A03 Psychologists for Approaches

Question 1

Research support for conditions of worth leading to dysfunction.

A03: Humanistic Psychology

Answer 1

• Research into adolescents shows evidence consistent with Roger’s views.
• Harter et al found that teenagers who feel that they must fulfil certain conditions (conditional positive regard) to please their parents often end up not liking themselves.
• They found that those who created a ‘fake self’ were more likely to develop depression and lose touch with their own true self.

Question 2

Real life applications

A03: Humanistic Psychology

Answer 2

• Maslow’s hierarchy is closely associated with economic development.
• Research by Hagerty has revealed that countries in the early phases of economic development primarily prioritize lower-level needs within the hierarchy, such as physiological needs due to limited access to food.
• It is only in the more advanced stages of economic development that self-actualization and self-esteem needs assume greater significance, underscoring the concept that higher-level needs can only be addressed once individuals have secured their most fundamental requirements.

Question 3

Research support for existence of defence mechanisms.

A03: Psychodynamic Approach

Answer 3

• Williams et al had looked at hospital records and found that 38% of the women who suffered sexual abuse in childhood in his sample weren’t able to recall the abuse.
• The women were even less likely to recall the abuse if they were much younger or when it was done by someone they knew.

Question 4

Is psychotherapy truly effective?

A03: Psychodynamic Approach

Answer 4

• Eysenck conducted a meta-analysis of thousands of psychoanalytic patients and found that 66% of patients recovered from their neurotic disorders when they had psychotherapy.
• Compared to 70% of the control group, casting doubt on its effectiveness at treating neurotic disorders and thus on Freud’s ideas.

Question 5

Has actually been proven via scientific methods.

A03: Psychodynamic Approach

Answer 5

• While critics point out that the psychoanalytic approach is not scientific and is not testable many of the claims that psychoanalysis made at the time have now been proven via scientific methods.
• Fisher conducted a meta-analysis of around 2,500 studies of the effectiveness of psychoanalytic therapy and found evidence to support the role of the unconscious and the existence of defence mechanisms such as repression, denial and displacement, concluding that experimental studies of psychoanalysis compared well with the studies relevant to any other area of psychology.

Question 6

Research support for twin studies

A03: Biological Approach

Answer 6

• Evidence to support this is that McGuffin et al did research linking the mental disorder, depression, with genetics. They found that the concordance rate of major depressive disorder for monozygotic twins was 46% and for dizygotic twins was 20%.
• This shows that there is a heritability factor for major depression. Therefore, meaning that there is a strong genetic component to major depressive disorder, thus providing support for the biological approach.

Question 7

Bartlett War of The Ghost provides research support for the existence of schemas

A03: Cognitive Approach

Answer 7

1. Bartlett had English participants read a Navajo folk tale.
2. Bartlett asked participants to recall the folk tale.
3. Bartlett measured how many details they got wrong.
4. Bartlett found that participants changed details to match their own schemas.

Question 8

Research support for identification with models

A03: Social Learning Theory

Answer 8

• Fox and Bailenson found evidence using computer generated humans engaging in exercise. the models looked either similar or dissimilar to the participant. the participants who viewed the similar model engaged in more exercise in the following 24 hours than those who saw the model loitering or dissimilar model.
• They concluded that greater identification with a model leads to more learning because it is easier to visualise the self in the place of model which shows that there is research support to support the idea of identification adding to the strength of this approach.

Question 9

Applied to real life problems such as token economies in prisons…

Can you outline research support for its effectiveness?

A03: Behaviourist Approach

Answer 9

• The principles of conditioning can be applied to real life problems and behaviour. For instance, operant conditioning has underpinned the token economy systems that has been used successfully in institutions, such as prison. These work by rewarding obedient behaviour with tokens that can then be exchanged for privileges.
• Gendreau and Ross (1979) conducted a meta-analysis of studies on token economies in prisons. The results showed that token economies were associated with a reduction in aggressive behaviour, a decrease in rule violations, and an increase in participation in educational and vocational programs. This increases the reliability of the approach because it has widespread application.

Question 10

Research support for the existence of ‘Classical Conditioning’ from Watson and Rayner

A03: Behaviourist Approach

Answer 10

• Over time, Little Albert learned to associate the loud noise (which by itself produces a fear response) with the neutral stimulus of the white rat.
• The white rat, which used to be a neutral stimulus, eventually produced a fear response without the pairing of a loud noise.

Question 11

General EV points

Answer 11

You could always use real-life applications for EV…

• Methodological issues e.g. case studies are unique and cannot be generalised…
• Ideas from Issues and Debates such as cultural bias, gender bias…
• Drugs as treatments always has economic implications.
• Comparison between approaches for EV, which is better/ is it really effective?
• Interactionist approach…
• Ethical issues (cost-benefit analysis)
• Demand characteristics
• Social Desirability Bias
• Validity/Reliability, types of them & improving this
• Inter-rater reliability esp in attachment
• Causation vs. Correlation
• Social Sensitivity
• Reductionism/Determinism (Use as Positive & Negative)
• What could be done to improve the research?
• Scientific?
• Supporting evidence (hardest to remember)

Question 12

An acronym to remember General EV points…

Mad
Ice
Dancers
Catch
Incredible
Eels,
Dance
Salsa,
View
Ridiculous
Ice
Cream,
Repeat,
Dance
Some
Extra

Answer 12

• Methodological
• Issues and Debates
• Drugs as treatments
• Comparison
• Interactionist Approach
• Ethical issues
• Demand Characteristics
• Social Desirability Bias
• Validity
• Reliability
• Inter-Rater Reliability
• Causation vs Correlation
• Reductionism/Real Life Application
• Determinism
• Scientific
• Evidence