Approaches Flashcards
Repression Defence Mechanism
Unpleasant memories are pushed into the unconscious mind where they’re not accessible to the conscious mind and therefore cannot cause anxiety. However it does still affect behaviour in the unconscious mind
Denial Defence Mechanism
Refusal to accept the reality of an unpleasant situation. This reduces anxiety caused by the situation
Displacement Defence Mechanism
The focus of a strong emotion is expressed into a neutral person or object. This reduces anxiety by allowing expression of that emotion.
Repression Defence Mechanism Effect
No recall of an event or situation
Denial Defence Mechanism Effect
Someone may believe that the situations not negative and therefore it should not cause anxiety. This is not positive thinking, merely a resistance to accept reality.
Displacement Defence Mechanism Effect
Someone may exhibit strong emotion but focus it onto an uninvolved person or object
What are mediational processes and when do they happen
We don’t automatically observe behaviour of a model and imitate it. There’s some thought prior to imitation and this consideration is mediational processes. This occurs between observing the behaviour (stimulus) and imitating it or not (response)
What are the 4 mediational processes
- Attention: For a behaviour to be imitated it has to grab our attention- we observe many behaviours daily- most aren’t noteworthy.
- Retention: Behaviour maybe noticed but not remembered. It’s therefore important memory’s formed. Much of social learnings not immediate
- Reproduction: Not all behaviours possible to imitate- were limited by physical ability. Need to possess the skill set
- Motivation: Rewards+Punishments that follow a behaviour are considered by the observer. If perceived reward outweighs the cost, behaviours more likely to be imitated by the observer
What are the 4 factors in Bandura’s theory
- Modelling: In order for social learning, a model must carry out the behaviour
- Imitation: people will imitate if (1) characteristics of model appeal to them (2)observer has ability/ skill set to do so (3) perceived reward outweighs the risk
- Identification: extent to which an individual relates to a model- observer must feel they’re similar enough to experience a similar outcome to the behaviour
- Vicarious Reinforcement: Reward and punishment do not need to be experienced directly they can observe the consequences and judge whether they’re likely to receive the same outcome. Reward and punishment can work vicariously.
What are the two types of model
Live models (parent teacher ect.)
Symbolic models (someone in TV (character) or media)
What factors influence identification with a model
Gender, ethnicity, status, expertise
Cognitive approach assumptions (3)
- Thought processes can and should be stupid scientifically
- The mind works like a computer
- Stimulus and response is appropriate
What are schema
A collection of ideas about a person or situation formed through experience that act as a cognitive framework to help us organise and interpret information
What’s the information processing model
Input (comes from environment via the senses and is encoded by the individual)
—> Processing (once encoded the info can be processed (eg.schemas))
—> Output (behavioural response)
What’s cognitive neuroscience
the scientific study of the influence of brain structures on mental processes
What did Broca do in the 1860s and why’s it significant
Identified how damage to an area of the frontal lobe could permanently impair speech production (now known as Broca’s area)
What brain imagining techniques have been developed in the last {x} years
{20 years}
fMRI and PET scans- allow us to observe and describe the neurological basis of mental processes
fMRI= Functional magnetic resonance imaging
PET= Positron emission tomography
Genotype
The genetic profile of an individual and the information contained in their genes
Phenotype
Refers to the expression of the genotype and it’s interaction with the environment
What are neurotransmitters
Chemical messengers that transmit information between neurons
Biological Approach Assumptions (4)
- Behaviours rooted in the physiology and biology of the body
- Examines the processes that occur and looks at how that may affect an individual
- Factors include genes, neurotransmitters, biological structures and evolution
- Suggests all behaviours predetermined due to these biological factors
What are the two different types of twins
-Monozygotic (identical) twins
-Dizygotic (non-identical) twins
How do monozygotic twins prove the ____ argument
(Interactionist argument)
Monozygotic twins don’t have a 100% concordance rate which means external factors and genes interact to cause a disorder
What’s concordance rate (in twins)
Likelihood both individuals develop a disorder/show similar behaviours
Summary of Evolution
- Random change (mutation) in genetic make up
- Change in behaviour or characteristic
- If survival/ chance of reproduction increase the genes passed on and vice versa over many generations
Psychodynamic approach assumptions
- The unconscious minds the driving force behind behaviour
- Were driven by instinct to go through a series of stages in development of our behaviour and personality
- Early childhood experiences are believed to be pivotal in making us the person we are. Most of our psychological development is formed prior to the age of 6
The conscious mind
The part of the mind we can access
The pre-conscious mind
Made up of thoughts that may surface into the conscious at any point
The unconscious mind
Part of the kind we can’t access. Traumatic memories remain here and don’t surface easily
What are the 3 unconscious personalities
ID, Ego, Superego
What’s the ID and what’s it referred to as
‘The pleasure principle’. Present at birth. The dominant force to seek pleasure. ‘I want it and I want it now’
(Selfish, self indulgent, seeks pleasure no matter the cost)
What’s the Ego and what’s it referred to as
‘The reality principle’. Developed at 18months- 3years old. The rational ego that manages the other two personalities as they’re always in conflict. (Considerate, rational, realistic)
What’s the Superego and what’s it referred to as
‘The morality principle’. Developed at 3-6 years old as children become socialised into he moral standards of their culture. This represents their conscience.
(Uptight, follows the laws rigidly, worries constantly, wants control)
What’s true of the ID, Ego and Superego
- All three parts are shaped by experience and will affect behaviour. The psychodynamic approach suggests much of behaviour comes from conflict between the 3
- According to Freud we have these 3 characters in our mind at the same time. If they’re unbalanced this can cause a lot of anxiety and eventually lead to mental abnormality
Freida psychosexual stages in order
Oral stage
Anal stage
Phallic stage -> Oedipus/Electra complexes
Latent stage
Genital stage
What study can be used to evidence perception
Simons and Chabris (1999)
Briefly outline Simons and Chabris (1999)
• Two teams of three basketballers passing a ball; patricipants asked to count how many times they pass the ball
• Either a woman with a number all or man in gorilla suit walked across the screen
• Subjects who counted passes incorrectly weren’t included and other were asked if they noticed anything strange about the video
• Half the observers given slightly transparent videos- less ‘transparent patricipants’ noticed
• 54% of people noticed gorilla/woman
One positive/negative of Simons and Chabris (1999)
+ High internal validity
- Low mundane realism
What did Simons and Chabris (1999) conclude
Inattention means we dont process or comprehend many things in our visual field
Positive of SLT
• Supporter of the nurture side of NvN; learning takes place from the environment
• however it also looks at cognitive processes so could be argued as interactionist in comparison to the behaviourist approach
• More appropriate than behaviourist for analysing human behaviour
Negatives of SLT (2)
- Despite experimental methods, lots of research based on observations (subjective) so validity can be questioned
- Underestimates biological factors- psychodynamic/ biological approaches maybe more credible as they identify biological factors
Example of SLT ignoring biological factors
In Bandura (1961) boys are consistently more aggressive than girls which could be explained by hormones; testosterone (more present in boys) is heavily linked to aggression
What’s the computer model in the cognitive approach
• Input (senses)
• Processing ( once encoded the info can be processed)
• Output (behavioural response)
