Paper 3 - revision questions

October/novemebr 2020

issues and debates

Outline what is meant by cultural relativism. (2 marks)

Cultural relativism means the idea that norms, values, ethics and moral standards can only be meaningfully understood within specific social and cultural contexts. For example, hearing the voices of ancestors may be considered a sign of mental illness in Western psychology, but in some cultures it is viewed as a normal spiritual experience.

Suggest two ways in which researchers might reduce cultural bias in their research. [2 marks]

One way in which researchers might reduce cultural bias in their research is by not always assuming universal norms/standards across different cultures. Another way is by conducting cross-cultural search rather than research focused on only one culture.

Jonny is 25 years old. He is a very anxious person. Colleagues tease him at work

because he chews his pen all the time and spends hours tidying his desk. He finds it

difficult to make friends and has never had a girlfriend.

Use your knowledge of psychic determinism to explain Jonny’s behaviour. [4 marks]

The Determinism and Free will debate questions whether we have free will (choice) or is our behaviour determined by identifiable causes (determinism). Psychic determinism is the belief that behaviour is caused by unconscious psychodynamic conflicts that we cannot control. In other words, past experiences shape how you behave, conflicts in your childhood, unconscious drives your behaviour. Psychic determinism is shown in johnny…….

‘Psychologists sometimes adopt a reductionist approach to their investigations when they

want their research to be objective and empirical.’

Discuss reductionism in psychological research. Refer to the statement above in your

answer. [16 marks]

Schizophrenia

Briefly outline and evaluate one study of validity in relation to diagnosis of schizophrenia.

[4 marks]

Martine has schizophrenia. She is afraid because she believes that her care workers are

trying to hurt her. She hears voices telling her to lock the doors and windows so the care

workers cannot get into her house. She thinks about nothing else.

Explain how a cognitive behaviour therapist might treat Martine’s symptoms.

[4 marks]

Outline one or more biological explanation(s) for schizophrenia. Compare biological

explanation(s) for schizophrenia with the family dysfunction explanation for

schizophrenia.

[16 marks]

Forensics

Describe psychodynamic explanation(s) for offending behaviour.

[6 marks]

One explanation for psychodynamic explanations is the cognitive explanations of offending behaviour which proposes that cognitive distortions can lead to criminality. In this explanation it emphasises the offenders level of moral reasoning (Kohlberg), Cognitive distortions such as hostile attribution bias and minimalisation. They stated that criminals are most likely to be in the pre-conventional stages of moral reasoning.

Another explanation for psychodynamic explanations is Eysenck’s theory

Last explanation is,

Peter is talking about his offending.

Peter says,

“I don’t know why it happens. Sometimes when I hear people telling stupid

jokes in a bar, I just get cross and punch them. I get into a rage and feel my pulse racing.

If only I had another way of dealing with it. I just need to get used to controlling myself.”

Explain how an anger management therapist could help Peter.

[4 marks]

Outline one strength and one limitation of anger management as a way of dealing with

offending.

[6 marks]

One limitation about anger management is that it is an expensive process. Therefore, not all offenders may have access to this as they cannot afford it.

Discuss neural explanations for offending behaviour.

[8 marks]