Issues and debates key terms

Question 1

Universality

Answer 1

Any underlying characteristic of human beings that is capable of being applied to all, despite differences of of experience and upbringing. Gender bias and culture bias threaten the universality of findings in psychology.

Question 2

Gender bias

Answer 2

When considering human behaviour, bias is a tendency to treat one individual or group in a different way from the others. In the context of gender bias, psychological research or theory may offer a view that does not justifiably represent the experience and the behaviour of men or women. (usually women)

Question 3

Androcentrism

Answer 3

Male-centred, when ‘normal’ behaviour is judged according to a male standard (meaning that female behaviour is judged to be abnormal in comparison)

Question 4

Alpha bias

Answer 4

Research that focusses on differences between men and women, and therefore tends to present a view that exaggerates these differences.

Question 5

Beta bias

Answer 5

Research that focusses on similarities between men and women and therefore tends to present a view that ignores minimises differences.

Question 6

Cultural bias

Answer 6

A tendency to interpret all phenomena through the ‘lens’ of ones own culture, ignoring the effects that cultural differences might have on behaviour.

Question 7

Ethnocentrism

Answer 7

Judging other cultures by the standards and values of ones own culture. In its extreme form it is the belief in the superiority of ones own culture which may lead to prejudice and discrimination towards other cultures.

Question 8

Cultural relativism

Answer 8

The idea that norms and values, as well as ethics and moral standards, can only be meaningful an understood within specific social and cultural context.

Question 9

Free will

Answer 9

The notion that humans can make choices and their behavioural/thoughts are not determined by biological or external forces.

Question 10

Determinism

Answer 10

The view that an individual’s behaviour is shaped or controlled by internal or external forces rather than an individual will do something.

Question 11

Hard determinism

Answer 11

The view that all behaviour is caused by something (internal or external factors), so free will is an illusion.

Question 12

Soft determinism

Answer 12

The view that behaviour may be predictable (caused by internal or external factors) but there is also room for personal choice from a limited range of possibilities (restricted free will).

Question 13

Biological determinism

Answer 13

The belief that behaviour is caused by biological (genetic, hormonal and evolutionary) influences that we cannot control.

Question 14

Environmental determinism

Answer 14

The belief that behaviour is caused by features of the environment ( such as systems of rewards and punishments) that we cannot control.

Question 15

Psychic determinism

Answer 15

The belief that behaviour is caused by conscious psychodynamic conflicts that we cannot control.

Question 16

The nature-nurture debate

Answer 16

Concerned with the extent to which aspects of behaviour are a product of inherited or acquired characteristics.

Question 17

Heredity

Answer 17

The genetic transmission of both mental and physical characteristics from one generation to another.

Question 18

Environment

Answer 18

Any influence on human behaviour this is non-genetic. This may range from prenatal influences in the womb through to cultural and historical influences at societal level. It eg the food you eat may affect your mental development and growth.

Question 19

Interactionist approach

Answer 19

A way to explain the development of behaviour in terms of a range of factors, including both biological and psychological ones. Most importantly such factors don’t simply add together but combine in a way