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A level psychology AQA > Issues and Debates > Flashcards

Flashcards in Issues and Debates Deck (49)
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1
Q

What is the aim of psychology?

A

Universality

2
Q

Definition of Universality

A

The idea that theories of psychology, can explain behaviour that is accurate to the experiences of men and women.

3
Q

What is a bias?

A

A view that is distorted in some way

4
Q

Definition of Gender Bias

A

The idea that research and theories in psychology, don’t equally reflect the experience of men and women.

5
Q

Androcentrism

A

The male view of behaviour dominates in theories because psychology is male-dominated.

This causes a male world view and may negatively affect women.

6
Q

Defintion of Alpha Bias

A

The differences of men and women are exaggerated and over emphasised.

7
Q

Example of Alpha Bias

A

Freud’s Psychodynamic approach:

  • Saw femininity as ‘failed masculinity.’
  • Bc girls can’t experience castration anxiety and Oedipus conflict.
  • Therefore, they have weaker identification with their mothers, superegos and lower morality than men.
8
Q

Definition of Beta Bias

A

The differences between men and women are minimised, ignored or underestimated

9
Q

Example of Beta Bias

A

Taylor et al (2000) = Fight or flight research:

  • Fight or Flight based on male animal response bc female hormones fluctuate
  • Taylor et al = saw female evolved to have fight or flight to protect their young. And show ‘tend and befriend’ bhvr to get social networks for support
  • shows men and women are different.
10
Q

Strengths of reflexivity

A

Increased the validity of research and reduced gender bias.

This is when researchers can objectively look at their work and identity how it can affect society.

11
Q

How can alpha bias lead to the discrimination of women?

A

Freud = ‘femininity is failed masculinity.’
Could have less opportunities for women
ETHICS

12
Q

How does Androcentrism lead to institutional sexism?

A

Men predominate at senior researcher level. So their researcher agenda will follow male concerns and female concerns will be marginalised/ ignored.

13
Q

How does androcentrism lead to dissemination of results?

A

Publishing bias towards positive results.

Results showing gender differences are more likely to get published.

14
Q

Definition of Culture Bias

A

The tendency to judge all people in terms of your now cultural assumptions.

15
Q

Definition of Ethnocentrism

A

A from of cultural bias. This is when we judge other cultures by the standards of our own culture.

16
Q

Definition of Cultural Relativism

A

This is the view that bhvr cannot be judged properly, unless viewed in the context of the culture it originates.

17
Q

Example of Cultural Relativism

A

Auditory hallucinations = listed as symptom of Sz in DSM, but not a mental illness in all cultures.

18
Q

Cultural Relativism is the opposite of what?

A

Ethnocentrism

19
Q

Definition of IMPOSED ETIC

A

Associated with ethnocentrism. This is when a technique or theory, developed in one culture, is used to study the bhvr of people in another culture.

20
Q

Definition of EMIC

A

Associated with cultural relativism. This is when indvls are studied and generalisations are only made within that culture.

21
Q

What is the problem of culture bias?

A

The findings only apply to the people in the research.

Culturally biased theories = problems with validity so generalisations can’t be made.

22
Q

Problems with ethnocentrism?

A

In its extreme form, a researcher could assume their culture is more superior (which may be intentional or unintentional). This can depict other cultures as less or inferior which is wrong.

23
Q

Example of Ethnocentrism and how is this a weakness?

A

Ainsworth Strange situation, showed an etic approach and didn’t incorporate cultural differences.

Depicted ‘secure’ attachment as the ideal.

Socially sensitive = showed German mothers as cold and rejecting.

24
Q

What is W.E.I.R.D?

A
Westernised 
Educated people from 
Industrialised 
Rich
Democracies
25
Q

Why is W.E.I.R.D participants a weakness of Culture Bias?

A

Heinrich (2010) showed 68% of participants were from the US and 95% were from industrialised nations.

Therefore, theories are based on WEIRD participants and non- WERID participants can be seen as inferior or abnormal.

26
Q

Strength of Culture Bias

A

Validity - Emergence of Cultural Psychology

Cultural Psychology is the study of how people shape and are shaped by their cultural experiences.

