Psychology Key Terms - paper 3 Flashcards
Alpha bias
When differences between males and females are overstated. for example, the difference in mating behaviors between males and females is exaggerated, suggesting males are more promiscuous by nature
Androcentrism
a bias towards male-centered view. In psychology, many subjects of important studies were male, resulting in general psychology paradigms being more male centered
Beta Bias
When differences between males and females are understated.
Biological determinism
The idea that all human behavior stems from your genetic code in some way
Biological reductionism
The idea that behavior can be reduced to simple physical components such as nerves and ions.
Cultural relativism
To view a persons culture from the perspective of someone within that culture, rather than your own.
Determinism
The idea that things are predetermined and everything has a cause
Environmental determinism
the idea that all human behavior is direct result of the environment and outside forces.
Environmental reductionism
The idea that all human behavior is a direct result of the environment and outside forces.
Environmental reductionism
The idea that all human behavior is a direct result of the environment and outside forces.
Ethnocentrism
a bias towards your own culture, and judging other cultures by that subjective standard.
Hard determinism
The idea that free will is non-existent, all choices and behavior arise due to pre-existent causes.
Holism
a type of learning approach that suggests that to understand human behavior we must look at the human as a whole.
Idiographic approach
a type of learning approach that suggests we should focus on the unique experiences of each individual ti undertstand human behavior
Interactionist approach
The idea that all human behavior has multiple causes that stem from simple causes (genes) all the way to complex causes.
Nomothetic approach
a type of learning approach that suggests we should establish general laws of behavior that can be applied to all people to understand human behavior.
psychic determinism
The idea that all human behavior is a result of unconscious mental processes
Reductionism
A type of learining approach that suggests that, to understand human behavior, we must reduce it tom its simplest parts.
Social Sensitivity
The possibility for studies to have results that could negatively impact some groups of people.
Soft determinism
The idea that although the choices we pick from are limited and predetermined, humans still have the free will within these predetermined choices.
Absorption addiction model for parasocial relationships
A theory that suggests people develop parasocial relationships in order to cope with issues in their life.
Attachment theory explanation for parasocial relationships
A theory that suggests that if a child is unable to form a healthy attachment with a primary caregiver, the child will grow up to compensate with parasocial relationships.
ducks phase model of relationship breakdown
A theory that suggests that the breakdown of a relationship develops over a number of stage; the intrapsychic phase, the dyadic phase, the social phase and the grave-dressing phase.
Dyadic phase
The second phase in relationship break down which consists of a person vocally expressing their dissatisfaction with their partner.
Equity Theory
The theory that for a relationship to be stable, both partners should perceive the relationship to be fair. If a partner receives too much benefit or finds the costs too large, the relationship is more likely to fail.
Filter theory
The theory that when selecting an ideal partner, people use certain criteria to decide whether someone qualifies as potential partner or not.
Gating
The practise of using physical markers to separate potential partners and those who are not.
Grave dressing phase
The final stage of relationship breakdown, wherein post-breakdown, a person prepares for a new relationship.
Intrapsychic phase
A phase in relationship breakdown which consists of a person internally considering their dissatisfaction with their relationship.
Matching hypothesis
The theory that people are more likely to form a relationship with someone they share common traits with.
Parasocial relationships
A relationship that develops in a one-sided fashion with someone who cannot reciprocate.
Rusbult’s investment model of commitment
The theory that there are three factors that contribute to a relationship: level of satisfaction, potential alternatives and romantic investment.
Self-disclosure
To share personal information with someone else in attempt to establish trust within a relationship
Social demography
The first filter in “filter theory”, which refers to social and cultural features of people, e.g. social background and proximity.
Social exchange theory
The theory that relationships consist of mutual cost-benefit investments. If a relationship exceeds cost and does not reap enough benefits, it may end.
Social phase
The third phase in relationship breakdown. A person expresses their dissatisfaction within their social group, causing family and friends to agree or disagree with the person. This will further the breakdown of the relationship.
