Issues and debates

Question 1

What is universality?

Answer 1

Believing some behaviours are the same for all cultures

Question 2

What is ethnocentrism?

Answer 2

• Evaluating a culture based on one’s own values
• Perceived importance/normality of the behaviour of one’s own culture

Question 3

What is a nomethetic approach? (2)

Answer 3

• An approach where a sample is studied to establish establishing general laws and principles
• Uses quantitative data

Question 4

What is androcentrism?

Answer 4

Because psychology/society is male dominated, world views and theories tend to be focused around men.

Question 5

What is alpha bias?

Answer 5

Exaggerating the difference between the two genders i.e in primary attachment theory

Question 6

What is beta-bias?

Answer 6

Minimising gender/culture differences, i.e for stress responses

Question 7

What is psychic determinism?

Answer 7

Adult personality is caused by unresolved conflicts which are repressed in childhood

Question 8

What is the ideographic approach? (2)

Answer 8

• Focuses on the unique charecteristics of indivdual, i.e through case studies
• Uses qualitative data

Question 9

What is one strength and limitation of using a reductionist approach?

Answer 9

• Studying the basic units of behaviour adds weight to scientific credibility
• Simplistic, ignores the interaction with other factors, such as environmental

Question 10

Include examples of the 3 implications

What are 3 possible ethical implications of research?

Answer 10

• Sterotyping/bias (diagnosis of SZ)
• Changes in legislation (Maternal deprivation in hospitals)
• Economic implications (i.e maternity leave)