Approaches Flashcards
Definition of an approach
Perspective/view that involves certain assumptions/ beliefs about human behaviour: the way they function, which aspects are worth of study and what research methods are appropriate for observing its effects.
Assumptions of behavioural approach
- should focus on behaviour that can be observed and measured
- behaviour is learned from experience
- learning processes in humans are the same as in animals, therefore they are comparable.
Whats the idea of classical conditioning
we learn to respond to something that previously had no meaning to us by creating a mental link. It is learning by association
Examples of classical conditioning
Pavlov’s dogs- salivating
Little Albert study- white fluffy rat
What is operant conditioning
when we learn to behave in a particular way based upon the consequences of that behaviour
Examples of operant conditioning
Punishment or reward
Strengths of behavioural approach
Scientific
Can be applied to many circumstances: operant conditioning= token economy
Limitations of behavioural approach
Can we generalise from animals to humans?
Is it ethical to study animals- form of discrimination called ‘speciesism’
Assumptions about social learning theory
behaviour is learned from environment, so does NOT regard genetics as an influence.
Behaviour is learned from observing others and the reinforcement or punishment they receive
Cognitive factors will mediate whether we do observe and imitate a behaviour
5 social learning theory points
role models observation imitation mediational process vicarious reinforcement
4 steps of mediational processes
Attention
Retention
Reproduction
Motivation
Study’s for social learning theory
Bandura’s bobo doll study 1961
Strengths of the social learning theory
Based on scientific research
It has practical applications
Explanatory power across cultures- Costa et al 2001
Less deterministic than behavioural approach
Limitations of social learning theory
Reductionist bc neglects other influences
Cognitive aspects are not testable
Can we show cause and effect in real life?
Cognitive approach assumptions
argues that since behaviour can be explained by what occurs in our mind, we should therefore study mental processes scientifically
we make INFERENCES about mental processes
use models to represent the mind and how it works
What is the information processing model
mind works like a computer, input of information, it is processed inside computer and then there’s an output response
our thoughts mediate our behaviour
Explain theoretical and computer models
proposed to attempt to explain and infer information about mental processes, which unlike behaviour, cannot be seen. so psychologist have developed models
Uses of multi-store model of memory
illustrates how a memory goes from sensory output to long-term memory. allow to test individual components of memory and for detailed examination
scientific areas of brain can be identified to certain tasks
What is a schema
cognitive framework or mental structure that helps organise and interpret information and guide human behaviour
Why are schemas useful
they help us better understand our environment
Types of schemas
Role Schemas
Event Schemas
Self Schemas
What is a role schema
ideas about behaviour which is expected of someone
What is an event schema
contain information about what happens in a certain situation
What is a self schema
contain information about ourselves based on physical characteristics and personality. They affect how we act
What is accommodation
altering ones schema due to new information
Why are schemas important and why are they not perfect
play an important role in memorising information. help to organise and interpret information, but also predict what may happen in the future
however, humans make mistakes, and the cognitive frameworks we have for certain concepts/situations can be wrong
Why is cognitive neuroscience helpful
we can make inferences about brain function when patients show a mirror image of an impairment
What is dissociation
occurs when we can identify a specific brain region and link it to a function
What is double dissociation
demonstrate two separable systems one experimental variable is found to affect one of the systems, whereas a second variable affects the other
Strengths of cognitive approach
- improved understanding of mental processes
- scientific and backed by research
- Has very important applications
Limitations of cognitive approach
- Its inference not observation
- Comparing humans to computers?
- Reductionist- fails to account for individual differences
- Lacks ecological validity
Assumptions of biological approach
human behaviour is explained by hormones, genetics, evolution and the nervous system. Experimental evidence on animals can inform us about human behaviour because we share lots of biological similarities
Nature vs Nurture
Nature:
- nativists
- behaviour/characteristics are innate
- behaviour/characteristics are hereditary
Nurture:
- empiricists
- born Tabula Rasa (blank slate)
- experiences shape our behaviour/characteristics
Genetics and behaviour- biological approach
personality, intelligence, behaviour and mental disorders are determined by our genetic inheritance
What is a genotype/ phenotype?
genotype- collection of all genes within each cell of an individual; genetic make-up
phenotype- characteristics that genes produce e.g hair colour
Phenotype- characteristics and behaviour of individual arising from an interaction between the genotype and environment
What is concordance rate?
What are MZ and DZ twins?
Concordance rate- percentage of pairs of twins or other blood relatives who exhibit a particular trait or disorder.
MZ- Monozygous twins (genetically identical)
DZ- Dizygous twins (non-identical)
Gottesman (1991) 40 twin studies results:
schizophrenia in general population= 1%
having identical twin with schizo= 48% chance developing schizo. reduced to 17% in non-identical twins
another factor must be involved
Heston (1966) adoption study on schizo
47 adopted children with schizophrenic biological mothers . control group=50 adopted children who’s mothers not have schizo.
5/47 became schizo
4 were borderline
0 in control group
What is evolution?
change in characteristics of a species over several generations and relies on the process of natural selection
What is central nervous system made up of?
