Learning Objective

• To be able to apply knowledge to short answer questions on the debates

DO NOW: Which debates have we covered in full so far? Make each one into a mini mind-map

on your A3 paper

Starter

• TASK: on A3 complete a spider diagram of all of the A02 points of the debates we have covered so far

Free Will and DeterminismNature – NurtureHolism and Reductionism

Remember it’s A02

points only!!

A01s are simple!

Top 3 A02 points for each

debate

Introduction

• Short answer questions for the debates are a big thing

• The key thing to understand is exactly which parts of the information the examiners are looking for

Main

• In small groups you are working on answering several short answer questions

• You will complete each one in turn and then bring them to me to check that you have all of the key points according to the mark scheme

• Once your answer has scored full marks, tick off your team name on the board

• You must do questions 1 and 3 – these are from your mock examination!

Feedback: Mock Focus Q1 and Q3

• 1. Briefly outline the free will and determinism debate in psychology. Explain one reason why a belief in the existence of free will conflicts with scientific enquiry. (4 marks)

• Question 09 [AO3 = 4 marks]• AO3 Up to two marks for an outline of the debate. Allow one mark for each side of

the debate. For free will credit reference to: choice; ability to make decisions; behaviour and thought under the control of the will/volition of an individual; people as agents of own behaviour. For determinism credit reference to behaviour caused by internal /external forces.

• Up to two marks for an explanation as to why a belief in the existence of free will conflicts with scientific enquiry. One mark for a superficial or muddled explanation. Two marks for a sufficiently detailed and clear explanation.

• Likely answers are: science is based on causal explanations whereas free will implies that behaviours

and thinking are non-deterministic; science aims to predict and control behaviour whereas free will implies that

behaviours and thinking result from a person’s complete freedom to control what he or she does and thinks;

the idea that a non physical phenomenon like free will can have an effect on the physical world in the form of behaviour is at odds with the assumption of science that a physical effect must have a physical cause.

Feedback: Mock Focus Q1 and Q3

• 2. Explain what is meant by the nature-nurture debate in psychology. (4 marks)

• [AOl = 2, AO2 = 2]• AOl One mark for outlining the term nature; genes, innate or

inherited factors.• One mark for outlining the term nurture; environment, experience.• AO2 Marks to be awarded for explaining the debate; a controversy

within psychology that is concerned with the extent to which particular aspects of a behaviour are a product of either acquired or inherited characteristics.

• A further mark for an expansion. Most likely expansions will be areas of controversy such as intelligence (explanations of differences between individuals) or sex role (genes and hormonal influences or socially constructed and reinforced). Marks can be gained for information as to the roots of the debate; nativist philosophy vs empiricism or implications of the debate.

Plenary

• Based on your learning today, in your pairs, devise a 4 mark question which might come up on your PSYB4 examination

• 1. Explain what is meant by the nature-nurture debate in psychology. (4 marks)

• 2. Jamie is a healthy 18-year-old of average intelligence. When he was six days old, he was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder. His parents were informed that, as a result of the disorder, Jamie would have severe learning difficulties unless he was kept on a special diet. His parents followed this advice and Jamie has not suffered any damage to his intelligence or to his learning abilities.

• In the context of the nature-nurture debate in psychology, outline what is meant by an interactionist approach. Refer to Jamie’s case in your answer. (4 marks)

• 3. Briefly outline the free will and determinism debate in psychology. Explain one reason why a belief in the existence of free will conflicts with scientific enquiry. (4 marks)

• 4. Briefly discuss strengths of the idiographic approach in psychology. (4 marks)

• 5. Participants in a research study were ordered to give very powerful electric shocks to another person. Although the participants believed the shocks to be real, they still carried out the order. After taking part, some participants said, “I had to give the shocks. The experimenter ordered me to.”

• With reference to the above scenario, briefly explain what is meant by the free will and determinism debate in psychology. (4 marks)

• 6 Briefly discuss one limitation of reductionism in psychology. (4 marks)

• 7. In the context of the holism and reductionism debate in psychology, outline one strength and one limitation of holistic explanations of behaviour (4 marks)

Plenary

• Based on your learning today, in your pairs, devise a 4 mark question which might come up on your PSYB4 examination