Issues and Debates

what is universality?

assumes that conclusions drawn can be applied to everyone, anywhere regardless of their differences- e.g. time, gender and culture

what is bias?

when one group or individual is treated differently, and often more favourable than another  

what is culture?

• Culture refers to the norms (behaviour) and values (feelings) which exist within a group of people  

• Subcultures may exist within a dominant society, but nay have their own set of cultural norms, unique to their group  

what are the two types of cultures? 

 

Collectivist cultures- value and emphasise the importance of the group  

Individualist cultures- value independence and the importance of the individual  

What is WEIRD research?

Western  

Educated  

Industrialized  

Rich  

Democratic  

what is cultural bias?

The tendency to judge all people in terms of your own cultural assumptions  

what is ethnocentrism? 

• Judging others by the standards and values of your own culture  

• A belief in the superiority of your own cultural group  

What is Alpha bias?

• Refers to theories that assume there are real and actual differences between cultural groups  

• e.g. individualist and collectivist cultures  

What is Beta bias?

Refers to theories that ignore or minimise cultural differences  

What is etic? 

 

• Etic- the beliefs that perceptions, behaviour etc are shared by all cultural groups  

 

What is an imposed etic?

An imposed etic occurs when a research method or psychological test that is developed by one group is imposed on another group of people

GIve an example of an imposed etic

• Western IQ tests

• using IQ tests-> non- Western people appearing less intelligent  

what is cultural relativism? 

The view that behaviour cannot be judged properly unless it is viewed in the context of the culture in which it originates  

what is free will

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

what is determinism

• opposite of free will

• the view that an individual’s behaviour is shaped or controlled by either external or internal forces acting upon the individual, rather than by their will to do something

what is hard determinism

• the view that behaviour is caused by something- internal or external factors

• belief that free will is an illusion

• sometimes referred to as fatalism

• should be possible to identify and describe these causes

what is soft determinism

• the view that behaviour may be predictable- caused by internal and/or external factors but there is also room for personal choice from a range of limited options/ possibilities

what is biological determinism

the belief that behaviour is caused by biological influences- e.g. genetic, hormonal, evolutionary- that we cannot control

what is psychic determinism

• the belief that behaviour is caused by unconscious psychodynamic conflicts that we cannot control

• Freud emphasised the influence of biological drives and instincts, and unconscious conflicts

what is environmental determinism

the belief that behaviour is caused by features of the environment- e.g. systems of rewards and punishments- that we cannot control

what are ethical implications

the consequences of research for the participants of the study, the group they represent or society as a whole

what is social sensitivity

research in which there are potential ethical implications for either the participants, the wider group they represent or society as a whole