Synopsis

This unit uses an interactive resource (EPoCH) to gain a better sense of how the historical and social context influences psychological inquiry. You will examine the different methods used by psychologists to investigate human behaviour and learn to identify the different perspectives that exist in psychology.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Learning outcomes
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Definitions of ‘normality’
1.2.1 Statistical approaches to ‘normality’
1.2.2 Medical approaches to normality
1.2.3 Cultural approaches to normality
1.2.4 Personal distress
1.3 Overview of ‘normality’
1.4 Experiencing dyslexia
1.4.1 What is dyslexia?
1.5 Defining dyslexia
1.5.1 Definition by exclusion
1.5.2 Discrepancy definitions
1.6 Positive indicators for dyslexia
1.7.1 Differentiating dyslexia from other reading difficulties
1.7.2 Differentiating within dyslexia – acquired versus developmental dyslexia and the search for subtypes
1.7.3 Differentiating dyslexia from other developmental conditions
1.8 Reflecting on definitions of ‘abnormality’
2.1 Behavioural, cognitive and biological perspectives
2.2.1 The phonological processing deficit
2.2.2 ‘Visual deficit’ hypotheses
2.2.3 ‘Automaticity’ and ‘rate of processing’ hypotheses
2.3 Biological explanations of dyslexia
2.3.1 Sex differences
2.3.2 Why are boys more vulnerable to some conditions?
2.3.4 Lateralisation
2.4.1 Organisation of brain cells
2.4.2 Differences in sensory, perceptual and motor function
2.5.1 Highly unsaturated fatty acids
2.5.2 Genetic explanations
2.6 Environmental explanations of dyslexia?
2.7 Reflecting on explanations of ‘abnormal’ development: the case of dyslexia
3.1 Thinking about intervention
3.1.1 Treatment or management?
3.2 Behavioural approaches
3.3 Cognitive approaches
3.3.1 Multisensory teaching for students
3.4 Biological approaches
3.4.1 Pharmaceuticals or nutraceuticals?
3.5.1 Expectancy versus effect
3.5.2 Pre-post test studies
3.5.3 Single participant interventions
3.6 Reflecting on dyslexia
4 Concluding remarks
5 Further reading
Next steps
References
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Learning outcomes
1 Using EPoCH: an introduction
2 About the activities in this unit
3 About Compendium
Activity 1: Using the timeline
Activity 2: Using the biographies
Activity 3: Exploring perspectives
Activity 4: Exploring topics
Activity 5: Using the figures, methods, perspectives, topics and context icons
4 Conclusion
Next steps
Acknowledgements

 

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