic discipline.
• Means more people will get involved in future research.

Weaknesses:

• Places limits on sort of research carried out.
• Can lead to participants not behaving how they normally would.

Question 6

Strengths and weaknesses of socially sensitive research

Answer 6

Strengths

• Socially sensitive research brings more ideas/ concepts to psychology (Freud).
• Makes the study more noticeable so more likely to cause change in society (Milgram)
• Builds rapport with participants.

Weaknesses

• Socially sensitive research can create cultural stereotypes (Levine).
• Can create negative change in society (Gould).