Approaches Flashcards
What is introspection
The first systematic experimental attempt to study the mind by breaking up conscious awareness into basic structures of thoughts, images and sensations
What is psychology
The scientific study of the mind, behaviour and experience
What is the definition of science
A means of acquiring knowledge through systematic and objective investigation. The aim is to discover general laws
What is the behaviourist approach
A way of explaining behaviour in terms of what is observable and in terms of learning
What is classical conditioning
Learning by association
- occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired together
- unconditioned stimulus and a new neutral stimulus
- the neutral stimulus eventually produces the same response that was first produced by the unconditional stimulus alone
What is operant conditioning
A form of learning in which behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences.
- possible consequences of behaviour include reinforcement (positive or negative) and punishment
what is reinforcement
A consequence of behaviour that increases the likelihood of that behaviour being repeated
- can be positive and negative
What is the social learning theory
A way of explaining behaviour that includes both direct and indirect reinforcement, combining learning theory with the role of cognitive factors
What is imitation
Copying the behaviour of others
What is identification
When an observer associates themselves with a role model and wants to be like the role model.
What is modelling
From the observers perspective, modelling is imitating the behaviour of a role model
From the model’s perspective, modelling is the precise demonstration of a specific behaviour that may be imitated bu an observer
What is vicarious reinforcement
Reinforcement which is not directly experienced by occurs through observing someone else being reinforces for a behaviour
This is a key factor of imitation.
What is meditational processes
Cognitive factors that influence learning and come between stimulus and response
What are the meditational processes
Attention - the extent to which we notice certain behaviours
Retention - how well the behaviour is remembered
Motor reproduction - the ability of the observer to perform the behaviour
Motivation - the will to perform the behaviour, which is often determined by whether the behaviour was rewarded to punished
What is the cognitive approach
The term ‘cognitive’ has come to mean ‘mental processes’, so this approach is focused on how our mental processes affect behaviour
What are internal mental processes
‘Private’ operations of the mind such as perception and attention that mediate between stimulus and response
What is a schema
A mental framework of beliefs and expectations that influence cognitive processing
- they are developed from experiences
What is inference
The process whereby cognitive psychologists draw conclusions about the way mental processes operate on the basis of observed behaviour
what is cognitive neuroscience
The scientific study of those biological structures that underpin cognitive processes
What is the biological approach
A perspective that emphasises the importance of physical processes in the body such as genetic inheritance and neural functions
What are genes
They make up chromosomes and consist of DNA which codes the physical features of an organism
What are biological structures
An arrangement or organisation of parts to form an organ, system or living thing
What is neurochemistry
Relating to chemicals in the brain that regulate psychological functioning
What is a genotype
The particular set of genes that a person possesses
What is a phenotype
The characteristics of an individual determined by both genes and the environment
What is evolution
The changes in inherited characteristics in a biological population over successive generations