PAPER 3- TOPIC 1 ISSUES AND DEBATES (32/50 on advanced info) Flashcards

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1
Q

define the idiographic approach

A

approach to research that focuses on uniqueness of individuals and their subjective emotions and experience

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2
Q

key concepts of idiographic approach

A

•qualitative data

  • focus on detail of individual case, not generalising
  • conclusions drawn from analysis can be used to help other people going through similar experiences or determine best clinical practice

•subjective

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3
Q

how is idiographic research measured

A

usually unstructured interviews

- use thematic analysis, to identify emergent themes and make summary conclusions

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4
Q

which two approaches use idiographic approach to research

A
  • Humanistic

* Psychodynamic

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5
Q

describe the examples of idiographic approach

A
  • Roger’s focuses on the individual’s conscious experience of self and created client-centred therapy as a result
  • Freud focused on the behaviour of individuals, e.g. the case study of Little Hans
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6
Q

define the nomothetic approach

A

approach to research that aims to formulate general laws to explain behavioural similarities in large numbers of people

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7
Q

key concepts of nomothetic approach

A

•quantitative data

  • large sample
  • when analysed, creates statistical norms for comparison

•objective

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8
Q

how is nomomethic research is measured

A
  • formulate hypothesis
  • test large sample
  • analyse data produced for statistical significance
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9
Q

to remember: nomothetic is ……

A

numbers

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10
Q

to remember: idiographic is …..

A

individuals

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11
Q

examples of nomothetic approach

A
  • biological explanations for treatment of OCD based on neurotransmitters
  • general laws of neurotransmitters causing it are applied to everyone
  • using DSM (general laws) to classify people into mental disorders based on symptoms shown
  • Multi store model for memory produces general laws of how all people process memories
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12
Q

examples of how idiographic and nomothetic complement each other (must use evalution point when discussing idiographic and nomothetic)

A

nomothetic - general laws from multi store model that is applied to all people’s memory

idiographic- study individuals like Patient KF who showed that nomothetic theory like MSM wasn’t detailed enough as KF had good visual STM but poor acoustic STM

combining the two give us a better understanding of topics like memory and help develop future research ideas

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13
Q

not in advanced info

Define the holistic approach to explaining behaviour

A

approach that suggests that human behaviour is best explained by studying it as an indivisible system containing all parts, accounted for equally

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14
Q

not in advanced info

define the reductionist approach to explaining behaviour

A

suggests behaviour is best explained by breaking down into its smaller constituent parts, based on the principle of parsimony

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15
Q

not in advanced info

define parsimony

A

all phenomena should be explained using the most basic, lowest level principles

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16
Q

not in advanced info

define levels of explanation

A

idea that there are different ways to explain behaviour , and some is more reductionist than others

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17
Q

not in advanced info

the higher the explanation the more…

A

holistic

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18
Q

not in advanced info

the lower the explanation the more…

A

reductionist

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19
Q

not in advanced info

higher level of explanation

A

socio-cultural factors

more scientific, more holistic

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20
Q

not in advanced info

middle level of explanation

A
psychological explanations (thought processes)
physical (movements)
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21
Q

not in advanced info

lowest level of explanation

A

biological explanations

  • environmental / behavioural (learned experiences)
  • physiological (brain activity)
  • neurochemical - neurotransmitters

(less scientific, more reductionist

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22
Q

not in advanced info

explanation of OCD using levels of explanation

A
  • OCD interrupts social relationships
  • anxiety - psychological
  • compulsions of washing hands- physical
  • physiological - abnormal frontal lobes
  • neurochemical - not enough serotonin
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23
Q

not in advanced info

sciences in reductionist hierarchy

A
Sociology (least reductionist)
Psychology
Biological
Chemistry
Biological
Physics (most reductionist)
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24
Q

not in advanced info

examples of reductionism in psychology

A

biological

environmental

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25
Q

define biological reductionism

example

A

breaking behaviour down into smaller biological units

e.g. cause of OCD is lack of serotonin neurotansmitters

26
Q

define environmental reductionism

example

A

breaking down behaviour into units of stimulus and response

e.g. phobias acquired and maintained (2 process model)

