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Psychology paper 3 > Issues debates > Flashcards

Issues debates Flashcards

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1
Q

What is universality

A

Ideas that certain behaviours apply to all humans

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2
Q

What is WEIRD

A

Idea that most participants in psychological research are Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich and Democratic

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3
Q

What is alpha bias

A

Assumption that there are big differences in behaviours between genders (overemphasis or exaggeration)

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4
Q

Example of alpha bias

A

Bowlby’s monotropic theory - minimises fathers capability to be a primary caregiver whilst emphasising importance of a mother

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5
Q

Evaluation of alpha bias

A

Can favour women

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6
Q

What is beta bias

A

Assumption that there are no significant differences of behaviour of males and females (understimates and minimises the actual differences)

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7
Q

Example of beta bias

A

Fight or flight - research suggests a tend or befriend theory for women

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8
Q

Evaluation of beta bias

A

Can lead to misinterpretation of women’s actions

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9
Q

What is androcentrism

A

Reflecting and supporting a male-centric world view, behaviour is judged against a male standard

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10
Q

Example of androcentrism

A

American psychologist association published a list of 100 most influential psychologists but only included 6 women

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11
Q

Evaluation of androcentrism

A

Women’s behaviour has been misunderstood and pathologised - PMS is seen as abnormal whilst mens anger is seen as rational

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12
Q

Limitations of gender bias

A

Gender bias/differences often presented as fixed and enduring when they’re not, but it doesn’t mean that psychologists should top studying differences in brain, promotes sexism in research, research challenging gender bias may not be published

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13
Q

What is ethnocentrism

A

Judging other cultures by the standards and values of ones own culture - superiority of one’s own culture

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14
Q

Example of ethnocentrism

A

Mary Ainsworth’s strange situtation

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15
Q

Evaluation of ethnocentrism - strange situation

A

Lead to misinterpretation of child rearing practices in other countries which were seen to deviate from the American ‘norm’

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16
Q

What is cultral relativism

A

Idea that norms and values as well as ethics and moral standards can only be meaningful and understood within specific and cultural contexts - John Berry etic and emic approach

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17
Q

What is etic

A

Outside of given culture

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18
Q

What is emic

A

Inside a culture

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19
Q

Example of cultural relativism

A

Ainsworth’s strange situation was ‘imposed etic’ - it assumed attachment type could be applied universally

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20
Q

Evaluation of cultural relativism

A

Berry argued that psychologists have been guilty of the implied etic approach so many theories can not be applied universally

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21
Q

Evaluation of cultural bias

A

Many influential studies are culturally biased, modern psychologists are more cultural biases and are taking steps to avoid it, has led to prejudice towards groups of people

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22
Q

What is free will

A

Making choices

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23
Q

What is determinism

A

Behaviour is shaped or controlled by internal or external factors

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24
Q

What is hard determinism

A

All human behaviour is shaped by something (internal or external factors)

