13 - Comparing Approaches Flashcards
How does the psychodynamic approach view development?
Presents the most coherent account of the development of behaviour, tying its concepts and processes to specific psychosexual stages that are determined by age. Freud maintained that very little further development occurs once a child enters their teen years (genital stage).
How does the cognitive approach view development?
It includes stage theories of development. For example, as part of their intellectual development, children form increasingly complex schemas as they get older.
How does the biological approach view development?
Development is an important principle within the biological approach, whereby genetically determined changes in a child’s physiological status influence psychological characteristics.
How does the humanistic approach view development?
It sees the development of the self as ongoing throughout life, although a child’s relationship with its parents is seen as a key determinant of psychological health.
How does the behaviourist approach view development?
The behaviourist approach and social learning theory see the development of behaviour as being a continuous processes, as learning can occur at any age.
Which approach is completely on the nature side of the nature vs nurture debate?
The biological approach holds that all behaviour comes from nature, it is mostly the result of genetics (nature).
Which approaches consider both sides of the nature vs nurture debate?
The psychodynamic approach considers a lot of our behaviour as driven by biological instincts (nature) but he also sees a person’s relationship with their parents as playing a fundamental role in future development (nurture).
What does the psychodynamic approach believe about : development nature vs nurture reductionism determinism treatment
Presents the most coherent account of the development of behaviour, tying its concepts and processes to specific psychosexual stages that are determined by age. Freud maintained that very little further development occurs once a child enters their teen years (genital stage).
Considers a lot of our behaviour as driven by biological instincts (nature) but also sees a person’s relationship with their parents as playing a fundamental role in future development (nurture).
Reduces much of our behaviour to the influence of sexual drives and biological instincts. However the argument that personality is a dynamic interaction between three parts is often viewed as more holistic.
Psychic determinism (hard) - our behaviour is driven by unconscious forces that we cannot know about.
Doesn’t use drug therapy
What does the humanistic approach believe about : development nature vs nurture reductionism determinism treatment
Sees development of the self as ongoing throughout life, although a child’s relationship with its parents is seen as a key determinant of psychological health.
Regards parents, friends and wider society as having a critical impact on the person’s self-concept (nurture).
Holistic - advocates exploring all aspects of the individual in order to explain their behaviour, including the effects of their interaction with others and wider society.
Assumes that human beings have free will and operate as active agents who determine their own development.
No drug treatment
What does the biological approach believe about : development nature vs nurture reductionism determinism treatment
Development is an important principle within the biological approach, whereby genetically determined changes in a child’s physiological status influence psychological characteristics.
Holds that all behaviour comes from nature, it is mostly the result of genetics (nature).
Reductionist - believes that all human behaviour (including mental disorders such as depression and schizophrenia) are the result of genetics.
Biological determinism (hard) - as it assumes that much of our behaviour is directed by innate influences.
Revolutionised treatment of mental disorders through development of drug therapies to correct chemical imbalances in the brain.
What does the behaviourist approach believe about : development nature vs nurture reductionism determinism treatment
Sees development of behaviour as being a continuous processes, as learning can occur at any age.
Babies are ‘blank slates’ at birth and argues that all behaviour is learned (nurture).
Reductionist - explains complex behaviour (like aggression) as simply being the result of stimulus-response reflexes.
Hard determinism - sees all behaviour as being determined environmentally by external influences that we are unable to control.
No drug treatment
What does the cognitive approach believe about : development nature vs nurture reductionism determinism treatment
Includes stage theories of development e.g. as part of their intellectual development, children form increasingly complex schemas as they get older.
Recognises that our information processing abilities and creation of schemas are innate (nature) but are constantly refined through experience (nurture).
Machine reductionism - presents people like information processing systems and ignores the influence of emotion.
Soft determinism - suggests we can choose our own thoughts and behaviours, but these can only operate within limits of what we know and have experienced.
No drug treatment
What does the social learning theory believe about : development nature vs nurture reductionism determinism treatment
Sees development of behaviour as being a continuous processes, as learning can occur at any age.
Babies are ‘blank slates’ at birth and argues that all behaviour is learned (nurture).
Reduces complex learning to a few key processes (imitation, modelling etc.) though it also takes account of cognitive factors, and how these interact with external influences. This means social learning theory is more holistic than the behaviourist approach.
Reciprocal determinism – the idea that as well as being influenced by our environment, we also exert some influence upon it through the behaviours we choose to perform.
No drug treatment
