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🎉Q&A Life🥳
What is the 'risk-benefit' analysis in ethical psychological research?
Risk-benefit analysis is the careful examination of potential risks and benefits associated with a study, to ensure the benefits outweigh any potential harm to participants.
What are ethical guidelines in psychology?
Ethical guidelines in psychology are a set of rules and principles designed to guide psychologists in conducting research ethically and protecting the rights and welfare of their research participants.
What does 'respect for persons' mean in ethical research?
Respect for persons refers to treating all participants as individuals capable of making their own decisions. It includes obtaining informed consent and respecting their autonomy.
What is the role of an ethics committee in psychological research?
The ethics committee reviews research proposals to ensure that they comply with ethical guidelines and that the rights and wellbeing of participants are protected.
What is the principle of doing no harm in psychological research?
The principle of doing no harm means that researchers should not cause physical or psychological harm to their participants, and should take steps to minimise any potential distress or discomfort.
What is a debriefing in psychological research?
A debriefing is a conversation after a study or experiment, in which the researcher explains the purpose of the study, the nature of the expected results, and answers any questions that the participant might have.
What is the role of deception in psychological research?
Deception is sometimes necessary in psychological research to prevent participant bias. However, it should be used sparingly, and only when the potential scientific value outweighs the ethical issues.
What does 'competence' mean in the context of ethical psychological research?
Competence refers to the requirement that researchers should have the necessary skills and experience to conduct a research study ethically and effectively.
What does 'integrity' mean in ethical psychological research?
Integrity in ethical psychological research means honesty and truthfulness throughout the research process. It requires that researchers do not fabricate, falsify, or misrepresent data.
What is 'undue influence' in the context of psychological research?
Undue influence refers to any form of coercion or threat that unfairly influences a person's decision to participate in a research study.
What does 'respect for autonomy' mean in the context of ethical psychological research?
Respect for autonomy is the principle that individuals have the right to decide and act based on their own values and beliefs, including the right to refuse or withdraw from research.
What is existential psychology?
Existential psychology is a branch of psychology that explores how humans deal with fundamental existential givens such as freedom, death, isolation, and meaninglessness. Unlike other theories that view individuals as products of their environment, existentialism perceives humans as free to decide their fate and create their own values and meanings. This perspective largely considers an individual's subjective experience.
What role does freedom play in existential psychology?
Freedom, in the lens of existential psychology, represents the capacity for self-determination and choice, highlighting that individuals are in control of their actions and decisions. Freedom can be liberating but it can also be overwhelming, as it comes with the responsibility for our actions. This can lead to existential guilt when we fail to meet our potential.
Can you elaborate on the concept of existential loneliness?
Existential loneliness represents the fundamental isolation individuals experience, being the only ones who can truly perceive their unique experiences. It is important to note this is not the standard sense of being alone or feeling lonesome, but a deep-seated recognition that a person's subjective experiences cannot be fully shared or truly understood by others. This existential loneliness can often foster feelings of alienation and isolation.
What is meant by the term 'existential identity'?
Existential identity refers to the self-constructed and self-determined aspect of identity under existential psychology. It posits that individuals have the freedom to shape their own identity, to choose their personal values, beliefs, and meanings. This choice-based nature of identity underlines the flexibility associated with it, along with the responsibility it entails.
How does existential anxiety differ from traditional anxiety?
Whereas traditional anxiety is generally related to specific, identifiable causes or threats, existential anxiety is a more profound form associated with the intrinsic human condition. It arises from contemplation of fundamental existential issues like death, freedom, isolation, and meaninglessness. It's a reaction to the complex ambiguities of life, spurring personal growth and self-realisation.
What does existential psychology say about human nature?
Existential psychology perceives human beings as essentially free and responsible beings. According to this perspective, individuals are more than the sum of their parts or the product of their environment. They craft their own identities, and through their choices and actions, they construct their own life's meaning. This underscores the individual's existential predicament and the responsibility they carry.
How does existential psychology approach the concept of death?
Death is seen as an inevitable existential given in existential psychology. The inescapable fact of our mortality and the uncertainty surrounding it can produce deep existential anxiety. However, this realisation also has the potential to motivate individuals to seek meaning and live their life more authentically, knowing that life is finite.
What therapeutic strategies does existential psychology apply?
Therapy in existential psychology involves helping individuals confront and understand their existential anxieties and dilemmas. Techniques may involve existential dialogue, which is open-ended and focuses on the personal experiences of the client, and refocusing on the value of living authentically and creating meaning in one's life, despite the inherent challenges and uncertainties.
How does existential guilt relate to freedom?
Existential guilt arises when we fail to exercise our freedom responsibly, failing to meet our potential or live authentically. It reflects a recognition that we have neglected opportunities for growth or positive action, and often drives individuals to re-evaluate their lives and take steps to align their actions more closely with their intrinsic values or authentic self.

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