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25
What is soft determinism
Behaviour is predictable but some room for personal choice from a limited range of possibilities
26
What is biological determinism
View that behaviour is determined by biological influences that we can't control (automatic nervous system)
27
What is environmental determinism
Behaviour is caused by environment or conditioning
28
What is psychic determinism
Behaviour is caused by psychodynamic conflicts that we cannot control
29
Evaluation for free will vs determinism debate
Free will has practical value, brain scan evidence supports determinism as our brains determine our actions, legal system supports free will
30
What is holism
Looks at the system as a whole, doesn't subdivide it
31
What is reductionist
Seeks to analyse behaviour into its constituent parts
32
Levels of explanation - holism and reductionism
Highest, middle, lowest
33
Highest level of explanation - holism and reductionism
Social and cultural explanations
34
Middle level of explanation - holism and reductionism
Psychological explanations
35
Lowest level of explanation - holism and reductionism
Biological explanations
36
What is biological reductionism
Tries to explain behaviour at lowest level - biologically
37
What is environmental reductionism
Explains behaviour in terms of stimulus response links that have been learnt through experience
38
Evaluation of holism and reductionism
Lacks practical value (holism is very complex), reductionist approach forms basis of scientific approach, reductionism simplifies complex events, some behaviours can only be understood at a higher level
39
Main approach for the emphasis of nurture
Behaviourist, does still use nature (drooling of dogs was a biological response)
40
Main approach for the emphasis of nature
Biological, still use nurture (early trauma and deprivation can impact brain development)
41
Philosphical origin of nature
The nativist - concept of mind possessing ideas at birth which form basis of knowledge and understanding, argued that this innate knowledge is transmitted biologically
42
Philosphical origin of nurture
The empiricist - knowledge comes from experience and observation, described mind at birth as tabula rasa (blank slate), all knowledge and understanding is gained through the environment
43
Examples of predominantly nature ideas
Genetic explanation for OCD, MAOA gene in Sz, genetic basis of Sz, Bowlby's monotropic theory, evolutionary theories
44
Examples of predominantly nurture ideas
Cupboard love theory of attachment, Ainsworth's attachment styles, behaviourist theory of phobias, social learning theory, cognitive theories
45
Interactionist approach for nature-nurture
Suggests that genes and behaviour interact and influence each other
46
Diathesis stress model
Genetic predisposition (nature) which is triggered by a stressor (nurture)
47
Example of an interactionist explanation
Aggresion in young men - evolutionarily beneficial, social and cultural influences like gangs and risky behaviour act as the stressor, explains why young women in same situations are less likely to act aggressively and why men not in that situation are also less likely
48
Evaluation of nature/nurture
Psychodynamics is an example of interactionism, concordance twin studies for OCD, reductionist, some nature ideas go against our legal system, epigenetic modification (genes being able to be turned on or off)
49
What is nomothetic
Applying to everyone
50
What is idiographic
Applying to only one person
51
What is nomothetic research
Uses large and representative samples, findings generate new laws of behaviours or support existing findings, findings can be generalised
52
Features of nomothetic research
Experimental techniques, quantitative data is collected, scientific
53
Nomothetic approaches
Behaviourism, social learning theory, biological, cognitive
54
What is idiographic research
Studies individual experiences, behaviours and personalities, each individual is assumed to be unique so no new laws are formed and nothing is generalised
55
Features of idiographic research
Non-experimental techniquies (case studies, content analysis and unstructured interviews), qualitative data, unscientific
56
Idiographic approaches
Humanistic, psychodynamics
57
Examples of nomothetic research
Bioplogical research such as drug treatments, learning theorists use of animal studies
58
Examples of idiographic research
Humanistic approach, client centred therapy, use of case studies
59
Strengths of the nomothetic method
Generalisations can be made, objective measurements are used
60
Limitations of the nomothetic method
Misinterpretations due to generalisations, superficial, doesn't look at the individual
61
Strengths of the idiographic method
Rich, detailed data is collected, hypothesis generation, can generate new areas of research or disprove existing theories
62
Limitations of the idiographic method
Time-consuming, subjective - intense data collection can result in researcher becoming bias
63
Complementary - nomothetic and idiographic
Can both be used to create a more hollistic understanding of behaviour
64
Implications of unethical studies
Partipants, public, groups, government
65
Participants as an implication of unethical studies
Partipants suffering due to lack of protection from harm
66
Public as an implication of unethical studies
Public can form negative stereotypes or having harmful stereotypes reinforced about a minority group
67
Groups as an implication of unethical studies
Groups studies could suffer bias or discrimination due to public awareness of harmful research - self-fulfilling prophecy
68
Government as an implication of unethical studies
Use studies to develop policies and legislation that is not in the interest of the researched group, ie cutting funding
69
What is socially sensitive research
Studies where there are potential consequences or implications either directly for participants or for the group of individuals represented in the study
70
How to handle socially sensitive research
Reflexivity, care in forming research questions, consider ethical issues in design, ethics committee, publication, peer reciew
71
Reflexivity as a way to handle socially sensitive research
Carefully consider their influential position and self-reflect on on personal biases/beliefs and then assess how these may influence how they preform or report
72
Care in forming research questions as a way to handle socially sensitive research
So as not to misrepresent the group
73
Considering the ethical issues in the design of a study as a way to handle socially sensitive research
Should use briefing and debriefing procedures, especially if using potentially harmful methods are unavoidable
74
Ethics committee as a way to handle socially sensitive research
Can complete a cost-benefit analysis, however true costs will not be known for certain until years after research
75
Publication as a way to handle socially sensitive research
Consider possibility that research could be misused after publishing, so explain conclusions objectively and clarify the limitiations of the method and conclusions
76
Peer review as a way to handle socially sensitive research
Can help to ensure that harmful or misleading research is not published, can check research is objective and conclusions are justifiable
77
Limitations of socially sensitive areas of study
Things like sexuality and gender are less likely to be studied due to fear of social sensitivity, so issues can't be researched and solved
78
Examples of socially sensitive research
Bowlby's monotropic theory - minimises fathers capability to be a primary caregiver whilst emphasising importance of a mother, definining abnormality (psychopathology), genetic basis of aggression and criminality, Milgram's obedience research

Psychology paper 3 (4 decks)

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