Approach Flashcards
Describe Wundt’s role in the development of psychology (6)
- Wundt known as father of psy - moved from philosophical roots to controlled research
- Set up first psy lab in Liepzig, Germany
- Promoted introspection as way of studying mental processes
- Introspection - systematic analysis of own consious experience of stimulus
- Experience analysed in terms of its components parts
- Work paved way for later controlled research + study of mental processes
1900s
- Early behaviourists rejected introspection
- John B Watson argued introspection was subjective - varied person to person
- Behaviourist approach: scientific psy should study what can be observed + measured
1930s
- Behaviourist scientific approach dominated psy
- BF Skinner brought lang + rigour of natural sciences to psy
- Focused on learning + use of controlled lab studies
1950s
- Cognitive approach used scientific procedures to study mental prcesses
- Made inferences about mental processes on basis of tests conducted in controlled lab setting
1990s
- Biological approach introduced technological advances
- Recorded brain activity using scanning techniques (fMRI + EEG) + genetic research
What are the key assumptions of the behaviourist approach?
- Focuses on observable + measurable behaviour
- Uses lab studies to maintain control + objectivity
- Processes that govern learning are same in all species, so animals can replace humans as experimental subjects
Define classical conditioning
Learning through association
Define operant conditioning
Form of learning in which behaviour is shaped + maintained by its consequences
Describe the research used to study classical conditioning
- Pavlov - conditioned dogs to salivate when bell rings
- Before: US (food) → UR (salivate) , NS (bell) → no response
- During: NS + US → UR
- After: CS (bell) → CR
- Showed how NS can elicit new learned response through association
Describe the research used to study operant conditioning
- Skinner - rats + pigeons in specially designed boxes
- When rat activated lever, rewarded w/ pellet
- Desirable consequence led to behaviour being repeated
- If pressing lever meant avoiding electric shock, behaviour also repeated
Define negative reinforcement
Producing a behaviour that avoids something unpleasant
Define punishment
Unpleasant consequence of behaviour
What are the 3 types of consequences of behaviour?
- +ve reinforcement - inc likelihood of behaviour being repeated
- -ve reinforcement - inc likelihood of behaviour being repeated
- Punishment - dec
Define positive reinforcement
Recieving a reward when behaviour is performed
Evaluate Behaviourism
(+) Gave psy scientific credibility - careful measurment of observable behaviour w/in controlled lab setting
(+) Real life application - token economy reward appropriate behaviour + exchanged for privileges - prisons
(-) Env determinist - sees behaviour as determined by past exp that have been conditioned + ignores free will
(-) Animal research has ethical issues - Skinner, animals exposed to stressful situation so affected behaviour
What are the key assumptions of the social learning theory?
- Agree w/ behaviourist
- However people also learn through observation + imitation w/i social context
- Learning occurs directly + indirectly
Define vicarious reinforcement
- Reinforcement not directly experienced but occurs through observing someone else being reinforced for behaviour
- Behaviour seen to be rewarded is much likely to be copied than behaviour thats punished
What are the 4 mediational (cognitive) processes in learning?
- Attention
- Retention
- Motor reproduction
- Motivation
When is imitation of a behaviour most likely to occur?
- Identify w/ role model - identification
- Role model: similar to observer
Outline the procedure to Bandura’s study
- Children watched either:
- Adult behaving aggressive
- Adult not aggressive
- When given doll, children who saw aggression were aggressive
- Children saw adult who was:
- Rewarded
- Punished
- No consequence
- Aggression: 1, 3 + 2
Conclude Bandura’s research
- Children most likely to imitate violence if observed in adult role model
- Modelling aggressive behaviour is more likely if behaviour is rewarded
Define modelling
- Observer’s perspective: imitating behaviour of role model
- Role model perspective: demonstrating behaviour that may be imitated
Evaluate the social learning theory
(+) Supporting evidence - Bandura demonstrates role of identification + vicarious reinforcement
(+) Can explain cultural diff - accounts for how others learn from individuals + media, explaining how cultural norms are passed
(-) Over reliance on lab studies - children responding to demand characteristics
(-) Underestimates bio factors - boys more aggressive than girls despite conditions, more testosterone
What are the key assumptions of the cognitive approach?
- Contrasts behaviourist - argues mental processes should be studied
- Mental processes: private + can’t observe so studied indirectly by making inferences
Define inference
Process whereby cognitive psychologists draw conclusions about the way mental processes operate on basis of observed behaviour
Give an example of a theoretical model when describing + explaining mental processes
- Info processing approach
- Suggests info flows through seq of stages, includes: input, storage + retrieval
- eg. MSM
Give the use of computer models when describing + explaining mental processes
- Computer models refer to programmes that can run on computer to imitate human mind
- By running programme, psychologists can test whether ideas about info processing are correct
Describe the role of the schema
- Mental framework of beliefs + expectations that influence cognitive processing, develop from experience
- Bb born w/ simple motor schema for innate behaviour
Define cognitive neuroscience
Scientific study of influence of the brain structure on mental processes
Describe the use of cognitive neuroscience
- Brain scanning, scientist are able to describe neurological basis of mental processing, eg. memory: episodic + semantic linked to opposite sides of prefrontal cortex
- Also useful in establishing neurological basis of disorders
Evaluate the cognitive approach
(+) Uses scientific + objective method - scientific credibility
(+) Real life application - can explain faulty thinking processes can cause depression + developed CBT
(-) Too reductionist - similarities btw human mind + computer but ignores human motivation + influence on cognition - mind more complex
(-) Lacks external validity - inferences require degree of subjectivity about abstract concept + experiments use artifical tasks
What are the key assumptions of the biological approach?
