Issues and Debates Key Terms Flashcards Preview

A Level Psychology > Issues and Debates Key Terms > Flashcards

Flashcards in Issues and Debates Key Terms Deck (27)
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1
Q

Universality

A

Any underlying characteristics of human beings that is capable of being applied to all, despite differences in experience and upbringing

2
Q

Gender Bias

A

When considering human behaviour, bias is a tendency to treat one individual or group in a different way. In terms of gender, research or theories may offer a view that does not represent male or female behaviour

3
Q

Androcentrism

A

When normal behaviour is judged to a male standard

4
Q

Alpha Bias

A

Theories that suggest there are real differences between men and women, these typically undervalue women

5
Q

Beta Bias

A

Theories that ignore or minimize the differences between the sexes

6
Q

Cultural Bias

A

Refers to a tendency to ignore cultural differences and interpret all phenomena through the “lens” of their own culture

7
Q

Ethnocentrism

A

Judging other cultures by the standards and values of one’s own culture. In an extreme form, it is the belief in the superiority of one’s own culture which could lead to prejudice and discrimination

8
Q

Cultural redativsm

A

The idea that norms and values can only be meaningful and understood within specific social and cultural contexts

9
Q

Free Will

A

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

10
Q

Determinism

A

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

11
Q

Hard Determinism

A

Implies that free will is not possible as our behaviour is always caused by internal or external forces beyond our control

12
Q

Soft Determinism

A

All events have causes,but behaviour can also be caused by our choices in the absence of coercion

13
Q

Biological Determinism

A

Behaviour is caused by biological influences that we cannot control

14
Q

Environmental Determinism

A

Behaviour is caused by features in the environment that we cannot control

15
Q

Psychic Determinism

A

Behaviour is caused by unconscious conflicts that we cannot control

16
Q

The Nature-Nuture Debate

A

Concerned with the extent to which aspects of behaviour are a product of inherited or acquired characteristics

17
Q

Heredity

A

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

18
Q

Environment

A

Any influence on human behaviour that is not genetic. This may range from pre natal influences in the womb through to cultural and historical influences at a societal level

19
Q

The Interactionalist Approach

A

The idea that nature and nurture are linked to such an extent that it does not make sense to separate the two, so researchers instead study how they link and relate to each other

20
Q

Holism

A

An argument or theory which proposes that it only makes sense to study an indivisable system rather than it’s parts

21
Q

Reductionism

A

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

22
Q

Biological Reductionism

A

A form of reductionism which attempts to explain social or psychological phenomena in terms of genes, hormones etc

23
Q

Environmental Reductionism

A

The attempt to explain all behaviour in terms of stimuli-response associations that have been learned via experience

24
Q

Idiographic Approach

A

An approach to research that focuses more on the individual case as a means of understanding behaviour, rather than aiming to formulate general laws of behaviour

25
Q

Nomotheic Approach

A

Attempts to study human behaviour through the development of general principles and universal laws

26
Q

Ethical Implications

A

The impact that psychological research may have in terms of the rights of other people. This includes the way in which certain groups of people are regarded

27
Q

Social Sensitivity

A

Studies in which there are potential consequences or implications either for the participants or the individuals represented in the research