5. APPROACHES (Comparison of approaches)

Question 1

How does the Biological Approach view development?

Answer 1

The Biological Approach emphasizes maturation during puberty, leading to sex differences between genders.

Question 2

How does the Cognitive Approach view development?

Answer 2

The Cognitive Approach focuses on stage theories such as Piaget’s cognitive development theory and gender constancy, as well as schema theory.

Question 3

How does the Behaviourist Approach view development?

Answer 3

The Behaviourist Approach sees development as continuous and occurring at any stage through learning via reinforcement and conditioning.

Question 4

How does the Humanistic Approach view development?

Answer 4

The Humanistic Approach views the development of the self as ongoing throughout life, with relationships, especially with parents, being key to psychological health.

Question 5

What is the stance of the Biological Approach on the Nature vs. Nurture debate?

Answer 5

The Biological Approach emphasizes nature, suggesting that behaviour is influenced by genetic factors like neuroanatomy and neurotransmitters.

Question 6

What is the stance of the Cognitive Approach on the Nature vs. Nurture debate?

Answer 6

The Cognitive Approach sees both nature and nurture as important, with innate information processing systems that are refined by experience.

Question 7

What is the stance of the Behaviourist Approach on the Nature vs. Nurture debate?

Answer 7

The Behaviourist Approach emphasizes nurture, suggesting that behaviour develops through association and direct reinforcement

Question 8

What is the stance of the Psychodynamic Approach on the Nature vs. Nurture debate?

Answer 8

The Psychodynamic Approach acknowledges both innate biological forces (e.g., the unconscious) and the influence of parenting on behaviour.

Question 9

What is the stance of the Humanistic Approach on the Nature vs. Nurture debate?

Answer 9

The Humanistic Approach suggests that the drive to self-actualize is innate, but problems achieving this stem from upbringing and life experiences.

Question 10

How does the Biological Approach view reductionism?

Answer 10

The Biological Approach is highly reductionist, suggesting behaviour is caused by genetic influences, neurotransmitters, or hormones, ignoring external factors

Question 11

How does the Cognitive Approach view reductionism?

Answer 11

The Cognitive Approach is criticized for machine reductionism, where humans are seen as information processing systems, ignoring the role of emotion.

Question 12

How does the Behaviourist Approach view reductionism?

Answer 12

The Behaviourist Approach is reductionist as it breaks complex behaviour into basic stimulus-response systems, often using animal studies.

Question 13

How does the Psychodynamic Approach view reductionism?

Answer 13

The Psychodynamic Approach is somewhat reductionist, reducing behaviour to basic sex drives and instincts, but also considers the interaction of personality structures.

Question 14

How does the Humanistic Approach view reductionism?

Answer 14

The Humanistic Approach is holistic, viewing behaviour in terms of all aspects of an individual and how they engage with society.

Question 15

What is the stance of the Biological Approach on determinism?

Answer 15

The Biological Approach follows genetic determinism, believing much of behaviour is predetermined by innate factors, with little free will (hard determinism).

Question 16

What is the stance of the Cognitive Approach on determinism?

Answer 16

The Cognitive Approach supports soft determinism, arguing we are free to choose our thoughts and behaviours but within the constraints of our existing experiences.

Question 17

What is the stance of the Behaviourist Approach on determinism?

Answer 17

The Behaviourist Approach is based on hard determinism, claiming behaviour is determined solely by environmental factors, with little to no free will.

Question 18

What is the stance of the Social Learning Theory on determinism?

Answer 18

The Social Learning Theory supports reciprocal determinism, where behaviour is influenced by the environment, but individuals also exert some influence on their environment.

Question 19

What is the stance of the Psychodynamic Approach on determinism?

Answer 19

The Psychodynamic Approach follows psychic determinism, where unconscious drives and past experiences dictate behaviour, and free will is seen as an illusion (hard determinism).

Question 20

What is the stance of the Humanistic Approach on determinism?

Answer 20

The Humanistic Approach is unique in believing that humans have complete free will and are active agents who determine their own behaviour.

Question 21

What is a practical treatment implication of the Biological Approach?

Answer 21

The Biological Approach has led to drug treatments for mental illnesses, such as SSRIs for depression and anxiety and antipsychotics for schizophrenia.

Question 22

What is a practical treatment implication of the Cognitive Approach?

Answer 22

The Cognitive Approach has led to the development of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which is effective in treating depression, anxiety, and OCD by challenging faulty thinking.

Question 23

What is a practical treatment implication of the Behaviourist Approach?

Answer 23

The Behaviourist Approach has led to the use of systematic desensitization for the treatment of phobias, where patients are gradually exposed to their fears.

Question 24

What is a practical treatment implication of the Psychodynamic Approach?

Answer 24

The Psychodynamic Approach has led to psychoanalysis, the first talking therapy, which is successful for some conditions like neuroses, but not for others like schizophrenia.

Question 25

What is a practical treatment implication of the Humanistic Approach?

Answer 25

The Humanistic Approach has led to counselling treatments, such as person-centered therapy, to help individuals close the gap between their actual self and ideal self and achieve self-actualization.

Question 26

How does the Biological Approach utilize the scientific method?

Answer 26

The Biological Approach uses objective scientific methods, such as lab studies and imaging techniques, with results that can be replicated and generalized.

Question 27

How does the Cognitive Approach utilize the scientific method?

Answer 27

The Cognitive Approach uses scientific methods to study mental processes, but it often relies on inferred data, which may lack objectivity.

Question 28

How does the Behaviourist Approach utilize the scientific method?

Answer 28

The Behaviourist Approach is highly experimental, focusing on measurable behaviour and objective data collection in controlled environments.

Question 29

How does the Psychodynamic Approach utilize the scientific method?

Answer 29

The Psychodynamic Approach has limited scientific application due to its reliance on case studies, subjective interpretations of dreams, and free association.

Question 30

How does the Humanistic Approach utilize the scientific method?

Answer 30

The Humanistic Approach rejects the use of scientific methods, arguing they are inappropriate for studying the complexities of human consciousness and subjective experience.