Issues and
Debates glossary
Alpha Bias – psychological theories that suggest there are real and enduring
differences between men and women. These may enhance or undervalue
member of either sex, but typically undervalue females
Androcentrism – male-centred, when “normal” behaviour is judged according to
a male standard (meaning that female behaviour sometimes is seen as
“abnormal” or “deficient” by comparison)
Beta Bias - theories that ignore or minimise differences between the sexes
Biological Determinism – the belief that behaviour is caused by biological
(genetic, hormonal, evolutionary) influences that we cannot control
Biological Reductionism – the attempt to explain social and psychological
phenomena at a lower biological level
Culture Bias – refers to a tendency to ignore cultural differences and interpret
all phenomena through the “lens” of one’s own culture
Cultural Relativism – the view that behaviour cannot be judged properly unless
it is viewed in the context of the culture in which it originates
Determinism – the view that an individual’s behaviour is shaped or controlled
by internal or external forces rather than individual’s will to do something
Environment – any influence on human behaviour that is non-genetic. This may
range from pre-natal influences in the womb through to cultural and historical
influences at a societal level
Environmental Determinism – the belief that behaviour is caused by features
of the environment (such as systems of reward and punishment) that we cannot
control
Environmental Reductionism – the attempt to explain all behaviour in terms of
stimuli-response links that have been learned through experience
Ethical implications – the impact that psychological research may have in
terms of the rights of other people especially participants
Ethnocentrism – seeing the world only from one’s own cultural perspective, and
believing that this one perspective is both normal and correct
Free Will – the notion that humans can make choices and are not determined by
biological or external forces
Debates glossary
Alpha Bias – psychological theories that suggest there are real and enduring
differences between men and women. These may enhance or undervalue
member of either sex, but typically undervalue females
Androcentrism – male-centred, when “normal” behaviour is judged according to
a male standard (meaning that female behaviour sometimes is seen as
“abnormal” or “deficient” by comparison)
Beta Bias - theories that ignore or minimise differences between the sexes
Biological Determinism – the belief that behaviour is caused by biological
(genetic, hormonal, evolutionary) influences that we cannot control
Biological Reductionism – the attempt to explain social and psychological
phenomena at a lower biological level
Culture Bias – refers to a tendency to ignore cultural differences and interpret
all phenomena through the “lens” of one’s own culture
Cultural Relativism – the view that behaviour cannot be judged properly unless
it is viewed in the context of the culture in which it originates
Determinism – the view that an individual’s behaviour is shaped or controlled
by internal or external forces rather than individual’s will to do something
Environment – any influence on human behaviour that is non-genetic. This may
range from pre-natal influences in the womb through to cultural and historical
influences at a societal level
Environmental Determinism – the belief that behaviour is caused by features
of the environment (such as systems of reward and punishment) that we cannot
control
Environmental Reductionism – the attempt to explain all behaviour in terms of
stimuli-response links that have been learned through experience
Ethical implications – the impact that psychological research may have in
terms of the rights of other people especially participants
Ethnocentrism – seeing the world only from one’s own cultural perspective, and
believing that this one perspective is both normal and correct
Free Will – the notion that humans can make choices and are not determined by
biological or external forces
