Issues and Debates

Question 1

Universality

Answer 1

Conclusions can be applied to everyone anywhere regardless of time or culture

Question 2

Gender bias

Answer 2

Research might offer a view that does not represent the experience and behaviour of men and women (usually women)

Question 3

Androcentricism

Answer 3

When ‘normal’ behaviour is judged according to a male standard, meaning female behaviour is often seen as abnormal

Question 4

Alpha bias

Answer 4

Research focuses on differences between men and women, and exaggerates these differences

Question 5

Beta bias

Answer 5

Minimises differences between men and women

Question 6

Example of alpha bias in psychological research

Answer 6

Freud phallic stage.

Question 7

Example of beta bias in psychological research

Answer 7

Fight or flight response, assumes male and females respond the same. Taylor found ‘tend and befriend’ response due to more oxytocin. Fight or flight minimises differences.

Question 8

Androcentrism

Answer 8

Alpha and beta bias due to androcentrism. Feminists object PMDD as it medicalises womens emotions, whereas mens anger is seen as rational response to external pressures.

Question 9

1 strength 2 weaknesses of gender bias in research

Answer 9

+ ingalhalikar suggests popular beleief that women are better at multitasking may have biological truth as womens brains may benefit from stronger connections between LH and RH. Suggests there may be biological differences
- Maccoby found evidence that girls have better verbal ability and boys have better spatial ability. Joel brain scanned and found no sex differences in processing. Differences may be better explained by social stereotypes than biology
- women remain underrepresented in departments e.g science. more research may be conducted on men. male researcher may have pre existing bias meaning women may appear to underperform in studies

Question 10

Etnocentrism

Answer 10

Judging other cultures by standards of own. Superiority of own culture, can lead to discrimination of other cultures e.g strange situation

Question 11

Cultural relativism

Answer 11

Norms and values can only be meaningful and understood within special cultural contexts

Question 12

Cultural bias

Answer 12

Tendency to interpret all phenomena through lens of own culture, ignoring effects of cultural differences impact on behaviour

Question 13

1 strength and 2 weaknesses of cultural bias

Answer 13

+ being aware means psychologists are mindful of the dangers e.g conducting research inside a culture alongside local researchers
- most influential studies are culturally bias. Both Asch and Milgrams research were conducted on middle class Americans. Asch replicated study in collectivist and found higher conformity. Findings only applicable to individualist
- Led to prejudice against groups. Original IQ test featured ethnocentric questions meaning ethnic groups scored lowest anf were deemed mentally unfit in comparison to white. Cultural bias used to justify discrimination

Question 14

5 types of determinism

Answer 14

Hard, soft, biological, environmental, psychic

Question 15

3 evaluation points on free will vs determinism

Answer 15

+ free will has practical value. Roberts found people who who had strong belief in fatalism were at greater risk of developing depression. Belief of free will can positively impact mind
+ determinism supported by brain scans, free will isnt. Found unconscious brain activity leading up to pps conscious decision to move. May be determined by brain
+ free will. hard determinist stance doesnt align with legal system where offenders are held responsible. suggests determinist arguments do nit work in the real world