2.1 comparison of approaches Flashcards
free will vs determinism
biological: biological determinism. behaviour is controlled by internal biological factors eg. genes and neurochemistry
behaviourist: environmental determinism. behaviour is controlled by stimulus-response association
SLT: soft determinism. behaviour is influenced by environmental forces but humans have some free will.
cognitive: soft determinism. behaviour can be controlled by schemas etc, but individuals choose what information to attend to.
psychodynamic: psychic determinism. behaviour is determined by unconscious instincts and drives.
humanist: free will. humans control their own behaviour.
nature vs nurture
biological: nature. behaviour is the result of innate biological factors.
behaviourist: humans are born as a ‘blank slate’ so all behaviours are learnt.
SLT: nurture. behaviour is learnt though observation and imitation of models.
cognitive: nature & nurture. behaviour is the product of information processing (nature) which can be modified through experience (nurture).
psychodynamic: nature and nurture. behaviour is the product of innate drives (nature) as well as childhood experiences (nurture).
humanist: nurture. behaviour is shaped by the environment as humans strive to achieve self-actualisation.
reduction vs holism
biological: biological reductionism. behaviour is broken down into biological structures/processes
behaviourist: environmental reductionism. behaviour is broken down into stimulus-response association.
SLT: holistic. takes into account both behavioural and cognitive factors in behaviour.
cognitive: holistic. but also accused of machine reductionism by comparing the human mind to a computer.
psychodynamic: holistic. proposes that personality is the dynamic interaction between instincts, drives and childhood experiences.
humanist: holistic. focuses on understanding all aspects of human experience.
idiographic vs nomothetic
biological: nomothetic. creates universal laws, as humans share a similar physiology.
behaviourist: nomothetic. creates universal laws as people learn through either association or consequence.
SLT: nomothetic. attempts to establish general laws, eg. vicarious reinforcement.
cognitive: nomothetic and idiographic. attempts to establish general laws, eg. through theoretic models, but also utilises case studies like HM and KF
psychodynamic: nomothetic and idiographic. attempts to establish general laws eg. psychosexual stages, but also utilises case studies and considers unique childhood experiences
humanist: idiographic. focuses on the subjective human experience.
scientific
biological: scientific. promotes scientific methods eg. brain scanning. uses animal research.
behaviourist: utilises scientific methods eg. lab experiments. uses animal research.
SLT: mostly scientific. utilises scientific methods but also considers subjective mediational processes
cognitive: mostly scientific. utilises scientific methods (eg. lab research), but also researches concepts that are not directly observable eg. cognitive errors
psychodynamic: not scientific. examines concepts that cannot be empirically tested eg. repressed memories. relies on subjective interpretation of case studies
humanist: not scientific. rejects scientific methods and cannot provide empirical evidence.
applications
biological: drug treatments eg. SSRI’s for depression
behaviourist: token economy, systematic desensitisation and flooding
SLT: age rating on films and games
cognitive: CBT eg. REBT and anger management
psychodynamic: psychotherapy
humanist: counselling
biological vs behaviourist
+ both determinism, but biological vs behaviourist determinism
- bio nature (genes etc) and behaviourist nurture (blank slate)
+ both reductionist, but biological vs behaviourist reductionism
+ both nomothetic (create laws)
+ both scientific
