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A-Level Psychology (Paper 2) > a-level_psychology_approaches_20240615133011 > Flashcards

a-level_psychology_approaches_20240615133011 Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the 5 different Approaches in Psychology?

A
  1. Biological Approach
  2. Learning Approach
  3. Cognitive Approach
  4. Psychodynamic Approach
  5. Humanist Approach
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2
Q

What does Science mean?

A

The means of acquiring knowledge through systematic and objective investigation. Aim is to find general laws

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3
Q

What does Introspection mean?

A

An attempt to study the mind by breaking conscious awareness into basic structures of thoughts, images and sensations.

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4
Q

What is Psychology?

A

The study of the mind and it’s functions, and how the functions affect its behaviours

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5
Q

Where did Psychology originate from?
[3]

A
  • Germany
  • Late 1870s
  • William Wundt
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6
Q

Who invented Introspection?

A

William Wundt

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7
Q

What was Wundt known as in Psychology?

A

Father of Psychology

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8
Q

Who criticized Introspection and why?
[2]

A
  • Watson
  • He thought it was too subjective
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9
Q

Since what year has the study of mental processes been a highly scientific area?

A

Since cognitive revolution of 1960s

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10
Q

Discuss Wundt’s role in the emergence of psychology as a science [2]

A
  1. first to open a laboratory designated to the scientific study of psychology
  2. introspection still used today in areas such as therapy and studying emotional states demonstrating its value as, one way mental processes can be investigated
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11
Q

Who was the founder of the Psychodynamic Approach?

A

Sigmund Freud

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12
Q

What does Psychodynamic mean?

A

Any theory that emphasizes individual change

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13
Q

What are the 3 Assumptions of the Psychodynamic Approach?

A
  1. The unconscious mind drives behaviour
  2. Instincts motivate behaviour - there’s an innate desire that helps forms our personality
  3. Early childhood experiences is important in making who we are - experiences in childhood is reflected in adult behaviour
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14
Q

Detail the Iceberg model.
[3]

A
  • Conscious mind - Tip of iceberg seen
  • Preconscious mind - Memories we could be aware of if we tried
  • Unconscious mind - Memories we’re unaware of
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15
Q

Describe the Unconscious mind
[4]

A
  • Most of our memories are stored in the unconscious
  • Everyday actions are controlled by unconscious
  • Our unconscious behaviour is in Freudian Slips, Dreams
  • It contains repressed memories
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16
Q

Describe personality of human mind according to Psychodynamic Approach. [4]

A
  • It’s a tripartite system
  • ID
  • Ego
  • Superego
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17
Q

Desribe ID.
[4]

A
  • Primitive part of personality
  • Present at birth - 18 months
  • Pleasure principle
  • Selfish - instant gratification
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18
Q

Describe the Ego.
[4]

A
  • Develops between 18 months - 3 years
  • Mediator between ID and superego
  • Reality principle
  • Role is to use self-defence mechanisms to reduce conflict between demands of ID and superego
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19
Q

Describe Superego
[4]

A
  • Internalized sense of right and wrong
  • Develops between 3 years - 6 years
  • Morality principle
  • Strives for ego ideal - imposes on itself concepts of ideal behaviour developed from parental and social standards
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20
Q

How do Defense Mechanisms work?
[2]

A
  • They distort reality to weaken anxiety
  • Anxiety weakens ego; it can’t mediate between ID and superego
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21
Q

What are the three examples of Defense Mechanisms. Explain each one.
[3]

A
  1. Repression - blocking an unpleasant memory
  2. Denial - Refusal to accept reality
  3. Displacement - Redirecting emotions onto objects
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22
Q

Explain what Psychosexual Stages mean?
[3]

A
  • Instincts drive our unconscious mind so dictate experience
  • Underlying drive is sexual pleasure
  • How pleasure manifests itself depends on child
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23
Q

Name the 5 Psychosexual stages. Give what ages they appear in.

