Psychology key terminology

Question 1

Universality

Answer 1

Universality = when a theory can be applied to anyone regardless of factors such as culture, etc

Question 2

Androcentric

Answer 2

Androcentric = being centered on, or dominated by males and can be conscious or unconscious

Question 3

Alpha bias

Answer 3

Alpha bias refers to theories which exaggerate the difference between males and females

Question 4

Beta bias

Answer 4

Beta bias = traditionally ignored or minimised sex differences - theories often assume that the findings from males can apply equally to females

Question 4

Ethnocentrism

Answer 4

Ethnocentrism = occurs when a researcher assumes that their own culturally specific practises or ideas that are ‘natural’ or ‘right

Question 5

Cultural relativity

Answer 5

Cultural relativity = the idea that a behaviour can only be properly understood/only has meaning or makes sense in the context of the norms and values of the society of culture in which it occurs

Question 6

Hard determinism

Answer 6

Hard determinism - the view that forces outside of our control shape our behaviour eg biology or past experiences

Question 6

Soft determinism

Answer 6

Soft determinism = suggests that some behaviours are more constrained than others and that there is an element of free will in all behaviour

Question 6

Biological determinism

Answer 6

Biological determinism = refers to the idea that all human behaviour is innate and determined by genes

Question 7

Environmental determinism

Answer 7

Environmental determinism - the view that behaviour is determined or caused by forces outside the individual

Question 8

Psychic determinism

Answer 8

Psychic determinism = claims that human behaviour is the result of childhood experiences and innate drives (ID, ego and superego)

Question 9

Hereditary

Answer 9

Hereditary = the process by which traits are passed down genetically from one generation to the next

Question 10

Interactionist approach

Answer 10

Interactionist approach - the view that both nature and nurture work together to shape human behaviour

Question 10

Biological reductionism

Answer 10

Biological reductionism = assumes that all behaviour can be reduced to simple stimulus-response associations and complex behaviours

Question 10

Levels of explanation

Answer 10

Levels of explanation = lowest levels consider physiological explanations, middle level considers psychological condierations and highest level considers social + cultural behaviours

Question 11

Environmental reductionism

Answer 11

Environmental reductionism = where a complex behaviour is reduced to a single, isolated variable for the purpose of testing

Question 12

Idiographic approach

Answer 12

Idiographic approach = focuses on the inidividual and emphasises the unique personal experience of human nature

Question 13

Nomothetic approach

Answer 13

Nomothetic approach = concerns with establishing general laws, based on studies on large groups of people, and the use of quantitative techniques to analyse data

Question 14

Ethical implications

Answer 14

Ethical implications consider the impact or consequences that research has on the rights of people in a wider context, not just the participants involved in the particular research

Question 15

Social sensitivity

Answer 15

Social sensitivity = studies where there are potential social consequences for the participants involved in the research