Issues and Debates

• What is the focus of the section on gender and culture bias in psychology?

  How biases influence theories and data interpretation
• What is bias in psychology?

  When a psychologist's beliefs influence their theories and data interpretation
• What does the term 'universality' refer to in psychology?

  The claim that behaviors apply to all humans regardless of differences
• What happens if a hypothesis is not tested on a diverse sample?

  The claim of universality may be an assumption and not generalizable
• What is gender bias in research?

  When researchers' views about male and female behavior affect their assumptions
• What is alpha bias?

  The assumption that there are significant differences in behavior between genders
• What is beta bias?

  The assumption that there are no significant differences in behavior between genders
• What does androcentrism refer to in psychology?

  Psychologists reflecting a male-centric view of the world
• What is cultural bias in psychology?

  Interpreting behavior based on cultural norms and experiences
• What is ethnocentrism?

  Considering one's own culture as superior to others
• What is cultural relativism in psychology?

  Understanding behavior within the context of the culture where it occurs
• What did Henrik (2010) argue about psychological findings?

  They are often culture biased if conducted on WEIRD participants
• What does WEIRD stand for in psychological research?

  Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic
• How can bias in psychology be reduced?

  By using diverse samples and encouraging equal representation among researchers
• What is indigenous psychology?

  Research conducted by individuals who understand their culture
• What is a reflexive approach in research?

  Researchers reflect on their beliefs and values to reduce bias
• What is hard determinism?

  Behavior is set by forces outside of our control
• What is soft determinism?

  Traits and behaviors are influenced by internal and external forces, but we have some control
• What does cognitive psychology say about free will?

  Individuals consciously decide their behavior
• What is biological determinism?

  Behavior is set by genetics and biological processes
• What does environmental determinism suggest?

  Our experiences shape our behavior
• What is psychic determinism?

  Innate drives shaped by experiences determine behavior
• What does the free will perspective argue?

  People have the conscious experience of agency
• What is the implication of a fully deterministic view?

  It may lead to interventions before a crime is committed
• What does the nature-nurture debate discuss?

  The extent to which behavior is influenced by biology or experiences
• What do nativists believe about behavior?

  Biological heredity is more important in determining behavior
• What do empiricists believe about behavior?

  Human learning and environment are more important in determining behavior
• What is interactionism in psychology?

  It suggests that genes and the environment influence each other
• What is the diathesis-stress model?

  Individuals may inherit a predisposition for a mental health condition triggered by environmental stressors
• What did Freud argue about psychosexual development?

  Innate drives interact with a child's unique life experiences
• What do higher concordance rates in monozygotic twins suggest?

  Genetics play a role in behavior
• What is the implication of assuming behavior is due to a single factor?

  It oversimplifies the complexity of behavior
• What is reductionism in psychology?

  Studying complex phenomena by breaking them down into simpler components
• What is biological reductionism?

  Reducing behavior to basic biological elements
• What is environmental stimulus-response reductionism?

  Explaining behavior through simple stimulus-response mechanisms
• What does holism argue in psychology?

  A valid explanation needs to include the whole person and their interactions
• What are the levels of explanation in psychology?

  Explanations vary from basic components to holistic multivariable levels
• What is the significance of reductionism in research?

  It enables objective testing of variables in controlled experiments
• What is a potential drawback of the holistic approach?

  It may overlook the significance of individual elements
• What is the trade-off between reductionism and holism?

  Researchers should balance empirical methods with meaningful information