What is psychology’s aim
Universality- conclusions can be applied to all members
What is alpha bias
Differences between men and women are exaggerated
Seen as two separate groups and often females are lesser than males
Example of alpha bias in psychology
Freuds psychosexual stages and Oedipal complex- argues girls have weaker sense of morality
What is beta bias
Differences between men and women are ignored
Seen as exactly the same, research applies to both equally
Example of beta bias in psychology
Fight or flight- ignores differences but research favoured males and assumes both respond to a stressful situations with fight or flight
What is androcentrism
Research has been conducted by male researchers for men about other men
What has androcentrism led to
Misunderstandings about female behaviour
What is ethnocentrism
When we judge other cultures by the norms of our own culture
Example of ethnocentric research
Ainsworths and Bells strange situation- measured attachment types based off American values
What is cultural relativism
Opposite of ethnocentrism
When we interpret behaviour in the context of the culture in which they occur
What is an etic approach
Research should be conducted cross culturally (research in loads of different cultures)
What is an emic approach
Study culturally specific behaviours by looking at only one culture
What is imposed etic
When researchers try to conclude about universal behaviours but impose the findings
Example of imposed etic
Asch conformity- imposed findings on American participants then applied cross culturally
What is free will
We are free to shape our own destiny and do things because we choose to
What is determinism
All behaviours are pre determined by factors outside of out control e.g biology
What approach recognises free will
Humanistic approach
What is hard determinism
Sees all behaviours as determined by factors outside of a persons control
Possible to isolate variables
What is soft determinism
Deterministic view is essential but free will can’t be ignored
What is biological determinism
All behaviours are determined by biology
What is environmental determinism
Promoted by behaviourist approach
We are the product of experience and conditioning
What is psychic determinism
We are controlled by unconscious unresolved conflicts
What does scientific emphasis on causal explanations mean
Means that psychologists usually use methods that allow cause and effect to be inferred e.g controlling extraneous variables, any changes in DV causes changes in IV - this level of control allows researcher to infer cause and effect
