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72 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Nature nurture debate |
The extent to which aspects of behaviour are a product of inherited or acquired characteristics |
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Nature |
Nativists argue that human characteristics and some aspect of knowledge are innate- result of heredity |
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Nurture |
Empiricists argue that mind is a blank slate and learning and experience are a result of environment |
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Heredity |
The genetic transmission of mental and physical characteristics from one generation to another |
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Heritability coefficient |
A way of assessing heredity and indicates extent to which a characteristic has a genetic basis |
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Interactionist |
Nature and nurture are linked to such an extent that it doesn't make sense to seperate the 2 |
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Diathesis stress model |
A model of mental illness that emphasises the interaction of nature and nurture Genetic vulnerability+ environmental trigger |
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Epigenetics |
A change in our genetic acitivity without changing our genetic code chase by interaction with the environment Lifestyle and events leave marks on the DNA which may have an impact on child's genetic codes |
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Concordance rates |
A measure of similarity between 2 individuals ona given trait |
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Evaluation of nature nurture debate |
Shared and unshared environment- individual differences means we experience event differently Constructivism- people create their own nurture by actively selecting environments that are appropriate for nature |
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Holism |
A theory which proposes that it's only makes sense to study an indivisible system rather than its constituent parts |
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Reductionism- |
The belief that human behaviour is best explained by breaking it down into smaller constituent parts |
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Biological reductionism |
Attempts to explain social and psychological behaviour in terms of biology, genetics and hormones |
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Environmental determinism |
Attempts to explain all behaviour in terms of stimulus response links that have been learned through experience |
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Levels of explanation |
Suggests that there are different ways of reviewing the same phenomena some more reductionist than others |
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Case for holism... |
More complete understanding of behaviour as it takes into account other factors Combination of factors |
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Case against holism... |
Cannot be rigorously tested so explanations can become vague so reliable research can't be gained Not applied to real life situations |
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Case of reductionism ... |
Scientifically test them so cause of behaviours can be established more easily Recognise importance of biological explanation Basis of scientific research Way of operationalizing variables |
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Case against reductionism |
Oversimplify behaviour so loses validity Doesn't reflect real life behaviour |
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Idiographic approach |
An approach to research that focuses more on the individual cases as a means of understanding behaviour rather than aiming to formulate general laws of behaviour. |
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Nomothetic approach |
Attempts to study human behaviour through the development of general principles and universal laws |
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Case for idiographic approach |
In depth qualititative method Provides a complete and global account of an individual |
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Case against idiographic approach |
Narrow and restricted nature Largely developed from a detailed single case which makes generalisation difficult because there's no baseline to compare it with Methods subjective and unscientific |
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Case for nomothetic approach |
More scientific Standardised conditions and statistical analysis Establish Norma of typical behaviour |
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Case against the nomothetic approach |
General laws, prediction and control has been accused of losing the whole person In lab studies people aren't treated as individuals but a set of scores Subjective experience ignored |
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Gender bias |
Research which favours one gender over the other or make one gender look inferior to the other |
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Alpha bias |
Where the differences between men and women are recognised and over exaggerated serving to reinforce gender stereotypes |
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Beta bias |
Where the differences between men and women go unrecognised which can lead to an andocentric view of human behaviour |
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Andocentrism |
Placing male human beings or a masculine pint of view at the centre of one's world view and its culture and history. It can be conscious or unconscious. It minimises the importance and contributions of women. |
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Universality |
Conclusions drawn can be applied to everyone anywhere regardless of time and culture |
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Evaluation of gender bias |
Gender bias research may create misleading assumptions about female behaviour, fail to challenge negative stereotypes and valuable discriminating practices May provide a scientific justification to deny women opportunities |
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Evaluation of gender bias |
Sexism in the research process A lack of women appointed at senior research level Males are more likely to have research published |
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Evaluation of gender bias |
Feminist psychology Set up a set of criteria which has to be met in order to avoid gender bias research Women should be studied in meaningful real life contexts and participate in study rather than being objects of the study |
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Cultural bias |
Overlooking cultural differences by looking at human behaviour from the perspective of your own culture. It involves a prejudice or highlighted distinction in viewpoint that suggests a preference of one culture over another |
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Cultural relativism |
The idea that human behaviour can only be meaningful and understood with specific and cultural contexts |
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Ethnocentrism |
A type of cultural bias that involves judging other cultures by standards and values of ones own culture |
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Etic approach |
Studying behaviour across many cultures in order to find universal human behaviours |
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Emic approach |
Studying cultures in isolation by identifying behaviours that are specific to that culture. |
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Imposed etic |
A test, measure or theory devised in one culture that is used to explain behaviour in another culture. |
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Individualist culture |
Western countries like the USA that are thought to be more independent |
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Collectivist culture |
Cultures such as India and China that are said to be more conformist and group orientated |
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Research tradition |
The familiarity a certain culture has with taking part in psychological investigations |
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Culture bound syndromes |
Groups of syndromes classified as treatable illnesses in certain cultures that aren't recognised as such in the west. |
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Universality |
The aim to develop theories that apply to all people, despite differences of experience and upbringing |