27
Q

not in advanced info

define the interactionist approach for holism reductionism

A

more than one level of explanation can operate at the same time
- this approach looks at how these levels may combine and interact on behaviour

e.g. diathesis stress model for schizophrenia

28
Q

not in advanced info

describe the example for the interactionist approach for holism reductionism

A
  • diathesis stress model for schizophrenia
  • the vulnerability is the genetic predisposition to it (low level of explanation)
  • the stressor is the environmental trigger (high level of explanation)

-good example of how different levels of explanation can interact

29
Q

not in advanced info

describe an example of how nature and nurture interact together

A

•diathesis stress model for schizophrenia

-diathesis- genetic vulnerability (nature)  
                            \+
-stress- environmental trigger (nurture)
                            =
 development of schizophrenia
30
Q

define free will

A

the view that humans make choices about their behaviour

  • internal or external forces are present but humans are able to reject these forces
31
Q

define determinism

A

the view that humans behaviour is controlled by internal (biology) and external (upbringing) forces

  • not controlled by a will to do something
32
Q

5 types of determinism

A
soft
hard
biological
psychic
environmental
33
Q

define soft determinism

A

behaviour is controlled by internal and external forces but people have a conscious mental control and so a restricted free will to make choices about their behaviour

-important feature of cognitive approach

34
Q

define hard determinism

A

all behaviour is caused by internal and external forces and so free will is an illusion

-compatible with science as identifies cause of behaviour

35
Q

what type of determinism is biological, environmental and psychic

A

hard determinism

36
Q

define biological determinism

A

behaviour is caused by biological influences that cant be controlled

e.g. hormones, genetics, brain structures

37
Q

define psychic determinism

A

behaviour is caused by unconscious psychodynamic conflicts that can’t be controlled

e.g. biological instincts, unconscious conflicts repressed in childhood

38
Q

define environmental determinism

A

behaviour is controlled by features of the environment that can’t be controlled

e.g. reinforcement, reward and punishment, conditioning

Skinner suggets free will is just a result of conditioning and reinforcement in all aspects of life

39
Q

example of free will in psychology

A

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

-self determination is necessary in order for people to reach self-actualisation

40
Q

example of soft determinism

A

Banduras social learning theory

  • environmental factors are determinist
  • but people have free will to what behaviour we “attend” to (one of mediational processes) and whether to show the certain behaviour
  • and also ‘motivation’ the will to perform the behaviour (another mediational process)
41
Q

example of hard determinism

A

any examples of

  • biological influences (e.g. genes own OCD)
  • environmental influences (e.g. two process model phobias)
  • psychic determinism (e.g. underdeveloped superego lead to crime)
42
Q

describe the scientific emphasis on causal explanations

A
  • science is heavily deterministic, as it believes all events have causes
  • it searches for a causal relationship by investigating whether the IV changes the DV
  • —-> in order to make general laws
43
Q

explain how psychologists use determinism in research to be scientific

A
  • the idea that all behaviour is caused, creates general laws of what it is caused by
  • using the general laws and knowledge of a cause and effect, scientific psychologists can test predictions of future behaviour

—-> lab experiment is best method to predict human behaviour

44
Q

define ethical implications

include reference to socially sensitive

A

the knock on effect/consequence that psychological research has on the P’s involved in the study, the social group they represent, and possibly the wider society

  • if research has negative implications then the study is socially sensitive
45
Q

examples of ethical implications

A
  • stereotyping
  • discrimination
  • labelling
  • scientific racism - using findings to support racial predjudice and discrimination
  • reducing trust in psychologists
  • reducing trust in government or healthcare etc
46
Q

describe the ethics of a particular bit of research

how could it be viewed as socially sensitive research

A

• Milgram’s shock test •

X - P’s deceived, couldn’t give full consent
X - caused significant distress
X - were forced to continue against their will (4 times)

however
✔️- P’s were debriefed after
✔️- follow up interview found no P’s suffered with long term effects of research
✔️- the study was used to explain the factors affecting obedience and why people obey

