The Psychology Debates

Question 1

Describe the nature vs nurture debate.

Answer 1

• concerned w/ extent to which particular aspects of behaviour are a product of either inherited (i.e. genetic) or acquired (i.e. learned) characteristics

Nature study example: Baron Cohen et al
Nurture study example: Chaney et al
Interactionist study example: Blakemoore and Cooper

Question 2

Describe the Reductionism vs Holism debate.

Answer 2

• refers to whether more appropriate to study behaviour by either breaking it down into small component parts (reductionism) or studying many interacting + complex aspects as a whole (holism)
• reductionism: Seeks to understand human behaviour by breaking it down into its smallest possible parts – complex behaviour should be explained in simplest terms possible
• holism: Seeks to understand human behaviour by studying the whole – whole is greater than sum of its parts

Reductionist study example: Maguire et al
Holistic study example: Lee et al

Question 3

Describe the Usefulness of Research debate.

Answer 3

• refers to whether or not research is useful
• useful if adds to our knowledge + can be applied in real-world situations
• of limited usefulness if lacks credibility or is diff to apply outside research setting

Useful study example: Loftus and Palmer
Non-useful study example: Gould

Question 4

Describe the Psychology as a Science debate.

Answer 4

• debate as to whether study of psycho should be considered a science or not
• can be considered a science if seen as using scientific approach which is objective, can be replicated, but cannot be falsified
• however, may not be regarded as a science if seen as using an unscientific approach which is subjective, subject to interpretation + bias

Many aspects of research being scientific: (see psycho as a Science RM part 2)

Scientific study example: Moray - control of variables
Unscientific study example: Freud - lack of cause + effect + replicability

Question 5

Describe the Ethics debate.

Answer 5

• psychologists required to follow BPS guideline of ethical considerations including: informed consent, right to withdraw, confidentiality, protection from harm, debrief + deception (also respect, competence, responsibility + integrity)

Many ethical considerations: see RM

Question 6

Describe the Individual vs Situational debate.

Answer 6

• refers to where we look for cause of behaviour
• some areas in psycho look for explanation of behaviour being within individual, e.g. behaviour could be described as resulting from individual’s personality or dispositions
• other areas look for explanation of behaviour as result of situation a person is in, e.g. behaviour could be described as resulting from group pressure, group membership, environment etc

Individual study example: Baron Cohen et al / Hancock et al
Situational study example: Milgram / Moray
Situational + Individual study example: Bocchiaro et al

Question 7

Describe the Determinism vs Free Will debate.

Answer 7

Does human behaviour result from forces over which an individual has no control (determinism) or forces over which an individual has control (free-will)?

• determinism: idea human behaviour is caused by forces over which we have no control
• free-will: idea humans are free to choose behaviour, we are essentially self-determining

Deterministic study example: Simons + Chabris
Free will study example: Kohlberg

Question 8

Describe the Socially Sensitive Research debate.

Answer 8

Focuses on issues involved when conducting socially sensitive research e.g.

• Stigma: individuals or groups may experience feelings of shame and exclusion due to sensitive issues explored in research such as gender / culture / illness
• Political consequences: outcome of research may have implications for gov policy + change lives of people involved
• Harm: some issues may be controversial as are too private / cause distress

Stigma study example: Gould / Hancock et al
Political consequences study example: Gould / Hancock et al
Harm study example: Freud