A-Level Psychology: Issues & Debates Revision

Issues & Debates is a core part of A-Level Psychology. Revise the key concepts and common mistakes below, then lock them in with the free games.

Key concepts

HolismBehaviour explained by whole system — Gestalt, humanistic.

ReductionismExplaining behaviour by simpler component parts.

Biological ReductionismReducing behaviour to genes, hormones, neurochemistry.

Environmental ReductionismReducing behaviour to stimulus-response chains.

IdiographicFocus on individuals (case studies, qualitative).

NomotheticFocus on laws applying to groups (experiments, surveys).

Hard DeterminismAll behaviour fully caused by internal/external forces.

Soft DeterminismBehaviour caused but allows some conscious choice (James).

Free WillWe choose our actions independent of biological/social causes.

NatureInnate, genetic, biological influences on behaviour.

NurtureEnvironmental and learned influences on behaviour.

Diathesis-StressInteraction: vulnerability triggered by stressor.

Alpha BiasExaggerating differences between men and women.

Beta BiasMinimising real differences between men and women.

Common mistakes to avoid

Questions where students often pick the tempting wrong answer — make sure you know the right one:

Do all psychological approaches explain behaviour the same way?✗ Yes, all approaches agree on causes. ✓ No — they differ (e.g. behaviourist, cognitive, biological, psychodynamic).

What is the behaviourist view on the nature-nurture debate?✗ Both nature and nurture equally. ✓ Strongly nurture - we are shaped by environmental conditioning.

Practise Issues & Debates — free games

Test yourself with these quick revision games for this topic:

▶ Two Truths, One Lie ▶ Reveal Race ▶ Connections Grid ▶ Falling Words ▶ Word Web

See all 17 games in the Subjects Arcade →

Issues & Debates

Key concepts

Common mistakes to avoid

Practise Issues & Debates — free games

More A-Level Psychology topics