issues n debates

Question 1

free will

Answer 1

We can control and choose our course of action.
Make our own decisions and take responsibility for the consequences of our actions

Question 2

soft determinism

Answer 2

Believe that behaviour is determined but humans also can exercise free will if need be

Question 3

hard determinism

Answer 3

The view that our behaviour is determined by external forces and actions out of our control

Question 4

Biological determinism

Answer 4

biological influence on the body.
Genetics - genes identified which increases likelihood of certain behaviour
Brain physiology - specific areas linked to certain behaviours

Question 5

environmental determinism

Answer 5

Behaviour influence by environment and people in it.

Question 6

psychic determinism

Answer 6

Role of unconscious on conscious, how it affects our behaviour

Question 7

free will: AO2

Answer 7

humanistic approach
Cognitive approach

Question 8

Determinism: AO2

Answer 8

Psychopathology

Question 9

evaluation of free will

Answer 9

Evident in everyday life - always making choices. Face validity.
Brain activity that makes simple choices comes before us knowing we’ve made a choice therefore predetermined

Question 10

evaluation of determinism

Answer 10

Consistent with science, psych established science led to development of treatments and therapies.
Not consistent with legal system, morally accountable more likely to be used to excuse criminals

Question 11

Nature

Answer 11

character characteristics and knowledge are innate: hereditary
heredability coefficient used to assess the extent a characteristic has a genetic basis from 0-1

Question 12

nurture

Answer 12

Mine is a blank slate at birth and learning and experience writes: the result of the environment and upbringing

Question 13

Interactionist approach

Answer 13

in between nature and nurture.
Diathesis stress model is an example
It suggests psychopathology is caused by a genetic vulnerability (the diatheses) which is only expressed when with an environmental trigger (stressor)

Question 14

nature: AO2

Answer 14

biological approach
Attachment (monotropy)

Question 15

nurture: AO2

Answer 15

Behaviourist approach
Attachment learning theory

Question 16

evaluation of nature n nurture

Answer 16

Practical applications - nasdt argued OCD genetic.
Epigenetics - life experiences leave marks on children e.g. World War II mums had no food so babies underweight
Nature and nurture can be split - rhee and waldman saadi of children are similar to adoptive parents, nurture indicating environment more important than genetics.
Diathesis - biological vulnerability to make you prone to disorder finnish adoption study - kids with mums that had SZ said had high percentage of having it but not high enough.

Question 17

holistic to reductionist scale

Answer 17

Sociocultural
Social groups
Interpersonal interaction
Cognition and emotion
Learned associations
Genetics
Physiology
Biochemistry

Question 18

holism

Answer 18

Suggest human behaviour is complex and influenced by cognition, emotion, social, and environmental factors
Consider context and process to understanding comprehensive human behaviour

Question 19

reductionist

Answer 19

Argument that human behaviour is best explained by breaking down into small parts

Question 20

Biological reductionism

Answer 20

explain psychological disorders, e.g. genes.

Question 21

environmental reductionism

Answer 21

Behaviour in terms of a stimulus response
Personal experience

Question 22

reductionism: AO2

Answer 22

biological approach
Schizophrenia

Question 23

holism: AO2

Answer 23

OCD

Question 24

evaluation of holism

Answer 24

More appropriate of explaining behaviour, global understanding
Limited scientifically , vague, no empirical evidence

Question 25

evaluation of reductionism

Answer 25

Biological- precise scientific, reliable, credible science Oversimplified , loss of validity, doesn’t include social context

Question 26

idiographic

Answer 26

Focus on individual and what makes them unique. Qualitative data Focus on their subjective experiences, events, and beliefs. Case studies structured interview interviews , findings not generalisable

Question 27

idiographic: AO2

Answer 27

humanistic approach Memory

Question 28

Nomothetic

Answer 28

Focus on large groups and aim to identify principles and laws of behaviour Provides benchmarks people can be compared to generalisable-experiments. Quantitive data - replicable

Question 29

Nomothetic: AO2

Answer 29

behaviourist approach Attachment - strange situation

Question 30

evaluation of idiographic

Answer 30

in-depth methods, global description No adequate baseline to compare behaviour. Isn’t scientific and conclusions are subjective.

Question 31

evaluation of nomothetic

Answer 31

benefit society, similar processes to sciences, objectivity through standardisation status as a science Loss of understanding, persons experience is ignored and overlooked

Question 32

androcentricsm

Answer 32

normal behaviour judged according to males Female behaviour that differs is abnormal male centered

Question 33

universality

Answer 33

Any characteristic applied to everybody despite differences

Question 34

Alpha bias

Answer 34

Emphasises the difference between genders

Question 35

beta bias

Answer 35

Ignore differences between genders

Question 36

application to AO2 - gender

Answer 36

alpha biss - freud beta bias - research into fight/flight based on males. androcentric - male anger seen as rational but females is PMC

Question 37

evaluation of gender

Answer 37

Practical application- women should be studied meaningfully to reduce gender bias Researchers are recognising and embracing it an important development in psychology Misleading assumptions failed to challenge negative stereotypes which denies women the same opportunities as men Lack of women at senior research level not reflected opinions

Question 38

ethnocentrism

Answer 38

Judging other cultures by values of own cultures

Question 39

cultural relativism

Answer 39

Values only meaningful within specific cultures

Question 40

imposed etic

Answer 40

Looks at behaviour from outside and attempts to describe universal behaviour

Question 41

Application to AO2 - culture

Answer 41

Social influence Attachment

Question 42

evaluation of cultural bias

Answer 42

Challenge western way berry - imposed etic, full understanding requires, facial expressions universal Less of an issue as no individualism many more Negative stereotypes and society can be deemed stupid meaning and less opportunities prejudice, and discrimination

Question 43

social sensitivity

Answer 43

Research that has potential to lead to discrimination Group in study may be negatively represented as a result

Question 44

social sensitivity: AO2

Answer 44

schizophrenia Aggression

Question 45

how to tackle social sensitivity

Answer 45

Submit research proposals to ethics, committees and abide by recommendations Only proceed if benefits outweigh costs Take care and formulating aim to not missrepresent any groups

Question 46

evaluation of ethics and socially sensitive research

Answer 46

Real world application, during studies of underrepresented groups may promote a greater understanding of them and help to reduce prejudice and encourage acceptance Findings can have negative implications for groups - stupid Many groups excluded from research or misinterpreted failure to accurately represent an additional ethical issue as these groups miss out on benefits of research