Compulsory issues and debates Key Terms

Androcentrism

A male‑centred perspective that assumes the male experience is universal, often marginalising non‑male viewpoints.

Ethnocentrism

The belief that one’s own culture is superior and that other cultures should be judged against its standards.

Determinism

The philosophical view that all events, including human actions, are caused by preceding events and natural laws.

Free Will

The capacity to make choices that are not wholly determined by prior causes or external forces.

Interactionist Approach

A perspective that emphasises the dynamic interplay between genetic predispositions and environmental contexts in shaping behaviour and development.

Heritability

A population-based statistic that estimates the proportion of variance in a trait attributable to genetic differences among individuals.

Holism

The view that psychological phenomena should be studied as integrated wholes, taking into account interactions and context.

Reductionism

The approach that attempts to explain psychological phenomena by reducing them to their most basic biological or environmental components.

Qualitative Research

Research that focuses on understanding human behavior through the collection of non-numerical data, such as interviews and observations.

Quantitative Research

Research that involves the collection and analysis of numerical data to identify patterns and make predictions.

Social Sensitivity

The researcher’s attentiveness to participants’ social identities and contexts throughout the research process.

Ethical Guidelines

Standards set by professional bodies (e.g., British Psychological Society) that mandate respect for participants, informed consent, and justice.