BUT, this could be seen as socially sensitive as:

  • theory may be used to make people obey orders, when they don’t actually want to
  • provide excuse for nazis, victims and their families may feel massively disrespected
47
Q

describe the ethics of a particular theory

  • how could it be viewed as socially sensitive
A

• Bowlby’s monotropic theory of attachment

X mother may feel guilty leaving baby at home

✔️ contributed to development of childcare practices

BUT how could it be viewed as socially sensitive

  • may co-erce women to stay at home
  • husbands may feel they are less equipped to be stay at home dad
  • —> may financially implicate households as higher earner mum may feel blackmailed to stay at home
48
Q

describe ethical implications of depression research

A
  • if research suggests people don’t recover from depression, employer may not employ them
49
Q

state ……………………’s definition of social sensitivity

fill in ………

A

….Sieber..and..Stanley….

describes a study that has potential consequences of research for participants and the group of people represented in the study

50
Q

describe an example of socially sensitive research

A

Cyril Burt

  • his research findings suggesting intelligence could be detected by age 11 significantly influenced Hadow Report, which lead to introduction of 11+ exam
  • this significantly changed the life courses and prospects of many children
  • later research found his findings were falsified
51
Q

describe the 4 parts of the research process that Sieber and Stanley said are connected to ethical implications

A

• research question - must consider how the Q is worded (not leading, prejudice or stereotyping)

• methodology - consider ethical guidelines (DRIPC)
- mainly to what extent confidentiality is maintained (e.g. do you tell police if they confess)

• institutional context - who is funding, and how do they intend to use the data and findings
- will private institution (or media if given to them) misuse or misunderstand the meaning of the data

• interpretation and application of findings - consider how findings may be applied and interpreted,

  • may inform policymaking
  • may be used for other purposes than intended
52
Q

state general examples of ethical implications, and apply them to studies or theories

A
  • labelling - deviation from social norms, those who choose to live differently may have stigma around them and be treated differently by peers, employers, teachers
  • discrimination - bowlby suggesting father care is less important in child development
  • stereotyping - bowlby suggesting mothers best role is at home
  • scientific racism (research supporting a researchers’ racist views) - e.g. Jensen using flawed methods to find that IQ differences in black people are lower than in white people
  • gender bias (maternal deprivation theory- suggest father can’t become primary caregiver, economic implications)
  • culture bias (see German parenting as cold an rejecting based on attachment type being insecure avoidant)
53
Q

define andocentrism

effects

A

the male dominant view in psychology

  • lead to neglecting an excluding experience of women
54
Q

define alpha bias

effects

example

A

exaggerates difference between men and women

  • devalue one gender compared to the other (usually women)
  • female behaviour seen as abnormal compared to male standards

(FREUD)

55
Q

define beta bias

effects

example

A

minimises difference between men and women

– needs of one gender is ignored

(MILGRAM)

56
Q

not in advanced info

define universality

A

the aim of psychologists to develop theories that apply to all people regardless culture, gender, time or experience

57
Q

define ethnocentrism

effects

A

judging other cultures by the standards and norms of your one culture

  • lead to belief of superiority of own culture, and prejudice or discrimination of other cultures
58
Q

define cultural relativism

effects

A

idea that behaviour and ethical standards can only be meaningfully understood within the culture (or social contexts) it was found in

– findings are geographically limited to where they apply

59
Q

not in advanced info

define an imposed etic approach to research

A

a theory or technique is developed in one culture, and used to study the behaviour of people in another culture

(ethnocentrism)

60
Q

not in advanced info

define an emic apporach to research

A
  • when individual cultures are studied and generalisations made within that culture
61
Q

not in advanced info

define WEIRD cultures

A
psychological research is usually based on research in
Western
Educated
Industrialised
Rich
Democratic
so isn't therefore universal

– behaviour in non WEIRD cultures is seen as abnormal