Brain- control behaviour, regulate body’s physiological processes
Spinal Cord- brain receives information from spinal cord
Nerve Cells- neurones carry messages between brain and spinal cord
Terms: Receptor- Stimulus- Effectors- Nerve- Nerve impulse-
Receptor- specialised cells that detect stimulus
Stimulus- changes in the environment
Effectors- carry out response (muscles or glands)
Nerve- neurones
Nerve impulse- electrical message that passes along a neurone
What are the two nervous systems?
Central Nervous System
Peripheral Nervous System
What is the peripheral nervous system made up of?
Somatic
Autonomic- Sympathetic, Parasympathetic
Lobes of the Brain
Frontal Lobe Temporal Lobe Parietal Lobe Occipital Lobe Cerebellum Brainstem
What is neurochemistry
study of chemical processes that occur in nervous system. neurotransmitters e.g Dopamine and Serotonin. A neurotransmitter is a chemical messenger that travels from one neurone to the next across a synapse.
What are hormones, where are they produced?
The hypothalamus is connected to the pituitary gland and is responsible for stimulating or controlling the release of hormones from the pituitary gland. Hypothalamus is the control system which regulates the endocrine system.
Strengths of biological approach
- uses scientific methods to obtain evidence that is empirical, falsifiable, objective and scientific. evidence is high in validity, reliability and replicability.
- clear applications
- strong links to other theories like cognitive approach and evolutionary approach
Weaknesses of biological approach
- Reductionist, only biological factors none others
- Deterministic
- Cause and Effect
What is the psychodynamic approach?
A perspective that describes the different forces (dynamics), most of which are unconscious, that operate on the mind and direct human behaviour and experience
Sigmund Freud explained what?
human behaviour was largely explained by unconscious activity within the mind. traumatic experiences that occur during childhood are pushed into our unconscious. theses experiences then materialise later on in adulthood in the form of mental disorders.
assumptions of psychodynamic approach
- behaviour is determined by unconscious activity in the mind
- humans possess innate instincts/drives that motivate our behaviour
- childhood experiences are key in shaping adult personality
- psyche is comprised of the id,ego,superego
Id
Ego
Superego
Id- pleasure principle, it gets what it wants, selfish
Ego- reality principle, compromise, meets needs of Id but in a socially acceptable way
Superego- morality principle, moral principle, internalised sense of what is right and wrong
Examples of defence mechanisms in psychodynamic
Repression- forcing memory out of conscious mind
Denial- refusing to acknowledge aspect of reality
Displacement- transferring feelings onto substitute target
Sublimation- socially unacceptable impulses transformed into more socially acceptable actions/ behaviours
Psychosexual stages
Oral (0-1 yrs)- smoking,sarcastic, critical. mums breasts
Anal (1-3 yrs)- retentive: perfectionist, obsessive. Expulsive: thoughtless, messy
Phallic (3-5)- narcissistic, reckless, maybs homosexual. genital area
Latency- earlier conflicts are repressed
Genital- sexual desires become conscious with puberty
What is the oedipus complex?
- boy develops sexual desire for mother
- wants to possess mother so sees father as rival
- scared father will find out and castrate him
- identifying with father and suppresses love for mother
- takes values of father, develops superego and sense of gender identity
What is the electra complex?
- girl desires father but does not have a penis
- penis envy and wish to be a boy
- represses desire for father and substitutes wish for a penis with wish for a baby
- girl blames mother for castrated state, creates tension. represses feelings and identifies with mother to take on female gender role
Three main forms of psychoanalysis
Interpretation
Free association
Transference
Psychodynamic approach strengths:
- valid claims
- practical applications
- evidence of its usefulness
- idiographic approach
- not reductionist
Psychodynamic approach weaknesses:
- not very scientific
- case studies unrepresentative
- bias in thought
Assumptions of humanistic approach
- every individual is unique and should be treated as such (nomothetic)
- people should be viewed holistically not just individual aspects (holism)
- we have free will, in control of our own behaviour
- scientific method is not an appropriate way to measure behaviour as humans are subjective
What are the 2 different concepts of the humanistic approach
Perceived self- concept of ourselves
Ideal self- person we would like to be
what is incongruence in the humanistic approach
Incongruence- a lack of unconditional positive regard from parents
Person centred therapy evidence:
Glass (1983)- no more effective than placebo effect
Elliot (2009)- similar effect size as other types of treatment.
Maslow- humanistic approach, hierarchy of needs
Physiological (food, water)
Safety and security (home and family)
Love and belongingness (friends, positive relationships with family members)
Self-esteem (self-confidence and respect of others)
Self-actualisation (fulfilment of your potential as a human)
Humanistic approach strengths
- Person centred therapy shown to be useful to others, practical applications
- Emphasises autonomy and free will when choosing behaviour
- Holistic and places focus on whole of the individual
Humanistic approach weaknesses
- Extremely difficult to empirically test Maslow’s concept of self-actualisation
- Highly subjective
- Methodology is hard to replicate as each relationship between client and therapist is different and is guided by their own expertise.
What is a neutral stimulus? NS
The stimulus causes no reaction
What is an unconditioned stimulus? UCS
The stimulus is natural/unlearned and produced a fight or flight response
What is an unconditioned response? UCR
It is a natural response to the UCS
What is a conditioned stimulus?
the conditioned stimulus is a previously neutral stimulus that, after becoming associated with the unconditioned stimulus, eventually comes to trigger a conditioned response
What is a conditioned response?
an automatic response established by training to an ordinarily neutral stimulus.