A
  1. Oral (0-1)
  2. Anal (1-3)
  3. Phallic (3-5)
  4. Latency (6-12)
  5. Genital (12+)
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24
Q

Describe the Oral Stage and it’s Consequences.
[2]

A
  • Pleasure is from mouth (mother’s breasts)
  • Consequences - smoking, biting nails
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25
Q

Describe the Anal Stage and it’s Consequences.
[2]

A
  • Child has pleasure releasing faeces and holding it in
  • Consquences - Anal Retentive is a Perfectionist, Anal Expulsive is messy
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26
Q

Describe the Phallic Stage and it’s Consequences.
[2]

A
  • Genital Area (oedipus/electra complex)
  • Consequence - Narcisstic, reckless, homosexual
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27
Q

Describe the Latency Stage and it’s Consequences.
[1]

A
  • Earlier conflicts are repressed
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28
Q

Describe the Genital Stage and it’s Consequences.
[2]

A
  • Sexual Desires are conscious
  • Consequence - Difficult not be homosexual
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29
Q

Desribe Oedipus Complex.
[4]

A
  • Comes in Phallic Stage
  • Boys have incestous feelings for mother
  • Murderous hatred for rival in love - father
  • Fearing father will castrate them, boys repress feelings for mother and identify with father
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30
Q

Describe the Electra Complex. [3]

A
  • Girls experience penis envy - desire the father as penis is primary love object
  • Hate mothers
  • Give up desires for father over time and replace it witth desire for baby
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31
Q

What does Social Learning Theory explain? (2)

A

1) Explains behaviour includes both direct and indirect reinforcement
2) Combines learning theory with cognitive factors

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32
Q

In SLT what does there need to be for an observer to watch?

A

Role Model

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33
Q

What does Role Model provide an example of?

A

Behaviour that can be observed and reproduced by imitation

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34
Q

What is imitation in SLT dependent on?

A

It’s dependent on the reinforcement a model receives

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35
Q

If a model experiences positive reinforcement, what is the observer more likely to do?

A

They’re more likely to imitate that behaviour, because they want to be rewarded

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36
Q

If a model experiences punishment, what is the observer less likely to do?

A

They’re less likely to imitate that behaviour, because they don’t want punishment

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37
Q

What does Vicarious Reinforcement mean?

A

When a reinforcement isn’t directly experienced by individual themselves, but happens by someone else being punished/reinforced for a behaviour.

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38
Q

What does Internal Mediational Process do?

A

Bridges gap between learning and cognitive theories

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39
Q

Steps of Imitation

What are the 4 steps of Mediational Processes (4)

A

You need to:
1) Pay attention to behaviour
2) Retain that behaviour
3) Observer must be able to reproduce behaviour
4) Observer must be motivated to reproduce that behaviour which is based off vicarious reinforcement

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40
Q

What is Attention?

A

Th extent to which we notice certain behaviours

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41
Q

What is retention?

A

How well a behaviour is remembered

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42
Q

What does attention and retention relate to?

A

The learning of behaviour

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43
Q

By who is the behaviour reproduced by?

A

Observer

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44
Q

What must the observer be motivated to do?

A

Perform the behaviour

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45
Q

What is motivation?

A

The will to perform a behaviour, which is often determined by whether the behaviour was rewarded or punished

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46
Q

What is motor reproduction?

A

It’s the ability of the observer to perform a behaviour

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47
Q

What is motivation and motor reproduction related to?

A

It’s related to the performance of the behaviour

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48
Q

For the behaviours of a role model to be remembered what does the individual need to do?

A

He needs to identify with the role model

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49
Q

How can an individual identify with role model?

A

They must feel like they’re similiar to that person (gender, age) and want to be like them

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50
Q

Which experiment investigated Role Models and when?

