Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Individual differences (YEAR 2) > The social construction of individual differences > Flashcards

The social construction of individual differences Flashcards

1
Q

What is authenticity

A

the quality of being real or true

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Common View of the Authentic Person

A

A person is unique, with a self-contained mind and consciousness

People are the centre of their own experiences, owning their thoughts and feelings

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Classical Psychology

A

Divides the individual along broad lines

  • Internal/External: Internal = authentic self.
  • Stability/Instability: Events attributed to internal (stable) or external (unstable) factors.
  • Stability linked to good mental health.
  • Globality/Specificity: Explains both commonalities and uniqueness
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Issues with Classical Psychology

A

Divisions useful for research, but less applicable in real-world contexts

Measurements often force-choice or one-dimensional

Excludes cultural, historical, and social factors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Intersectionality

A

Explores how interlocking systems impact marginalized groups

Main claim: Social class, sexual orientation, gender, and age are interlocked and cannot be understood in isolation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Vygotsky (1896-1943)

A

emphasized that society provides psychological tools, a set of social devices that shape thinking and learning

  • believed language is a crucial tool in cognitive development, acting as a bridge between social interaction and internal thought
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Holtzkamp (1927-1995)

A

Argued that psychology often studies abstract concepts, assuming isolated stimuli cause responses in subjects

emphasized the importance of understanding people’s lived experiences, interactions, and the historical context in which they occur

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Critical Psychology

A

Knowledge and truth are created by institutions (e.g., universities, research labs) and processes (e.g., peer-reviewed journals)

  • Knowledge is internalized by individuals and mediated by language, which makes thoughts and concepts possible
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Socio-political critique on critical psychology

A

Psychology can be seen as a tool for social control, defining and “treating” people considered problematic by society

Personality tests may function as mechanisms of control

According to Burr (1995), our understanding of the world is shaped by cultural and linguistic frameworks that exist before birth and are reproduced through language and social interaction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Postmodernism

A

Language is seen as more than just a tool; it creates vocabularies that shape how we interpret experiences

  • Disease, illness, and deficit models contribute to power dynamics, where the practitioner is the expert and the client is a passive recipient
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is anti-essentialism

A

Human beings do not have a single, determined nature there are no ‘essences’ inside people that make them what they are

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is anti-realism

A

We cannot construct a system of knowledge that perfectly maps onto reality

Knowledge is always structured from a particular perspective

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Social Constructionism

A

A critical approach in the social sciences that emerged in the 1970s-80s

Focuses on how people describe, explain, and make sense of the world

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Subjectivity in Social Constructionism

A

Psychological experiences are subjective; perception is filtered through mental schemas

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is solipsism

A

only one’s mind/reality exists

  • Social constructionism is no solipsism
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the main belief of social constructionism

A

Social constructionism claims that things can be both real and our creation

  • While the world exists independently, it is structureless until we impose meanings on it
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What are performative utterances?

A

Statements that perform an action, not just describe a situation (e.g., “I promise”)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What are illocutionary acts in speech theory?

A

Actions performed via utterances, such as making requests, promises, or declarations

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

How did Butler extend the concept of performativity?

A

Butler applied performativity to gender, arguing that gender is not innate but is performed through repeated actions, behaviors, and language based on societal norms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is the idea of gender as performance according to Butler?

A

Gender is a series of repeated performances, not an inherent trait. We “do” gender through actions, behaviors, and language, creating the illusion of a stable gender identity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

How does performativity challenge gender norms?

A

Performativity allows for the subversion of gender norms, showing that gender identities are socially constructed and can be disrupted

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What role does performativity play in cultural and social contexts?

A

performativity examines how social norms and identities are constructed and maintained through repeated actions and performances

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

How does performativity align with social constructivism?

A

supports the idea that many aspects of social reality are constructed through human actions and interactions, rather than being purely natural or inherent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

How does gender distinction relate to traits?