Atypical Antipsychotics
Newer antipsychotics with fewer side effects that can affect more than one neurotransmitter
Avolition
A chronic lack of motivation to complete tasks
Delusions
Where a person holds an incorrect belief that is fixed and unchangeable in spite of offering evidence.
Diathesis-stress model
The theory that schizophrenia develops by genetic markers that increase vulnerability to schizophrenia, and external stressors that trigger it to develop
Dopamine hypothesis
The theory that excess and lack of dopamine in different areas of the brain could be responsible for some schizophrenic symptoms.
Dysfunctional thought processing
The theory that schizophrenia could be attributed to faulty cognitive processes
Family dysfunction
Some unhealthy family dynamics that may be a cause of schizophrenia, such as lack of communication, contradictory responses etc.
Hallucinations
Additional sensory experiences e.g. seeing someone that isn’t really there.
Negative symptoms
Symptoms that occur with loss of regular functioning i.e. avolition
Positive symptoms
Symptoms that occur with excessive to regular functioning e.g. auditory hallucinations.
Schizophrenia
a mental disorder characterised by a confusion between reality and what is in their mind
speech poverty
The inability to produce fluent and coherent speech.
Token economy
A form of behavior management that aims to increase desirable behavior and reduce undesirable behavior by use of tokens. If desirable behavior is displayed, immediate (indirect) rewards in the form of tokens are given. These tokens can be exchanged for a rewards of choice.
Typical antipsychotics
older antipsychotics that were developed to reduce dopamine levels in the brain.
Anger management
therapy that aims to reduce criminal behavior by identifying anger and aggressive behavior and teaching alternatives to cope. For example learning mediation techniques.
Atavistic form
An approach to explain criminal behavior, historically. This theory suggests criminal behavior could be a result of genes, and therefore some individuals were predisposed to commit crimes. This theory further claimed to be able to identify criminals from the shape of their skulls, and that criminals were more primitive due to their inclination to commit crimes.
cognitive distortions
faulty cognitions that lead to irrational thoughts
custodial sentencing
A punishment that aims to reduce criminal behavior, via sentencing in court for either prison or some other institute.
Differential association theory
A theory that suggests that criminal behavior develops through experiences and association with other criminal behaviors.
disorganised offender
This is a term used to describe offenders who are more likely to have committed the crime impulsively. This would be implied through a discarded body and various evidence left at the scene. These types of offenders are typically of low intelligence, not confident and have poor rate of employment.
Eysenck’s theory (of criminal personality)
This theory suggests that criminal behavior was a result of certain personality traits, such as high extraversion and neuroticism
geographical profiling
an investigative method to identify an offender is predicted since an offender usually will not travel too far to commit crimes.
Hostile attribution bias
A form of cognitive distortion which may explain some criminal behavior. Specifically, this is when a person interprets someone else’s behavior as hostile, in spite of it not being so. for example, misinterpreting a neutral face to be upset/angry.
level of moral reasoning
A theory for criminal behavior which suggests it arises due to an immature sense of what is right or wrong. According to this theory, moral reasoning develops in stages.
Minimisation
A form of cognitive distortion which may explain some criminal behavior this is when an offender reduces the severity of their crimes for example using language like “they were asking for it “ or avoiding terms like “rape”.
Offender profiling
A technique used to identify possible offenders which involves creating a “profile” which contains probable traits of the offender. these traits are inferred from the way the crime was committed.
Organised offender
This refers to offenders who have planned the crime; which is implied through hiding the body and removing the weapon. These types of offenders are typically intelligent.
Recidivism
To re-offend
Restorative Justice programmes
Programmes that aim to reduce criminal behavior by introducing the offender to the victim/victim’s family. This gives the victim the opportunity to reach catharsis and the criminal to confront the consequences of their actions.
Top-down approach
A technique used for offender profiling, which involves looking at previous similar cases and the criminals responsible. Thus some common traits can be identified, which are probably exhibited by the current offender as well.