A

1) Bandura’s Research
2) 1961

51
Q

Describe Aim of Bandura’s Research

A

To demonstrate aggression can be learnt from modelling

52
Q

Describe the Procedure of Bandura’s Research (4)

A

1) 3-5 year old
2) 72 children took part
3) Equal number of boys and girls in 3 groups
4) Half saw male models and half saw female models

53
Q

Describe the Findings of Bandura’s Research (3)

A

1) Children copied and were aggressive
2) Boys were influenced more
3) Girls imitated more physical aggression with male models and more verbal aggression with female models

54
Q

What are the similarities of Behaviourism and SLT? [3]

A

1) Both fall under learning approaches umbrella
2) Both acknowledge that learning comes via experience
3) Both believe that learning can happen directly

55
Q

What are the differences between Behaviourism and SLT? (1st diff, 2 points)

A

1) SLT recognises that learner plays active role in learning
2) Behaviourism assumes that learner simply responds passively to environment

56
Q

What are the differences between Behaviourism and SLT? (2nd Diff, 2 points)

A

1) SLT recognises a difference between acquisition and performance of behaviour
2) Behaviourism argues that performance and learning are the same thing and behaviour is only learned if used

57
Q

What is Reductionism?

A

The belief that human behaviours is best understood by studying smaller constituent parts

58
Q

What is Holism?

A

An argument which says it only makes sense to study an indivisible system

59
Q

What is Determinism?

A

The view that an individual’s behaviour is shaped or controlled by internal/external forces, rather than an individual’s will to do something

60
Q

What is a Limitation of SLT? (too much lab)

A

1) There’s an over-reliance on lab studies to provide support for approach
2) In Bandura’s study children observed in controlled environment so demand characteristics
3) Children may’ve been doing what they believe was expected
4) Tells us little about how children learn aggression in real life, less applicability

61
Q

What is another Limitation of SLT? (Biological Factors) [3]

A

1) Underestimates the influence of biological factors on learning
2) Consistent finding in Bandura study was boys more aggressive than girls regardless of specifics
3) We play more of an active role in our learning that behaviourism suggests

62
Q

What is a Strength of SLT? (Africa) [4]

A

1) It can explain different cultures behaviour
2) Explains gender roles and how it differs in African countries, where males look after children and run home
3) SLT can account for how people learn form others around them
4) Explains range of behaviours

63
Q

What is another Strength of SLT? (less deterministic) [3]

A

1) SLT is less deterministic than Behaviourism
2) Skinner rejected free will and said all behaviour is controlled by external forces. But Bandura said we can store, and reproduce behaviour
3) We play an active role in our learning

64
Q

What is the main difference between SLT and Behaviourism?

A

1) SLT - plays active role in learning
2) Behaviourism - Learner simply responds passively to environment

65
Q

What is a strength of behaviourism? (Scientific Credibility) [4]

A

1) Behaviourism has scientific credibility
2) Brought languages and methods of the natural sciences to psychology and focused on measurement of observable behaviour
3) Research was objective and could be replicated
4) This was very influential in the development of psychology as a scientific discipline

66
Q

What is a strength of behaviourism? (Real Life Application) [4]

A

1) Approach has real life application
2) Token economy systems have been successfully used in prisons to modify prisoner behaviour
3) Rewarding appropriate behaviour can change behaviour through operant conditioning
4) Treatments like this have an advantage - less effort from patients

67
Q

What is a strength of behaviourism? (Psychological Problems) (4)

A

1) Can be used to explain how certain psychological problems develop
2) Two-process model which suggests that phobias are learned through classical conditioning and maintained through operant conditioning
3) Conditioning is a valid explanation of how phobias develop
4) Phobias can be treated by unlearning their phobia

68
Q

What is a limitation of behaviourism? (Deterministic) [4]

A

1) Highly deterministic
2) All actions are determined by past experiences that have been conditioned
3) Ignores any possible influence that free will may have on behaviour
4) Problematic - suggests people aren’t responsible for their own behaviour

69
Q

What is a limitation of behaviourism? (Ethical Issues) [4]

A

1) Ethical issues with using animals in research
2) Skinner exposed animals to stressful and adverse conditions by giving them shocks
3) Goes against BPS as not protecting animals from harm
4) Harm may not be necessary as we can’t generalise findings from animals to humans

70
Q

What does Cognitive mean?

A

Mental processes

71
Q

What are the 4 Assumptions of the Cognitive Approach?