A

Traits used to distinguish gender are found in both sexes, and what makes one person different from another often relates to what those traits signify rather than any intrinsic or innate quality

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Should psychology focus on what is real/authentic or on how it becomes and is performed?

A

Psychology can explore both what is real/authentic and how identity, including gender, becomes constructed and performed, focusing on the processes by which traits and distinctions are socially enacted

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What is the critical stance in social constructionism?

A

critically challenges taken-for-granted knowledge, arguing that categories we use to describe things (like “classical” or “pop” music) are not inherent in the nature of things but socially constructed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

What does historical and cultural specificity mean in social constructionism?

A

It means that the categories and concepts we use to understand the world are shaped by a particular culture and historical moment, like concepts of childhood or sexuality

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

How does social constructionism view knowledge production?

A

Knowledge is produced and sustained through social processes, as people interact and negotiate shared versions of knowledge that influence specific actions

29
Q

How does social constructionism view language?

A

Language is not merely an expression of inner thought but a precondition for thought itself, structuring how we think and acting as a form of social action

30
Q

How does social constructionism view concepts like “drunkenness” and “alcoholism”?

A

Concepts like “drunkenness” are framed as moral failures, leading to blame, while “alcoholism” is framed as a disease, prompting help-seeking and treatment

31
Q

How does social constructionism view language in relation to thought?

A

Social constructionism argues that language is not merely an expression of inner (pre-verbal) thought but structures thought itself. Language is seen as a form of social action, influencing how we label and understand acts

32
Q

What is performativity

A

the interdependence between some words and actions

33
Q

How does knowledge shape what we see?

A

Knowledge shapes perception by influencing how individuals interpret and process information. People are not only influenced by their physiology, history, and environment but also by their access to resources and what they learn, leading to variations in perception

34
Q

What are language-based approaches focused on in research?

A

focus on how people use speech and discourse as forms of social action, how they make sense of the world through language, and the underlying meanings behind ambiguous or common-sense concepts. This includes both big ideological words (e.g., freedom, fairness) and small, unnoticed words (e.g., us, here)

35
Q

How do positivist and constructionist approaches use language in ID research?

A

Positivist: Assesses language through responses to questions, categorizing data numerically to allocate individuals to fixed categories reflecting internal validity

Constructionist: Records responses and creates categories of meaning that reflect the participant’s understanding of reality

36
Q

How are attitudes viewed in rhetorical/discursive psychology?

A

Attitudes are not internal but rhetorical stances in controversial matters; they are defined by both what you endorse and reject

  • “I don’t get offended easily” implies there are others who do get offended easily.
37
Q

What role do narratives play in rhetorical/discursive psychology?

A

Narratives help define both the views we defend and the counter-views we reject

38
Q

How do we judge authenticity according to narrative theory?

A

based on the authenticity of the narrative, not on personality profiles or thought/feeling categories

39
Q

How do we manage our narratives?

A

We manage our narratives and use different ones to navigate complex social situations, dependent on context, emotions, and interactions.

40
Q

How do narratives evolve in different social contexts?

A

Narratives become more detailed and complex depending on interpersonal relationships and social context

41
Q

What happens when we repeatedly use a narrative?

A

The more we use a narrative, the more pronounced and fixed it becomes, potentially turning a state into a trait

42
Q

How can mental illness be viewed through the lens of narratives?

A

Mental illness and disorders can be seen as a traumatized and rigid narrative that becomes inflexible over time

43
Q

What does James (1890) say about introspection?

A

Introspection requires us to split ourselves into two parts: the knower and the known.

44
Q

How do we know ourselves according to the idea presented?

A

We know ourselves through language, even when focusing on feelings.

45
Q

What is the ultimate focus in understanding introspection?

A

The focus should be on how we use language to construct a self-conscious, introspective individual.

46
Q

How are personality tests viewed in the context of narrative?

A

Personality tests are seen as an act of creation, not just discovery, because they require individuals to take positions through their responses.

