Debates in Psych

1. S
Major Debates in
Psychology

2. Today’s Objective
S I can understand and discuss key questions
that psychologists ask.
S I can apply my thinking to real life examples.

4. Major Debates in Psychology
S Psychologists ask many questions, but many of those
questions are rooted in a few basic debates.
S Nature & Nurture
S Reductionism & Holism
S Free-Will & Determinism

5. Nature & Nurture
S Main Question: To what extent are behaviors the result of
internal (biological) or environmental factors?
S Nature: Our biological functions, genetic makeup, and
evolutionary processes shape our behaviors. We are
born with the traits we show.
S Nurture: Our environment, other people, and stressors
shapes our behaviors.
S Real Life Example: Academic Success

6. Reductionism & Holism
S Main Question: Is human behavior the result of a single
(biological) cause or multiple factors?
S Reductionism: Human behavior can be explained by breaking it
down into smaller component parts. Biological functions and
evolutionary processes are at the core of behavior.
S Holism: Human behavior is the result of the whole rather than
their smaller parts. We must consider multiple causes of
behavior, not just one.
S Real Life Example: Depression

7. Free-Will & Determinism
S Main Question: To what extent is an individual’s behavior within
their control or predicted by outside forces?
S Free-Will: We are able to have some choice in how we act and
assumes that we are free to choose our behavior, in other
words we are self determined.
S Determinism: Behavior is caused by preceding factors and is
thus predictable. We do not have full control over our
behaviors.
S Real Life Examples: Violent Crimes

8. Today’s Topic
S To what extent is the development of racism
inevitable in human society?
S Nature & Nurture: Is racism a product of nature or
nurture?
S Reductionism & Holism: What is the best way to
address the causes of racism?
S Free-Will & Determinism: Do we have control over
whether we are racist or not?
S TIME Magazine: Why Your Baby is Racist -- and You Can
Live With That

9. Summary Paragraph
S Work with your group to write a paragraph that answers
the following question….
S To what extent is the development of
racism inevitable in human society?