Psychological debates (part 1)

This debate is based on the argument of whether behaviour is genetically determined as is all down to our biological make-up (nature) or whether it is aquired through experiences or influences in the environment (nurture).

Strengths supporting the Nature side of the argument:

1. methods used to observe behaviour for nature usually give objective/ scientific results - use of laboratory experiments and scientific equipment makes the data more valid and extraneous variables are easily controlled for establishing cause and effect. 
2. It is also a reductionist view so it is cut down to something simple to understand 

Weaknesses supporting the Nature side of the argument:

1. This can create the 'labelling effect' which means that individuals feel as if they have no control over their behaviour. 
2. The fact that it is a reductionist view also means that it does not consider other factors that can be affecting behaviour. 

Strengths for supporting the nurture side of the debate:

1. this considers a wide range of factors that can influence behaviour so it makes data gathering more holistic as it adapts a wide range of methods to explain behaviour. 

2. it has real life relevance so it considers real life issues. This side of the debate looks at behaviour that occurs naturally as is then therefore useful as it can help predict and change behaviours. 

Weaknesses for supporting the nurture side of the debate:

1. This ignores any biological or cognitive causes so it is therefore reductionist. 

2. ethical issues may sometimes arise when conducting socially sensitive research to see impacts on environment on a person's behaviour. 

3. sometimes it cannot be generalised to the public as behaviour in different areas must be different. (ethnocentrism) 

This debate argues whether all behaviours, mental acts, decisions and thoughts are determined by situational and environmental factors that influence behaviours that we lack control of (determinism) or whether we have control over the behaviours produced (free will)

Strenths supporting determinism:
1. Having deterministic views helps the world to be more understandable and predictable (criterion validity)
2. Human behaviours are therefore easier to change. Also, research for this is often scientific so it is more acceptable in society. 

Weaknesses supporting determinism:
1. An extreme determinist would say that free will in an illusion – we think we have choice, but we do not. Therefore how could we punish others if it wasn’t their fault?
2. Determinism can never fully explain behaviour because behaviour is far too complex and a deterministic view is often a reductionist one.

Strengths supporting free will:
1. This makes people accountable for their actions and it enables concious reflections of our own behaviour. 

Weaknesses supporting free will: 
1. free will is also reductionist as it only focuses on choices rather than any environmental or biological factors that can influence behaviours. 

The reductionist view looks at explanations that break things down to smaller components (a simple explanation for behaviour) however the holistic view looks at numerous factors and regards them within a situation. 

Strengths supporting a reductionist view:
1. allows researchers to control extraneous variables to establish cause and effect. 
2. it is easier to study one component as this makes the study more scientific and objective so it can be acceptable within society. 

Weaknesses supporting a reductionist view:
1. it is too simple - it does not give a proper and valid and full account of behaviour
2. therefore, it ignores other influencing factors. 

Strengths supporting a holistic view:
1. Holistic arguments often put forward many explanations of behaviour. This can increase the validity, as the interaction of many factors are more reflective of real life compared to assuming that there is one cause for behaviour.
2. Being holistic means that it often considers cultural differences. This therefore decreases ethnocentrism and as a consequence increases validity.
3. Holism allows for the effect of extraneous variables which are more reflective of real life behaviour

Weaknesses supporting a holistic view:
1. Holistic arguments can often fail to identify any single cause for human behaviour. This can be an issue when trying to apply the findings in the real world. Altering many factors could be extremely difficult or even impossible.
2. As there are lots of variables to consider within a holistic approach it can sometimes be difficult to analyse or understand. Particularly if qualitative data is collected. It can be extremely difficult to avoid bias when analysing holistic explanations

This is an argument observing whether behaviour is caused by individual factors such as personality or genetic traits or whether behaviour is caused by situational factors such as the context of the environment, upbringing or peer groups. 

Strengths supporting individual explanations:
1. It is based on personal attributes so it allows us to look to the person specifically as the cause of behaviour.
2. it can help understand things like disorders or phobias that affect certain people, and how they arise (Freud, Little Hans)

Weaknesses supporting individual explanations:
1. There is a limited level of generalisability - for example treatments are only suitable for the patient for the patient being studied. 
2. methods to observe behaviour are sometimes subjective and therefore open to bias. 

Strengths supporting situational explanations:
1. focuses on may factors such as the enviroment that can influence behaviours making the argument more holistic. 

Weaknesses supporting situational explanations:
1. this may distance a person from taking resposibility or accountability for their actions. 
2. Because it is holistic, it is hard to measure several different factors.