5. Approaches EQs Flashcards
Explain what is meant by inference (2 marks)
going beyond the immediate evidence to make
assumptions (1) about mental processes that cannot be directly observed. (1)
Bradley has just started to play snooker and is keen to play well. He watches carefully when his partner takes a difficult shot then tries to copy the same shot. He thinks about how his partner was holding the snooker cue and whether he can do the same.
Social learning theorists refer to the role of mediational processes in learning. Referring to Bradley’s experiences, explain the role of mediational processes in learning. (4 marks)
- mental processes occur between stimulus (Bradley’s observation) and response
(Bradley’s copying the behaviour) - specific examples here are: attention, motivation, retention/memory, assessment of own ability
- Bradley is motivated to attend to the relevant information (is keen to play well)
- Bradley pays attention to the actions of the person he wants to copy (watches carefully)
- Bradley tries to remember the action so he can do the same (thinks about how he was
holding the cue) - Bradley considers his own ability to perform (thinks…whether he can do the same.)
Explain one reason why using schema might be useful when processing information from the world around us, and explain one reason why using schema might not be useful when processing information from the world around us. (4 marks)
USEFUL:
- schema help us predict what will happen in our world based on our experiences
- schema enable us to process vast amounts of information rapidly
- schema prevent us from becoming overwhelmed by environmental stimuli.
NOT USEFUL:
- schema lead to inaccurate memories
- schema can cause biased recall
- negative/faulty schema may have a negative impact on mental health
Jed was given a detention meaning that he would miss the football match after school. Jed felt extremely angry. Later that day, Jed was called in to the Head of Year’s office for kicking his locker at break time.
Identify and explain the defence mechanism Jed was displaying.
[3 marks]
- displacement
- The focus of a strong emotion is expressed on to a neutral/alternative person or object.
- Jed’s anger at the detention/missing the football match is transferred to the locker.
Briefly describe one role of the unconscious according to the psychodynamic approach. [2 marks]
- the unconscious protects the conscious self from anxiety/fear/trauma/conflict.
- defence mechanisms, eg repression, denial, displacement, are used unconsciously to reduce anxiety
Describe the role of defence mechanisms according to the psychodynamic approach. (2 marks)
- provide compromise solutions (usually unconscious) to deal with unresolvable conflict
- provide a strategy to reduce anxiety
Jemima and Lily are identical twins. Lily complains to Jemima, “I don’t understand it. If we have the same genes, how come you have clearer skin than me and are much better at netball?”
Jemima laughs and replies, “Lily, we may be identical twins, but we are not identical people.”
Using your knowledge of genotype and phenotype, explain Lily’s and Jemima’s comments.
[4 marks]
- Lily and Jemima have identical genotypes (genotype refers to the genetic make-up of an individual)
- Lily and Jemima do not have identical phenotypes (phenotype refers to the observable characteristics
of an individual as a result of their genotype and their environment) - although Lily and Jemima have the same genes, Jemima might practice netball more or have started
lessons earlier than Lily, these environmental factors may make her better at netball - although Lily and Jemima have the same genes, Jemima might have a different skin care
routine/diet/sun exposure/etc than Lily, these environmental factors may make her skin clearer than
Lily’s.
Lily and Jemima have a pet rat, which usually hides in a corner when they try to take it out of its cage. They have tried different ways to stop the rat hiding, but so far without success.
Use your knowledge of two types of reinforcement to suggest how Lily and Jemima could train their rat to come to the cage door when they open it.
[6 marks]
- positive reinforcement – when Lily/Jemima open the cage door they can give the rat treats like
chocolate drops for coming to the cage door when they open it. This will make the rat more likely to
come to the door the next time they open the cage - negative reinforcement – have something unpleasant like spraying the rat with water or playing loud
music/alarm and then stop this when the rat comes to the door so that over time when they open the
cage the rat will be more likely to come to the door
Describe psychosexual stages as outlined in the psychodynamic approach. (6 marks)
- oral (0–1yr) – focus of pleasure is the mouth and the mother’s breast is the focus of desire
- anal (1–3yrs) – focus of pleasure is the anus and child focuses on withholding and expelling faeces
- phallic (3–5yrs) – focus of pleasure is genitals and children experience the Oedipus/Electra complex
- latency (6–12yrs) – previous conflicts are resolved/repressed and early years are largely forgotten
- genital (12yrs/puberty-adulthood) – sexual desires become conscious with the onset of puberty
- there is an unconscious conflict at each stage which must be resolved before the next stage is
reached.
Use your knowledge of genotype and phenotype to explain possible reasons why identical twins Ellie
and Lucy had different scores on the test (4 marks)
- Ellie and Lucy have identical genes which code for different aspects of intelligence because they are identical twins with the same genotype
- the twins’ genotypes are not expressed in their outward scores on the test.
- Ellie and Lucy’s phenotypes are different as they achieved different scores on the intelligence test
suggesting Ellie might be more intelligent/better at intelligence tests than Lucy - Ellie and Lucy’s phenotypes might be influenced by environmental factors such as different teachers
at school
