Issues & Debates

• Nature and nurture

  This debate is about the relative importance of genetic transmission and environment causing our behaviour.
• Free will and determinism


  This debate concerns whether we are in full control of our behaviour or if there are identifiable causes that are outside of our control.
• Holism and reductionism

  This debate is concerned with how many contributing factors have been considered by a particular explanation of behaviour.
• Idiographic and Nomothetic approaches

  this concerns the approaches are taken when conducting research. One side involves developing general laws by studying samples the other looks at conducting in depth case studies of individuals.
• Ethical implications of research

  This issues considers the effects if research on participants and how findings of research can be misused.
• Gender/Culture bias

  This issue considers whether psychological research offers a view that represents the experience of both men and women and those of other culture.