P2 ISUSSES AND DEBATES

Flashcards about Issues and Debates in AQA A-Level Psychology

What is gender bias?

When research or theories systematically misrepresent or ignore the experiences of one gender, typically women, leading to either exaggeration (alpha bias) or minimisation (beta bias) of gender differences.

What is Alpha bias?

Emphasises or exaggerates differences between males and females, often portraying one gender as superior or inferior.

What is Beta bias?

Minimises or ignores differences, assuming findings from one gender apply to all.

In social influence, what study showed beta bias?

Milgram’s obedience studies used mainly male participants; results were generalised to all, creating beta bias.

Regarding aggression, what shows alpha bias?

Early biological explanations focused on male testosterone but overlooked female aggression or different socialisation, demonstrating alpha bias.

How was Selye’s GAS model biased?

Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) was developed largely from male animals.

What bias is shown in Bowlby's attachment theory?

Bowlby’s focus on mother-infant bond neglected paternal roles and female caregiving variations, showing androcentrism and alpha bias.

What is culture bias?

When research assumes the norms and values of one culture (often Western) are universal, leading to ethnocentrism.

What is ethnocentrism?

Judging other cultures by one’s own cultural standards, often deeming others as ‘abnormal’ or ‘inferior.’

What is cultural relativism?

Understanding behaviour in the context of the culture it occurs.

What are WEIRD samples?

Many psychological theories and research are based on WEIRD samples (Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich, Democratic), which limits generalisability.

What are imposed etics?

Occurs when a theory developed in one culture is applied to another without adjustment, potentially misinterpreting behaviours.

What's an example of culture bias in attachment theory?

Ainsworth’s Strange Situation was developed and validated in Western samples, classifying Japanese infants as ‘insecure-resistant’ due to cultural child-rearing differences.

Why is psychopathy hard to diagnose cross-culturally?

Concepts of abnormality differ cross-culturally; some behaviours viewed as symptoms in one culture may be acceptable in another, complicating diagnosis.

What is a limitation of memory research?

Most memory research uses Western students; cultural differences in cognitive processing (e.g., holistic vs analytic thinking) question universal models.

What is nature vs nurture?

Debate over whether behaviour is primarily determined by genetics (nature) or environment and experience (nurture).

What is the interactionist approach in psychology?

Modern psychology recognises the interactionist approach where genes and environment interact dynamically (epigenetics).

How do twin/adoption studies relate to nature vs. nurture?

Twin and adoption studies show high heritability for traits like aggression and psychopathy, but environmental triggers (e.g., abuse) are crucial.

What is the diathesis-stress model?

Genetic vulnerability + environmental stress = disorder

What shows gene-environment interaction regarding aggression?

The MAOA gene (‘warrior gene’) variants increase aggression risk but only when coupled with childhood maltreatment, showing clear gene- environment interaction.

What are the nature and nurture components of Bowlby's attachment theory?

Bowlby’s evolutionary theory stresses innate attachment drives (nature), but the quality of caregiving environment (nurture) shapes attachment style.

What example shows nurture's effect on brain structure?

Brain plasticity (e.g., Maguire’s taxi drivers) illustrates nurture’s effect on brain structure, supporting interactionism.

What is free will?

Humans have agency and can choose behaviour.

What is determinism?

Behaviour is caused by internal or external factors beyond free control.

What is biological determinism?

Genes, neurochemistry

What is environmental determinism?

Conditioning, social forces

What is psychic determinism?

Freud’s unconscious conflicts

What does determinism allow psychology to do?

Allows psychology to predict and explain behaviour scientifically, vital for developing treatments.

What is a con of determinism?

Undermines responsibility and choice, conflicting with legal/moral systems.

What is soft determinism?

Reconciles determinism and responsibility by allowing conscious choice within limits.

What does humanistic psychology emphasise?

Emphasises free will, making it an important counterpoint.

What viewpoint does humanistic psychology have?

Champions free will

What viewpoint do Biological and psychodynamic approaches have?

Stress determinism

What implies biological determinism regarding aggression?

Testosterone levels and genetic factors

What is reductionism?

Breaking behaviour into simplest components for explanation.

What is holism?

Explaining behaviour by looking at the whole system, including context and multiple causes.

What is biological reductionism?

Genes, neurochemistry

What is environmental reductionism?

Stimulus-response

What is computational reductionism?

Cognitive models

What is a pro and con of reductionism?

Allows scientific testing but may overlook complexity, leading to incomplete explanations.

What is a pro and con of holistic approaches?

Offer richer understanding but can be harder to operationalise or test rigorously.

What do interactionist explanations do?

Often provide the best balance.

How is the multi-store model reductionist?

Reduces memory to three stores (sensory, short-term, long-term), criticised for being too simplistic.

How is the working memory model holistic and reductionist?

Adds complexity (holistic) but still reductionist at cognitive level.

What does idiographic mean?

Focuses on detailed understanding of individuals.

What does nomothetic mean?

Seeks to establish general laws across populations.

What is a pro and con of the idiographic approach?

Provide deep insight but limit generalisability.

What is a pro and con of the nomothetic approach?

Allow prediction but may ignore individual nuances.

What is contribution of case studies regarding attachment?

Give idiographic insights informing nomothetic theory development.

What roles do experimental lab research and case studies play for memory?

Provides nomothetic laws; detailed case studies reveal individual differences.

What approaches are required when treating psychopathy?

Standardised measures are nomothetic, but treatment requires idiographic tailoring.

What is socially sensitive research?

Research that could impact society, groups, or individuals beyond participants, sometimes stigmatizing or influencing social policy.

What must researchers do with socially sensitive research?

Must consider consequences of findings, such as reinforcing stereotypes or justifying discrimination.

What is required for socially sensitive research?

Requires rigorous ethical review, informed consent, confidentiality, and careful reporting.

What ethical concerns are raised with Milgram's obedience studies?

Have been used to justify unethical authority practices, raising ethical concerns.

What do genetic studies on aggression risk?

Risk stigmatizing ‘violent genes.’

How has bowlby's maternal deprivation theory been critiqued?

Influenced policies that sometimes restricted mothers’ work, which has been critiqued for social impact.

How does labeling individuals as 'psychopaths' impact society?

Affects legal decisions and social stigma.

How to create application in an essay (AO2)?

By linking issues to your studied topics with precise examples

How to create evaluation in an essay (AO3)?

Evaluating strengths, limitations, and implications

What is gender bias?

tendency for psychological research or theory to systematically favour one gender

Who challenge gender stereotypes?

Feminist psychologists

Culture bias assumes what?

one culture’s norms are universal

Indigenous psychologies

attempt to correct culture bias by developing culturally appropriate theories

The nature-nurture debate concerns whether behaviour is determined by…

innate biological factors (nature) or by environmental experience and learning (nurture)

Determinism suggests behaviour is caused by…

internal or external forces beyond conscious control

Ethical issues arise if determinism leads to…

Fatalism or excusing harmful behaviour

Reductionism does what?

breaks complex behaviours into simple components

Idiographic approaches focus on…

individual uniqueness and in-depth qualitative data

Ethical implications concern the…

effects of psychological research on society beyond the participants