A

1) The mind actively processes info from our senses
2) It argued that internal mental processes should be studied scientifically
3) Mediational processes occur between stimulus and response
4) Humans are information processors and therefore resemble computers.

72
Q

What does Inferences mean?

A

When cognitive psychologists draw conclusions about the way mental processes work based off observed behaviour

73
Q

What does Schema mean?

A

A cognitive framework that helps us organise and interpret information

74
Q

What is Schema learned through?

A

Experience

75
Q

What are babies born with (in relation to schema)?

A

Babies are born with a simple motor schema for innate behaviour

76
Q

What does Schema allow us to do when trying to organise and interpet lots of information? [2]

A
  • Schema allows us to take shortcuts when interpreting large amounts of information
  • This prevents us from being overwhelmed by environmental stimuli
77
Q

What can shortcuts in Schema negatively lead to?

A

Perceptual errors and stereotypes, as we make assumptions about people based on incomplete information

78
Q

What do Cognitive Psychologists do to study internal processes? [2 models]

A

They develop:
* Theoretical Models
* Computer Models

79
Q

What happens in Theoretical Models?

A

Suggests that information flows through a sequence of stages that include input, storage, retreival

80
Q

What is an example of Theoretical Model?

A

Multi store model of memory

81
Q

What happens in Computer Models?

A

Refers to programmes that can be run on a computer to imitate the human mind

82
Q

What can psychologists test by running such computer programmes?

A

Whether their ideas about info processing are correct

83
Q

What are the two formats humans can use to store memories?

A
  • Semantic
  • Acoustic
84
Q

Where was Cognitive Science first formally formed?

A

MIT

85
Q

What does Cognitive Neuroscience mean?

A

The scientific study of biological structures that underpin cognitive processes

86
Q

What is the two types of technology that helped Cognitive Neuroscience improve?

A
  • fMRI scans
  • PET scans
87
Q

Where has research shown that the episodic and semantic memories are stored on opposite sides of?

A

Prefrontal Cortex

88
Q

What does Internal Mental Processes mean?

A

Private operations of the mind such as perception and attention that mediate between stimulus and response

89
Q

What does Determinism mean?

A

The view that an individual’s behaviour is shaped by internal/ external forces rather than an individual’s will to do something

90
Q

What is a deterministic criticism for the psychodynamic approach? [2]

A

1) Criticised for it’s psychic determinism
2) This is the belief that behaviours is caused by unconscious conflicts we can’t control

91
Q

What is a deterministic criticism for learning approaches?

A

1) The learning approach is criticised for environmental determinism
2) The belief that behaviour is caused by features of environment we can’t control

92
Q

What is a deterministic criticism for the cognitive approach?

A

1) The cognitive approach is founded on soft determinism
2) The belief that there is constraints on behaviour but ,inside these limitations, we are free to make choices

93
Q

Scientific Methods

What is a Strength of Cognitive Approach? [4]

A

1) Cognitive approach has high control and rigorous methods of study to allow psychologists to infer processes
2) Lab experiments produce reliable + objective data (Peterson + Peterson)
3) High control of variables = cause and effect easily established
4) Increases validity of approach

94
Q

Machine Reductionism

What is a Limitation of the Cognitive Approach? [3]

A

1) Approach is too reductionist
2)Although human mind and computer are similar, machine reductionism ignores other influences on human emotion
3) Human mind is more complex than a machine

95
Q

Less Deterministic

What is a Strength of Cognitive Approach? [3]

A

1) Cognitive approach is less deterministic than other approach

2) Cognitive approach = soft determinism, recognises that cognitive system can only operate within limits of what we know

3) Behaviour isn’t controlled by other things - more reasonable

96
Q

Low Applicability

What is a limitation of Cognitive Approach? [4]

A

1) Difficult to apply research to real life
2) Making inferences about cognitive processes still has subjective judgement about abstract concept (artificial stimuli)
3) Research may lack external validity
4) Limits fullness of cognitive approach as a whole

97
Q

Demonstrates Role

What is a strength of Cognitive Neuroscience? [4]

A

1) Demonstrates role of experience in shaping the brain
2) Brain scans - brain plasticity
3) Brain changes and adapts as new experiences. Biology isn’t destiny
4) Cognitive neuroscience is less deterministic than other approaches

98
Q

What is the Biological Approach?

