2. Assess The Use Of Psychological Knowledge In The Contributions In Society Flashcards
What is the AO1 for this debate?
-description of the application and the theory behind it
E.g for learning systematic desensitisation explain, explain theory of classical conditioning
What is the AO3 for this debate?
-is this effective for society
(Evidence for and against, how good the research)
For cognitive topic- revision for students- strength and weakness
AO1: The multi store model of memory developed by Atkinson and shiffrin have high applications for society. The multi store model breaks memory into 3 stores, sensory memory, short term memory, and long term memory. We can now understand that short term memory encodes acoustically, and long term memory encodes semantically. This has provided applications for students revision methods as now have the understanding to make revision colourful, create mind maps and acronyms in order for it to be encoded semantically making it easier to remember for longer.
AO3 STRENGTH: Research to support is Baddeley who found that STM encodes acoustically and LTM encodes semantically because mean % score on trial 4 of correct words recalled was the lowest on condition C, 55% showing how LTM got mixed up by semantic similarities.
AO3 WEAKNESS: However, Tulving developed a model of memory suggesting there are 3 different types; episodic, semantic, and procedural which all encode information differently to one another.
AO3 JUDGEMENT: Therefore the same revision methods may not work for all students as different types of information is encoded differently into the long term memory stores
For cognitive topic- eyewitness testimony- strength and weakness (criminal)
AO1: Bartletts reconstructive memory suggests that we do not store memories as exact copies of information but instead they are distorted to make them easier to remember. We use schemas which was past stores of information used to make sense of current situations to fill in gaps in our knowledge. Our memories can be affected by simplification, rationalisation, transformation and confabulation. This knowledge has developed the cognitive interview used to help gain as much information about a crime from eye witnesses as possible. They may reinstate the context, reverse the order, change the perspective, all techniques to help ensure memories are accurate and detailed.
AO3 STRENGTH: Loftus and Palmer provide evidence that our memories are easily distorted and are not very accurate as ppts with the critical key word being smashed were more likely to report broken glass then ppts who’s word was hit.
AO3 WEAKNESS: Low external validity with Loftus and Palmers study as the car crashes were just videos shown to the ppts. They’re less likely to feel emotionally affected by the videos therefore also lowering the internal validity as the true extent of EWT wasn’t being tested.
For learning topic- systematic desensitisation- strength and weakness
AO1: Systematic desensitisation is a treatment for phobias which follows the process of classical conditioning. Classical conditioning shows how you can pair a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus to give a conditioned response. The first step is functional analysis which is where triggers of the phobia are identified, then an anxiety hierarchy is constructed. Next the patient learns the desensitisation methods like breathing techniques, happy thoughts etc, then they are tested as they progress up the hierarchy until the phobia is distinguished.
AO3 STRENGTH: Highly ethical treatment as the patient themselves has complete control over when they feel ready to progress to the next stage of treatment, ensuring that anxiety levels never get too high, therefore they are likely to keep up with this treatment.
AO3 WEAKNESS: For severe phobias this can take too long and the patient may lose motivation and commitment to keep up with this treatment as it can take a long time to progress up the hierarchy.
AO3 JUDGEMENT: Very beneficial to society and has been and will continue to be used for a long time to treat phobias
For the bio topic- reduced prison sentencing- strength and weakness
AO1: Differences in brain structure and functioning may be a cause of aggressive behaviour in individuals, leading to reduced prison sentencing as this is a biological explanation which can’t necessarily be controlled for. Some individuals may have a damaged prefrontal cortex meaning it can’t inhibit the emotions from the amygdala, so act impulsively and aggressively. Larger amygdala positively correlate to more aggression in individuals, and a damaged hippocampus may mean STM can’t be transferred to LTM, trapping the individual in the present, unable to learn from negative consequences to their actions.
AO3 STRENGTH: Supported by Raines research, who found the brains of murderers who pleaded NGRI did have abnormal dysfunction and activity compared to controls. They had less activity in the left side of the amygdala and hippocampus then controls, but higher activity in the right sides then controls. This suggests there may be a more appropriate treatment for criminals who plead NGRI such as early interventions
AO3 WEAKNESS: By acknowledging the differences in the brains of some murderers, this may begin to be used as a scapegoat by criminals for committing criminal and aggressive behaviour
For bio topic- castrations in animals- strength and weakness
AO1: An imbalance in hormone levels can cause aggressive behaviour in both humans and animals. If testosterone levels get too high in males, this leads to an increase in aggressive behaviours because there is less serotonin to inhibit these aggressive urges, therefore they are acted upon. In domestic animals such as dogs, aggressive behaviour can be dangerous to the owners and they may struggle to control their dog. By having a castration operation, male dogs testosterone levels are significantly reduced, and they quite often become more friendly and cuddly as pets.
AO1 STRENGTH: This is a strength simply because it lowers the danger of aggressive behaviour in animals that are pets, as is now a really common procedure that is being carried out to make the animals life easier and the owners life also
AO3 WEAKNESS: Although this procedure is becoming more common with pet owners and their pets, operations always have some risks therefore not all owners would feel happy and comfortable with their pets having it done, therefore limits application. Also may be unethical as may cause some initial pain until it heals
For social topic- jigsaw teaching method- strength and weakness
AO1: Sherif developed the realistic conflict theory as an explanation for prejudice and discrimination in society. From his own study, he found that friction and conflict was reduced between the in group and out group boys by introducing superordinate goals such as fixing a water supply together. This is where all the boys must participate in order to complete the task successfully. Superordinate goals have been transferred to a classroom setting in jigsaw technique, where one task is split amongst all members of the class which requires all of their input to succeed, showing equal value to all members and reducing prejudice
AO3 STRENGTH: Sherif’s study has high internal and external validity as was a field experiment taking place at Robbers cave state park in America, but he still had the ability to manipulate the IV, and introduce the superordinate goals after there was friction, to which he friction was reduced creating a cause and effect relationship.
AO3 WEAKNESS: Low generalisability due to sample that sherif used of 22 11-12 boys may limit the generalisability of the application to other settings, such as adults working in an office.
For social topic- explaining WW2- strength and weakness
AO1: There are applications from studies investigating obedience to help explain social situations in history such as the world wars. Agency theory explains how there are 2 states that individuals change between. The autonomous state is when our behaviour is self directed, and we take full responsibility for our actions and decisions. We are in this state around friends and people perceived as lower then us. The agentic state is when we follow orders and are acting as the agent to a legitimate authority figure. Responsibility for our actions lies with them. The german soldiers in the world wars therefore were under the agentic state explaining why they followed the orders given to them to kill so many innocent people.
AO3 STRENGTH: Milgram’s study supports agency theory. He found that 100% of ppts went to administrate a shock to a confederate of 300v, with 65% continuing to the highest one of 450V, because they were under the authority of the experimenter.
AO3 WEAKNESS: Low generalisability as sample was 40 males, aged between 20 and 50 years old from New haven America. This makes the study adnocentric and culturally biased, therefore can’t establish a confident cause and effect relationship
