Psychology PSYA3/PSYA4 revision thread for 2014

•

General IDA point for evolutionary explanation - Evolutionary explanations are post hoc and therefore lack scientific validity. Since there is no way of researching our evolutionary past, the explanations of human social behaviour are post hoc (made up after the event). Although evolution is a fact, the way in which it shapes behaviour is not all clear and is based on speculation. Since the explanations cannot be verified or falsified, they do not fulfil Popper’s key criteria of what constitutes a science, science must be supported empirically, science must be falsifiable and objective. On this basis the explanations lack scientific validity.

•

For psychological explanations - they are limited, you could always write they don't take into account other factors e.g. 'Whilst SLT and Bruch’s theory does appear to account well for AN to some extent. These explanations are not able to account for the significant biological differences that are seen in anorexics. In order to fully understand AN it is important to consider biological factors such as neurotransmitters. For example...'

•

Also for evolutionary explanations - same as above you say they are limited and they don't take into account psychological factors e.g. 'Whilst genetic vulnerability may have evolved there is however considerable evidence to suggests other approaches play a significant role of aetiology of AN. For example....'

•

For genetic explanations oversimplifies complex causes of anything - e.g. 'Genetic theory of aggression is an example of biological reductionism it oversimplifies the complex causes of aggression and could be explained as well or better by another approach such as SLT social factors like modelling also contribute to Aggression. It is also an example of biological genetic determinism – and suggests that we are at the mercy of our biology – we have no free will to decide whether to behave in an aggressive way or not – which clearly is not true. It is clear that genetics alone cannot cause aggressive behaviours - genes do increase the risk of aggression, but perhaps only when combined with environmental risk factors – suggesting a diathesis of nature (genes) and Nurture (environment).