Issues and debates

Applying psychology to everyday life

can the research be used to change or improve lives in real life

Using children in psychological research

is it moral/ethical to ask children to take part in research? can a child give informed consent?

Using animals in psychological research

how can animals give informed consent? does it matter?

Cultural bias

explores whether psychological studies take into account cultural diversity

Individual and situational explanation

Individual explanations: behavior explained by smth within the person (e.g. biological factors)
Situational explanations: behavior explained by environmental factors in that moment (e.g. social pressure)

Nature vs nurture

Nature: refers to biological factor that influences who we are (e.g. genetics)
Nurture: refers to environmental factors that influences who we are (e.g. culture)

Reductionism vs holism

Reductionism: explaining behavior and experiences by reference to only one factor
Holism: explaining behavior and experiences by looking at a complex of factors

Determinism vs free will

Do people's behavior get affected by factors beyond their control or have they got free will to make their own choices?
Determinism: we do not have control have control over our actions (instead, by e.g. genes or upbringing)
Free will: we have freedom to act at all times

Idiographic vs nomothetic

Debates whether psychology should focus on individual cases (idiographic) or seek to generalize findings across larger groups (nomothetic)