Issues And Debates Key Words

Question 1

Universality

Answer 1

An underlying characteristic of human beings that is capable of being applied to all despite differences of experience and upbringing

Question 2

Bias

Answer 2

The tendency to treat one individual or group in a different way to others

Question 3

Gender bias

Answer 3

Psychological research or theory that offers a view that does not justifiably represent the experience and behaviour of men or women. It may be the representation of one gender only

Question 4

Alpha bias

Answer 4

The attempt to exaggerate or overestimate the differences between the genders

Question 5

Beta bias

Answer 5

The attempt to downplay or underestimate the differences between the genders

Question 6

Androcentrism

Answer 6

When men’s behaviour is the standard against which women’s behaviour is compared. Female behaviour is often judged to be “abnormal”, “deficient” or “inferior” by comparison

Question 7

Culture bias I&D

Answer 7

Overlooking cultural differences by looking at human behaviour from the perspective of one’s own culture

Question 8

Ethnocentrism

Answer 8

A type of cultural bias that involves judging other cultures by the standards and values of one’s own culture

Question 9

Cultural relativism

Answer 9

The idea that human behaviour can only be meaningful and understood within specific social and cultural contexts

Question 10

Imposed Etic

Answer 10

A test, measure or theory devised in one culture that is used to explain behaviour in another culture

Question 11

Collectivist cultures

Answer 11

Refers to cultures such as India and china that are said to be more conformist and group orientated

Question 12

Collectivist cultures

Answer 12

Refers to cultures such as India and china that are said to be more conformist and group orientated

Question 13

Individualistic cultures

Answer 13

Refers to western countries like the us and uk that are thought to be more independent

Question 14

Etic approach

Answer 14

Studying behaviour across many cultures to find universal human behaviours

Question 15

Culture bound syndromes

Answer 15

Groups of syndromes classified as treatable illnesses in certain cultures that are not recognised as such in the west

Question 16

Emic approach

Answer 16

Studying cultures in isolation by identifying behaviours that are specific to that culture

Question 17

Ethical guidelines

Answer 17

A set of principles set out by the BPS to help psychologists behave with honesty and integrity

Question 18

Ethical issues

Answer 18

These arise when a conflict exists between the rights of the participants in research studies and the goals of the researchers to produce authentic valid and worthwhile data

Question 19

Ethical implications

Answer 19

The impact that psychological research may have in terms of the rights of other people, especially participants. This includes at a societal level, influencing public policy and or the way in which certain groups of people are viewed

Question 20

Socially sensitive studies

Answer 20

Studies in which there are potential consequences or implications either directly for the participants in the researchers or for the class of individuals represented by the research

Question 21

Free will

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Determinism

Answer 22

The view that an individuals behaviour is shaped or controlled by internal or external forces, rather than an individuals will to do something

Question 23

Hard determinism

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Soft determinism

Answer 24

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

Question 25

Biological determinism

Answer 25

The belief that behaviour is caused by biological (genetic, hormonal, or evolutionary) influences that cannot be controlled

Question 26

Environmental determinism

Answer 26

The belief that behaviour is caused by features of the environment (such as systems of reward and punishment) that cannot be controlled.

Question 27

Psychic determinism

Answer 27

The belief that behaviour is caused by unconscious psychodynamic conflicts that cannot be controlled

Question 28

Causal explanations

Answer 28

Based on the principle that every event has a cause which can be explained using general laws.

Question 29

Nature-nurture debate

Answer 29

The debate is concerned with the extent to which aspects of behaviour are a product of inherited or acquired characteristics

Question 30

Heredity

Answer 30

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

Question 31

Environment

Answer 31

Any influence on human behaviour that is non genetic. This may range from prenatal (before birth) influences in the womb to cultural and historical influences at a societal level.

Question 32

Interactionist approach

Answer 32

A way to explain the development of behaviour in terms of a range of factors, including both biological and psychological. Such factors combine in a way that cannot be predicted by each one separately

Question 33

Diathesis stress model

Answer 33

A way of explaining the interactionist approach. A model to show how a disposition of a gene plus a life event leads to the development of a behaviour.

Question 34

Holism

Answer 34

An argument or theory which suggests psychologists should only study an invisible system rather than is constituent parts.

Question 35

Reductionism

Answer 35

The belief that human behaviour is best explained by breaking it down into smaller constituent parts

Question 36

Biological reductionism

Answer 36

A form of reductionism that attempts to explain social and psychological phenomena at a lower biological level

Question 37

Environmental reductionism

Answer 37

A form of reductionism that attempts to explain phenomena based on stimulus response bonds and learned associations

Question 38

Levels of explanation

Answer 38

Different ways of viewing the same phenomena. Some ways are more reductionist than others.

Question 39

Idiographic approach

Answer 39

Derived from the word ‘idios’ meaning ‘private’. This approach focuses more on the individual case as a means of understanding behaviour, rather than aiming to formulate general laws of behaviour.

Question 40

Nomothetic approach

Answer 40

Derived from the word ‘nomos’ meaning ‘law’. This approach aimed to study human behaviour through the development of general principles and universal laws.