Compulsory issues and debates Revision Notes

Universality and Bias

• Universality refers to the idea that psychological findings can be applied to all people, regardless of gender, culture, or background.
• Bias occurs when research findings favor one group over another, leading to skewed results.
• Gender Bias: Can manifest as androcentrism (centering male experiences) or alpha/beta bias (exaggerating or minimizing gender differences).
• Cultural Bias: Involves ethnocentrism (viewing one’s culture as the standard) and cultural relativism (understanding behaviors within their cultural context).

Free Will and Determinism

• Free Will suggests individuals have control over their actions.
• Determinism posits that behavior is shaped by factors beyond individual control.
• Hard Determinism: No free will; behavior is predetermined.
• Soft Determinism: Some free will exists within constraints.
• Biological Determinism: Genetics dictate behavior.
• Environmental Determinism: Behavior is shaped by environmental factors.
• Psychic Determinism: Unconscious motives drive behavior.

Nature-Nurture Debate

• Nature refers to genetic inheritance, while Nurture emphasizes environmental influences.
• Interactionist Approaches suggest that both nature and nurture interact to shape behavior.

Holism and Reductionism

• Holism looks at the whole person and context, while Reductionism breaks down behavior into simpler components.
• Biological Reductionism focuses on biological factors, while Environmental Reductionism emphasizes environmental influences.

Idiographic vs. Nomothetic Approaches

• Idiographic approaches focus on individual cases and subjective experiences.
• Nomothetic approaches seek to establish general laws and principles applicable to larger populations.

Social Sensitivity

• Research can have implications for social groups and individuals. Ethical considerations are crucial when conducting sensitive research to avoid harm or stigmatization.