A

An approach that emphasizes the importance of physical processes in the body (such as genetic inheritance and neural function)

99
Q

What are genes?

A

They make up chromosomes and consist of DNA which codes physical features of organism (e.g. height) and psychological features (e.g. mental disorder)

100
Q

From what is genes transmitted?

A

From parent to offspring

101
Q

What is Biological Structure?

A

An arrangement of parts to form an organ, system or living thing

102
Q

What is Neurochemistry?

A

The chemicals in brain that regulate psychological functioning

103
Q

What is Genotype?

A

The particular set of genes that a person possesses

104
Q

What is Phenotype?

A

Characteristics of an individual determined by genes and environment

105
Q

What does Evolution mean?

A

The changes in inherited characteristics in biological populations over successive generations

106
Q

What are the Assumptions of Biological Approach? [4]

A
  1. Everything psychological is at first biological
  2. By looking at biological processes and functions in body, you can fully understand human behaviour
  3. Studying the brain’s structure and function explains thoughts and behaviour
  4. The mind lives in the brain - all thoughts, feelings and behaviour has physical basis
107
Q

Explain a contrast in one of the Assumptions of Biological Approach and one of the Cognitive Approach?

A

Biological approach sees mental processes of mind as being seperate from physical brain, in contrast to cognitive approach

108
Q

What do Behaviour geneticists study?

A

They study whether behavioural characteristics (such as intelligence) are inherited in same way as physical characteristics like height

109
Q

What does concordance mean?

A

The extent to which both twins share the same characteristic

110
Q

What are Twin Studies used to determine?

A

The likelihood that certain traits have a genetic basis by comparing the concordance rates between twins

111
Q

What does monozygotic twins mean?

A

Identical twins

112
Q

What does dizygotic twins mean?

A

Non-identical twins

113
Q

Which has higher concordance monozygotic twins and dizygotic twins?

A

Monozygotic twins

114
Q

How much percentage does monzygotic twins share with each other?

A

100%

115
Q

How much percentage does dizygotic twins share with each other?

A

50%

116
Q

What does human behaviour depend upon in terms of Genotype and Phenotype?

A

An interaction between inherited factors (nature) and environment (nurture)

117
Q

Who proposed Natural Selection?

A

Charles Darwin

118
Q

What does Natural Selection mean?

A

Any genetically determined behaviour that enhances an individual’s survival (and reproduction) will continue in future generations

119
Q

Give an example of Natural Selection.

A

A farmer deciding which cow to breed - one with most desirable characteristics (most milk)

120
Q

If you have a certain gene and don’t reproduce what will happen?

A

It won’t remain in the gene pool

121
Q

Scientific methods

What is a Strength of the Biological Approach?
[3]

A
  • The approach makes use of scientific methods
  • Biological approach uses lab experiments
  • This has high internal validity - you can control extraneous variables to see how IV affects DV - can make cause and effect
122
Q

deterministic

What is a Limitation of the Biological Approach?
[3]

A
  • The biological approach is deterministic
  • This is because it says your behaviour is a result of your genes
  • If a ‘criminal gene’ was discovered it could lead to less responsibility of the inidividuals - less impact
123
Q

drugs to treat

What is a Strength of the Biological Approch?
[3]

A

1) You can use it in development of drugs to treat mental illness
2) We have better understanding of biological processes which explain mental health diseases
3) This means we can make drugs for depression and schizophrenia

124
Q

reductionist

What is a Limitation of Biological Approach?
[4]

A

1) It’s reductionist
2) Explains behaviour by breaking it down into genes, hormones, neurotransmitters but ignores cognitive and environmental factors
3) For e.g., biological approach says OCD because of low level serotonin
4) Other factors not considered

A-Level Psychology (Paper 2) (6 decks)

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