Principles and Concepts of Debate

Question 1

Define Usefulness:

Answer 1

Research that enhanced our acedemic knowledge and understanding and can be used for practical applications (intervention put into place to improve behaviour in society)

Question 2

Define Reductionism:

Answer 2

Attempts to break down behaviour into its constituent parts and using single factors such as individual genes or particular hormones to account for a given behaviour

Question 3

Define Holism:

Answer 3

A holistic approach sees human behaviour as too complex to be reduced to single explanations. Human beings are seen as more than the sum of their individual parts and many factors contribute to their behaviour

Question 4

Define Nature:

Answer 4

Sees biological factors as the explanation for thinking and behaviour, such as genetics, nervous system and brain chemistry

Question 5

Define Nurture:

Answer 5

Sees behaviour as learned or acquired through experiences in the environment

Question 6

Define Interactionism:

Answer 6

Accepts that both nature and nurture factors are interconnected and human behaviour is a product of both

Question 7

Define Individual:

Answer 7

Individual explanations look to the person as the cause of behaviour, specifically their personalities or dispositions

Question 8

Define Situational:

Answer 8

Situational explanations draw on situations around individuals, for example, their group members or the environment context

Question 9

Define Determinism:

Answer 9

Suggests that we lack control of our behaviour and that its predetermined by factors such as genes and past experiences

Question 10

Define Freewill

Answer 10

Some argue that human beings are entirely free to act as they choose and bear responsibility for the outcome of their behaviour