- To understand human behaviour must look at bio structures + processes w/i body: genes, neurochem + NS
- Mind lives in brain - thoughts, feelings + behaviour have physical basis, contrasts cognitive : mind seperate from brain
Which studies are used to investigate the genetic basis of behaviour?
- Twin studies, comparing concordance rates
- High rates among MZ than DZ is evidence of genetic basis
Define genotype
Full set of genes person possesses
Define phenotype
Characteristics of individual determined by both genes + env - suggests human behaviour depends on interaction of nature + nurture
Which theory is used to explain many aspects of behaviour?
Natural selection
Evaluate the biological approach
(+) Uses scientific methods - experimental methods: highly controlled
(+) Real life application - understanding biochem processes has led to drug development
(-) Causation correlation - explains cause of mental illness through imbalance of NT, conclusion reached bc drugs that inc NT reduces symptoms
(-) Reductionist - bio exp of depression suggests its caused by low serotonin, ignores other factors
What does Freud suggest the mind is made up of?
- Conscious - what we are aware of
- Pre-conscious - thoughts we become aware of through dreams + slips of tongue
- Unconscious - vast storehouse of bio drives + instincts that influence our behaviour
What does the tripartive structure of personality include?
- Id
- Ego
- Superego
Define Id
Primative part of personality, operates on pleasure principle, demands instant gratification
Define ego
Works on reality principle + mediator btw id + superego
Define superego
Internalised sense of right + wrong, based on morality principle, punishes ego through guilt
Define the psychosexual stages
5 developmental stages that children pass through. Each stage theres a diff conflict, outcome determines future development
Oral
- 0-1 years
- Mouth, mother’s breast is object of desire
- Consequence: smoking, biting, sarcastic
Anal
- 1-3 years
- Anus, gains pleasure holding + eliminating faeces
- Consequence:
- Retentive - perfectionist
- Expulsive - messy
Phallic
- 3-5 years
- Genital focus
- Consquence: narcissistic, reckless
Latency
Earlier conflicts are repressed
Genital
- Puberty
- Sexual desire become conscious
Explain oedipus complex
- Phallic stage
- Boys develop incestuous feelings towards mother + hatred for father, repress feelings + identify w/ father on gender roles + moral values
- Girls: penis envy (electra complex)
What are the defense mechanisms used by the ego to reduce anxiety?
- Repression - forcing distressing memory out conscious mind
- Denial - refusing to acknowledge reality
- Displacement - transferring feelings from true source to substitute target
Evaluate the psychodynamic approach
(+) Explanatory power - dominant force in psy 1st half of 20th century, applied to many areas: personality
(+) Real life application - development of psychoanalysis, access unconscious using hypnosis + dream analysis
(-) Can’t be falsified - id + oedipus complex are in unconscious so can’t be tested - pseudoscience
(-) Pyschic determinism - explains behaviour as determined by unconscious conflict rooted in childhood - no free will
What are the key assumptions of the humanistic approach?
- Rejects attempt to establish scientific principles of human behaviour
- All unique + psy should concern itself w/ study of subjective experience than general laws - person centred approach
- Self-actualisation: all want to reach full potential
Explain Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
- Humans have innate tendency to achieve full potential
- To do this, must meet all levels of deficiency needs: physiological needs, safety + security needs, love + belongingness + self-esteem
- Personal growth: developing + changing as person become fulfilled, satisfied + goal orientated
What is Roger’s concept of congruence?
- Personal growth achieved when self is congruent w/ ideal self
- Gap too big = incongruence + self actualisation isn’t possible
Where is incongruence rooted?
- Childhood
- Parents love is limited - conditions of worth
What does a client centred therapy involve?
- Genuiness, empathy + unconditional +ve regard
- Aim: inc feelings of self worth + reduce incongruence btw self + ideal self
Evaluate the humanistic approach
(+) Anti reductionist - advocates holism - subjective exp can only be understood by considering whole person
(+) Promotes +ve image of human condition - Freud saw humans: slaves of past, offers optimistic alt
(-) Limited application in real world - lacks sound evidence, loose set of abstract concepts
(-) Western culture bias - personal growth seen as selfish in collectivist
Nature vs Nurture
- B: NU - blank slate
- SLT: NU - blank slate
- C: half - acknowledges innate processes but env influence schema
- B: NA
- P: half - innate drive but parents behaviour affect children
- H: doesn’t believe debate is valid however innate drive to self actualise, aided by env
Reductionist vs Holism
- B: env red - simplifies to stimulus-response
- SLT: red - simplifies to imitation but acknowledges cognitive factors
- C: mach red - human behaviour = computer
- B: bio red - genetics
- P: holism - many elements needed to explain behaviour eg. parents + personality
- H: holism
Determinism vs Free will
- B: env det - influenced by external forces
- SLT: reciprocal det - level of choice can + can influence env
- C: soft det - element of choice
- B: bio det - genes, DNA influence behaviour
- P: psychic det - unconscious mind determines behaviour
- H: free will - choice over decision
Idiographic vs Nomothetic
- B, SLT, C, B: Nom - seeks to establish laws
- P: both - idio bc uses case studies, nom bc applies to larger group
- H: idio - subjective experience for each individual
