Issues And Debates

Any underlying characteristic of human beings that is capable of being applied to all, despite the differences of experiencecand upbringing.

Psychological research or theory that may offer a view that does not justifiably represent the experience the experience and behaviour of men and women.

Male-centred; when normal behaviour is judged according to a male standard.

Psychologicql theories that suggest there are real and enduring differences between men and women. May enhance or undervalue members of either sex

Theories that ignore or minimise differences between the sexes.

The tendency to ignore cultural difference and interpret all phenomena through the lens of one's own culture.

Judging other cultures by the standards and values of one's own culture. In extreme form it is the belief in the superiority of one's own culture.

The idea that norms and values, as well as ethics and moral standards, can only be meaningful and understood within specific social and cultural contexts.

The notion that humans can make choices and are not determined by biological or external forces.

The view that an individual's behaviour is shaped or controlled by internal or external forces rather than am individual's will to do something.

Implies that free will is not possible as our behaviour is always caused by internal or external events beyond our control.

All events, including human behaviour, have causes, but behaviour can also be determined by our conscious choices in the absence of coercion.

The belief that behaviour is caused by biological influences that we cannot control.

The belief that behaviour is caused by features of the environment that we cannot control.

The belief that behaviour is caused by unconscious conflicts that we cannot control.

Concerned with the extent to which asoects of behaviour are a product of inherited or acquired characteristics.

The genetic transmission of mental and physical characteristics from one generation to another.

Sociobiological Theory: Males interest to sleep with as many women and Females interest to find a single man.

Fight or Flight Response: Only based upon male participants.

PMS: Isn't seen as important to males, it is stereotyped.

Strange Situation: Reflects only norms and values of American culture.

Functions within or inside certain cultures and identifies behaviourd that are specific to that culture.

Looks at behaviour from outside of a given culture and attempts to describe those behaviours that are universal.

Change in our genetic activity without changing our genetic code. It is a process that happens throughout life and is caused by interaction with the environment.

Psychology itself can be also placed within a hierarchy of science with the more precise and micro of these disciplines at the bottom and the more general and macro of these at the top.

Humanistic and Psychodynamic

Behaviourist, Cognitive and Biological

A number of concerns that researchers should be mindful of when conducting socially sensitive research: Implications, Uses/Public Policy, Validity of Research