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Evaluation of culture bias |
Takano and osaka found that 14/15 studies that compared USA and Japan found no evidence of the traditional distinction between individualism and collectivism. This suggests culture bias in research is now less of an issue. |
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Evaluation of culture bias |
Unfamiliarity with research tradition When conducting research in western culture the participants familiarity with general aims and objectives of scientific enquiry are assumed. The same knowledge and faith in scientific testing may not be extended to cultures that don't have the same historical experience of research So demand characteristics may be exaggerated when working with members of the local popualtion and this may have an adverse effect on the validity of the research |
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Evaluation of culture bias |
Unfamiliarity with research tradition When conducting research in western culture the participants familiarity with general aims and objectives of scientific enquiry are assumed. The same knowledge and faith in scientific testing may not be extended to cultures that don't have the same historical experience of research So demand characteristics may be exaggerated when working with members of the local popualtion and this may have an adverse effect on the validity of the research |
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Evaluation of culture bias |
Operationalisation of variables Variables under review may not be be experienced in the same way by all participants. Issues like these may affect interactions between the researcher and participants and between western and non western participants in cross cultural studies This is an issue when conducting cross cultural research as the operationalisation of varibales needs to be the same in all cultures otherwise the validity can be questioned This is a problem of imposed etic |
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Free will |
The notion that humans can make choices and aren't determined by biological or external forces. |
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Determinism |
The view that individuals behaviour is shaped or controlled by internal or external factors rather than an individual's will to do something. |
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Hard determinism |
Implies free will isn't possible as our behaviour is always caused by internal and external events beyond our control |
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Soft determinism |
Events including human behaviour have causes but behaviour can be determined by our conscious choices in the absence of coercion. |
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Biological determinism |
The belief that behaviour is caused by biological influences that we can't control. |
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Environmental determinism |
The belief that behaviour is caused by features of the environment that we cannot control |
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Psychic determinism |
The belief that behaviour is caused by unconscious conflicts that we cannot control |
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Scientific emphasis on causal explanations |
One basic principle of science is that every event in the universe has a cause and that causes can be explained using general laws. Knowledge and causes and the formulation of laws are important as they allow scientists to predict and control events in the future. Lab experiments enables researchers to stimulate the conditions of the test tube and remove all other extraneous variables in an attempt to precisely control and predict human behaviour |
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Case for determinism ... |
Determinism is consistent with the aims of science. Behaviour is orderly and obeys laws places psychology in equal footing with other more established sciences. Value of such research is that prediction and control of behaviour has led to the development of treatment, therapies and behavioural interventions that have benefited many. |
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Case against determinism.... |
Hard determinism- individual choice isn't the cause of behaviour and isn't consistent with the way in which are legal system operates. In a court of law offenders are held morally accountable for their actions Unfalsifiable so may not be as scientific as it first appears |
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Case for free will ... |
Exercises free will through the choices we make everyday. This gives face validity to the concept of free will because it makes cognitive sense. People who have a high internal locus of control believe they have a high degree of influence over events and their own behaviour and tends to be more mentally healthy. |
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The case against free will |
Neurological studies of decision making have revealed evidence against free will , for example, libet and chin siong soon have demonstrated that brain activity that determines the outcome of simple choices may predate our knowledge of having made such as choice. Researchers found activity related to whether to press a button with the left or right hand occurs in the brain up to 10 seconds before participants report being consciously aware of making such a decision. This shows that the basic experiences of free will are determined and decided by our brain before we become aware of them |
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Socially sensitive research |
Studies that tackle socially sensitive taboo topics such as aspects of race or sexuality also attatchment good deal of attention from psychologists, the media and the public However, it shouldn't lead to psychologists shying away from research that may be socially sensitive. |
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Implications |
The wider effect of such research should be carefully considered as some studies may be seen as giving scientific credence to prejudice and discrimination such as a study examining racial basis of intelligence |
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Public policy |
Findings may be adopted by the government for political ends or to shape public policy. |
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The validity of the research |
Some findings that were presented as objective and value free in the past have actually turned out to be high suspect, and in some cases fraudulent. Many modern social constructionists researchers who may have to tackle socially sensitive areas of research are much more upfront about their biases and preconceptions |
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Evaluation: benefit of socially sensitive research |
underrepresented groups and issues may promote a greater sensitivity and understanding of these Studies of underrepresented groups and issues may promote a greater sensitivity and understanding of these This can help reduce prejudice and encourage acceptance of underrepresented groups and issues may promote a greater sensitivity and understanding of these This can help reduce prejudice and encourage acceptance This can help reduce prejudice and encourage acceptance |
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Evaluation: framing the question |
The way in which research questions are phrased and investigated may influence the way in which findings are interpreted Investigators must approach their research with an open mind and he prepared to have their preconceptions challenged if they are to avoid misrepresenting minority groups |
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Biological approach |
Determinism Nature Reductionism Nomothetic Scientific Real world application: treatment of OCD |
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Behaviourist approach |
Determinism Nurture Reductionism Nomothetic Scientific Real world application: treatment of phobias |
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Social learning theory |
Determinism Nurture Reductionism Nomothetic Scientific Real world application: age restrictions on TV |
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Psychodynamic approach |
Determinism Interactionalist Reductionism Nomothetic and idiographic Unscientific Real world application: dream analysis |
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Cognitive |
Determinism Interactionist Reductionism Nomothetic Scientific Real world application: treatments of depression |
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Humanist |
Free will Nurture Holism Idiographic Unscientific Real world application: therapy and counselling sessions |