This aims to avoid ethnocentrism by, using an emic approach with local researchers.

This shows, modern researchers are becoming more mindful and aware of the dangers of cultural bias - taking steps to avoid it.

27
Q

Definition of Determinism

A

Individual behaviour is controlled by either internal or external forces. Behaviour is predictable.

28
Q

Definition of Hard Determinism

A

The view that all behaviour can be predicted bc there’s no free will.

29
Q

Definition of Soft Determinism

A

A version of determinism which acknowledges some level of free will.

30
Q

Definition of Psychic Determinism

A

Behaviour is determined by innate drives + early experiences. Associated with Freud + the psychodynamic approach.

31
Q

Definition of Biological Determinism

A

Behaviour is determined by our genes, + subsequently neurotransmitters e.g serotonin + dopamine. Associated with the biological approach.

32
Q

Definition of Environmental Determinism

A

Behaviour is caused by previous experience, though classical + operant conditioning. Associated with behaviourism.

33
Q

Definition of Scientific

A

Argues all behaviour is predictable, has a cause + therefore, can be explained by general laws.

34
Q

Similarities between science and determinism

A

Scientific determinism applies these ideas by testing the cause and effect through changing the IV and measuring the effects on the DV.

The results from controlled research is made into general laws.

Free will is not compatible with science bc it can’t be tested, controlled or manipulated in a systematic way. To let the researcher see the effects on bhvr.

35
Q

Definition of Free will

A

An individual is seen as being capable of self-determination and has an active role in controlling their behaviour.

36
Q

A strength of Determinism

A

Hard determinism suggested by the biological approach or behaviourism has led to treatments, therapies such as CBT.

Therefore, determinism has beneficial application I the real world.

37
Q

A strength of Free Will (can be made into a weakness)

A

EXTERNAL VALIDITY.

Common sense idea that humans have free will.

Justice system is base don free will.

38
Q

Definition of Nativist

A

Believes human characteristics are inherited

39
Q

Definition of Heritability Coefficient

A

Represents the degree to which two people are similar. This shows the concordance between two people.

40
Q

Definition of Empiricist

A

Believes people are a blank slate (Tabula Rasa) at birth.

41
Q

Definition of Relative Importance

A

Addressing the importance of the findings and how they contribute to psychology.

42
Q

Definition of Diathesis Stress Model

A

Biological or environmental vulnerability (diathesis) can be triggered (either biological or environmental).

43
Q

Example of Diathesis Stress Model in OCD

A

Aetiologically heterogenous is the diathesis.

Cromer et al (2007) environment is very influential. Especially in severe patients who experiences traumatic events in their lives. (Trigger)

44
Q

Definition of Epigenetics

A

A change in our genetic activity without changing the genes themselves. This is caused by the interaction with the environment.

Lifestyle leaves marks on DNA which switches on/off genes. Changes way genes in expressed

45
Q

A strength of the nature-nurture debate

A

APPLICATION - OCD
Nestadt et el (2010) = 0.76 heritability rate (high)

Genetic counselling for people and give advice for those who do have a background, to find ways not to trigger it.

Debate is not just important theoretically, but practically as well.

46
Q

Strength of Epigenetics

A

INTERNAL VALIDITY - Nazis
Dutch Hunger Winter in 1944 was caused by Nazis blocked food distribution to the Dutch.

This led to 22,000 people dying and women who was pregnant during the famine, birther low weight babies.

These babies, when they grew up, were 2x more likely to have Sz in comparison to the general pop.

This supports epigenetic ‘markers’ influence the health of the offspring.

47
Q

What is Phenylketonuria?

A

A rare but potentially serious inherited disorder

This is when babies can’t breakdown amino acids phenylalanine which builds up in their brain and blood.

This can lead to brain damage and learning disabilities

48
Q

How does this relate to the nature-nurture debate?

A

This can be treated by having a low protein diet and controlling the uptake of other foods such as carbs.

49
Q

Why in the interactionist approach central to the current debate?

A

Nature and nurture cannot be separated

Better understanding come if we understand how they work together.