Issues & Debates

• What are the main biases discussed in psychology?

  • Gender bias
  • Culture bias
  • Androcentrism
  • Ethnocentrism
• What is gender bias in research?

  When stereotypes affect theoretical assumptions
• What is beta bias?

  Assuming no significant differences between genders
• What does androcentrism refer to?

  Male-centric views in psychology
• What is cultural bias in psychology?

  Judging behavior based on cultural norms
• What is ethnocentrism?

  Believing one's culture is superior
• What is cultural relativism?

  Understanding behavior within cultural context
• What is alpha bias?

  Overemphasis on differences between genders
• What did Henrik (2010) find about psychological research participants?

  Many were from Western industrialized nations
• How can weird bias in psychology be reduced?

  By using diverse samples in research
• What is the role of indigenous psychology?

  Research conducted by culturally knowledgeable individuals
• What is a reflexive approach in research?

  Researchers reflect on their biases and values
• How can bias in reporting psychological findings be reduced?

  By stating limitations of the sample used
• What is hard determinism?

  Behavior is controlled by external forces
• What is soft determinism?

  Behavior is influenced by internal and external forces
• How does cognitive psychology view free will?

  Individuals consciously decide their behavior
• What does biological determinism suggest?

  Behavior is determined by genetics and biology
• What is environmental determinism?

  Behavior is shaped by experiences and environment
• What is psychic determinism?

  Behavior is influenced by unconscious forces
• What is the free will perspective?

  People feel they can choose their actions
• What is the nature-nurture debate?

  Discussion on biology vs. environment in behavior
• What do nativists believe about behavior?

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

  Learning environment is more important
• What is interactionism in psychology?

  Genes and environment influence each other
• What does the diathesis-stress model suggest?

  Genetic predisposition requires environmental triggers
• What did Freud emphasize in his theory?

  Interaction of innate stages and life experiences
• What do higher concordance rates in monozygotic twins suggest?

  Genetics play a role in behavior
• What is the implication of a dichotomous view of behavior?

  Oversimplification of behavioral causes
• What is biological reductionism?

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

  Behavior explained through stimulus-response mechanisms
• What does holism argue in psychology?

  Include the whole person in explanations
• What are levels of explanation in psychology?

  Explanations vary from basic to holistic
• What is the scientific approach of reductionism?

  Enables objective testing of variables
• What is the holistic approach criticized for?

  Overlooking individual elements in behavior
• What is the ideographic approach in psychology?

  Studies individual experiences and behaviors
• What is the nomothetic approach in psychology?

  Generates laws based on large samples
• What are the strengths of the nomothetic approach?

  High reliability and generalizability of findings
• What are the strengths of the ideographic approach?

  Provides rich, detailed information
• What are the ethical implications of research?

  Consequences for participants and groups studied
• What is socially sensitive research?

  Research with potential negative implications