Stenths And Weaknesses

Question 1

Give the strengths of the debate nature

Answer 1

• produces scientific and objective data

- practical applications eg medication

Question 2

Give the strengths of the debate nurture

Answer 2

• more holistic, takes into account several factors

- more optimistic, suggesting that we can change behaviour

Question 3

Give the strengths of the debate determinism

Answer 3

• scientific, tries to establish cause and effect
• practical applications based on scientific cause
• less socially sensitive, no blame for negative behaviours so can remove guilt

Question 4

Give the strengths of the debate free will

Answer 4

• people must take responsibility for their own actions

- less socially sensitive, implications for treatment and our capacity to change

Question 5

Give the strengths of the debate Reductionism

Answer 5

• precise cause and effect therefore allows practical applications to be drawn
• scientific, isolated components are easier to study

Question 6

Give the strengths of the debate holism

Answer 6

• valid, more complex explanation

- theoretical usefulness, provides a more insightful approach to treatment

Question 7

Give the strengths of the individual debate

Answer 7

• practical applications

- explains the differences in human behaviour

Question 8

Give the strengths of the situational debate

Answer 8

• practical applications, easier to change the situation rather than the person
• holistic, often involves a higher level of explanation

Question 9

Give the strengths of socially sensitive research

Answer 9

• Useful information gained leading to practical applications
• cost benefit
• able to shape law and protect minorities

Question 10

Give the strengths of psychology as a science

Answer 10

• precise cause and effect can be established leading to practical application
• reliable as we can check consistency of research

Question 11

Give the weaknesses of the nature debate

Answer 11

• reductionist
• low ecological validity most investigations are lab based
• unethical, labelling and eugenics

Question 12

Give the weaknesses of the nurture debate

Answer 12

• reductionist

- unethical, labelling and self fulfilling prophecy

Question 13

Give the weaknesses of the free will debate

Answer 13

• ethnocentric

- less ethical, behaviour is ours alone

Question 14

Give the weaknesses of the detrminism debate

Answer 14

• reductionist

- ethical issues, applications attempt to control behaviour

Question 15

Give the weaknesses of the individual debate

Answer 15

• unethical, blames the individual

- incomplete explanation, personality traits don’t always lead to the same behaviour

Question 16

Give the weaknesses of the situational debate

Answer 16

• socially sensitive, people don’t take responsibility for their own actions but blame the situation
• demand characteristic, situation gives us cues on how to behave

Question 17

Give the weaknesses of the reductionism debate

Answer 17

• ignores other valid explanation because takes a narrow approach
• components may be difficult to issolate and manipulate

Question 18

Give the weaknesses of the holism debate

Answer 18

• too complex to create practical applications that target all issues identified
• unscientific, we cannot find one casual variable

Question 19

Give the weaknesses of the socially sensitive research issue

Answer 19

• ethnocentric
• ethical considerations
• issues with validity

Question 20

Give the weaknesses of psychology as a science

Answer 20

• reductionist, over simplifies human behaviour

- scientific methods lead to low ecological validity