47
Q

What role does conversational analysis play in personality tests?

A

Conversational analysis helps understand that personality tests, like psychological assessments, are acts of creation, as each question encourages the participant to define their position

48
Q

How does the language we use in self-explanation influence our identity?

A

The language used to explain ourselves is shaped by the world around us, but in doing so, it also creates positions and identities for us.

49
Q

How did Freud view repression?

A

the unconscious blocking of unpleasant emotions, memories, and thoughts from the conscious mind

50
Q

What is the critique of Freud’s view on repression?

A

not necessarily an internal psychological process but depends on the use of language, similar to how we shift topics in conversation to avoid difficult subjects

51
Q

How is repression connected to language?

A

Repression occurs when we shift our focus away from disturbing thoughts, much like changing the topic in a conversation. This shift happens through language, not by a hidden ego.

52
Q

How has the view of the self (personality) shifted in radical psychology?

A

The self (personality) is now seen as the user of discourse, the subject-position within a discourse, and the agent of change by challenging or redefining concepts

53
Q

How are personality disorders viewed in this radical shift?

A

Personality disorders are viewed as challenges to the existing discourse of self or as unstable or unfixed positions taken by individuals

54
Q

What shift occurred in the focus of personality psychology?

A

The focus shifted from asking “What is/extraversion?” to exploring “What does extraversion mean to the person?” emphasizing subjectivity

55
Q

What is the role of language in social constructionism?

A

Language is a vital component in shaping how we understand and make sense of the world, helping to construct understanding from the material provided by the cultural world

56
Q

Does social constructionism claim that language creates reality?

A

No, social constructionism does not claim language creates reality, but it is essential in shaping how we interpret and understand it

57
Q

How can performativity reinforce or challenge power dynamics?

A

Performativity can reinforce power dynamics by adhering to societal norms, but it can also challenge and redefine these norms, highlighting power relations

58
Q

What is the relationship between agency and performativity in constructing identities?

A

Performativity suggests a level of agency in constructing identities but also highlights the constraints imposed by societal expectations and norms

59
Q

What does performativity imply about the concept of authenticity in identity?

A

Performativity raises questions about authenticity, as the distinction between “real” and “performed” identities becomes blurred

60
Q

How does performativity challenge essentialist views of identity?

A

Performativity emphasizes the fluid and dynamic nature of identity, countering essentialist views that see identity as fixed and inherent

61
Q

What is the central belief of anti-psychiatry regarding illness?

A

Anti-psychiatry believes illness does not inherently exist; it is constructed by assigning meaning to certain biological states, influenced by social and ethnographic elements

62
Q

How does anti-psychiatry view the construction of mental illness?

A

Mental illness is seen as a social construct, dependent on changing beliefs and knowledge. As these beliefs evolve, the construct of illness changes, with new layers added and others removed

63
Q

How do beliefs and knowledge affect the concept of illness in anti-psychiatry?

A

Beliefs and knowledge shape the way illness is perceived and constructed. As they change, the understanding and categorization of illness can also shift

64
Q

What role does the DSM play in the social construction of mental illness?

A

The DSM classifies and describes mental illnesses but does not explain them. It has been part of a history focused on classifying individual differences, often labelling them as “mad,” “bad,” or “sad.”

65
Q

How is mental illness viewed from a social constructionist perspective?

A

Mental illness is seen as a social construct of individual differences. The DSM is criticized for uncritically reinforcing public prejudice and contributing to societal stigma

66
Q

What does the classification of mental illness in the DSM often reflect?

A

The classification of mental illness in the DSM often reflects societal norms and prejudices rather than objective or intrinsic medical truths

67
Q

What is the concept of an iterative relationship in the context of the brain?

A

Social constructs affect us biologically by influencing how our brains process stimuli. Our brains organize these stimuli into complex systems that shape our perceptions, which in turn regulate behavior

68
Q
A

Individual differences (YEAR 2) (5 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions