Approaches Flashcards
Outline the behaviourist approach
Learning through association by pairing 2 stimuli repeatedly over time.
Pavlov + CC - Pavlovian Model:
UCS (food) -> UCR (salivate)
NS(bell) + UCS -> UCR
CS (bell) -> CR (salivate)
Dog conditioned to associate bell with food, over time began to salivate on just hearing bell alone - expected to be fed.
Skinner + Operant Conditioning
Rats in Skinner Box experience positive reinforcement when rewarded for pressing specific button + negative reinforcement for producing desired behaviour so avoided electric shock.
Positive + negative reinforcement encourage good behaviour to be repeated
Punishment (electric shock) when going in wrong area discourages undesirable behaviour to be repeated.
Evaluate the behaviourist approach (1+)
Usage of scientific methods.
Attempts to use nomothetic methods: high levels of control, objective measurement. observing results + laboratory studies. Results replicable to test for credibility
Elevates status
Evaluate the behaviourist approach (2-)
Scientific methods may limit with ethical issues.
Animals used in exps experienced great levels of stress + aversive conditions due to high degree of control over them
May have altered results produced - questions how replicable approach is.
Humans + animals different cognitively + physiologically so results may not be applicable
Raises moral issues + decreases credibility
Evaluate the behaviourist approach (3+)
But benefits may outweigh the issues due to real life application
Conditioning helped ppl overcome phobias / reduce anxiety + helped develop treatments + therapies for serious mental disorders - positive impact on ppl lives
Also token economy system (proposed by Skinner) based on systematic reinforcement of target behaviour, used in schools, psych wards + prisons, e.g. to reduce aggressive behaviour between inmates.
Rewards one for desirable behaviour so they’re likely to repeat it as it gives them sense of purpose.
Contribution to psych + society
Outline the cognitive approach
Importance of mental processes + how they affect our behaviour.
Theoretical model: uses flowcharts as pictorial version
Boxes are stores that we can see through brain scans + arrows are processes that we have to infer.
Computer model: compares human cognitive thinking to workings of computer e.g. way computers encode data through digits + symbols humans also encode visual + auditory data in memory.
Empirical advances in brain studies towards end of 20th century brought about cognitive neuroscience - contributed to development + understanding of PET + fMRI scans that help us ‘see’ brain + identify which parts are active during specific processes.
Approach helps us understand role of schema (mental framework that helps organise + interpret large sums of info based on our experiences + expectations.)
Evaluate the cognitive approach (1+)
High levels of control to investigate
E.g. lab studies, brain scans + info based on our understanding of cognitive neuroscience.
Provides approach credibility - methods based on scientific principles
Evaluate the cognitive approach (2-)
Actually may lack scientific methods.
Refers to cognitive processes that we cannot directly observe + so heavily based on inference.
Could be argued it does not implement scientific principles when conducting research - subjective in what is taken from findings rather than objective
Lowers its status in psych as credible approach.
Evaluate the cognitive approach (3-)
Machine reductionism.
By comparing humans to such simplicity, it ignores impact of emotions, feelings + motivation on human cognitive system + how this can affect our ability to process info
E.g. influence of anxiety on memory of an eyewitness.
Questionable credibility - we know importance of emotional factors + how they impact cognitive system
Outline the biological approach
Believes behaviour is consequence of our genetics / physiology + having understanding of brain structure can help explain our thoughts + behaviours.
Twin studies determine likelihood certain traits have a genetic basis by comparing concordance rates of twins. Mz twins found to have higher concordance rate than Dz twins - evidence genetics play important role in expression of that particular behaviour.
Genotype: particular set of genes they possess
Phenotype: way these genes expressed through physical, behavioural + psychological characteristics - influenced by environmental factors.
Despite genotype being identical, adult identical twins often look slightly different e.g. one dyed their hair / exercised more - much of human behaviour depends on interaction between inherited factors (nature) + environment (nurture).
Evaluate the biological approach (1+)
Helped develop important medication.
Increased understanding of biochemical processes in brain has led to development of psychoactive drug used to help treat e.g. depression.
Allows sufferers to manage condition + live relatively normal life rather than remain in hospital
Impactful contribution to real life situations + providing patients with better quality of life.
Evaluate the biological approach (2+)
Provide explanations for causations + treatment of OCD.
Nestadt previous twin studies - 68% of Mz twins shared OCD compared to 31% of Dz twins. As Mz twins higher rate than Dz, strongly suggests there is genetic influence to OCD + some vulnerable due to genetic make-up.
Increased understanding of role of serotonin + correlation with OCD emphasises bio approach’s contribution to behaviour: low serotonin levels cause normal transmission of mood relevant info to not take place - treat this with drug treatments e.g. SSRI’s / Tricyclics to reduce symptoms.
Mass contribution to understanding of human behaviour + treating disorders + providing empirical reasoning for cause.
Evaluate the biological approach (3-)
Determinist + supports all behaviour caused entirely by bio factors over which we have no control.
Encourage ppl not to take responsibility of actions + reject self-control. E.g. MAOA gene links with person being more aggressive – considering views of bio approach, criminals blame crimes on gene rather than free will
Serious limitation - lead to implications on legal system + wider society.
Outline the humanist approach
Holistic + based around free will.
Rejects scientific methods - perceives each individual as unique subjective case.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: 5 deficiency needs, goal is self-actualisation – becoming best possible version of yourself. To reach this one must master all other 4 deficiency needs:
Physiological
Safety
Love and belonging
Self-esteem
Not everyone will be successful despite innate desire to achieve.
Rogers’ client centred therapy: decreases gap of incongruence between one’s perceived self + ideal self. Provides patients with unconditional positive regard + blames childhood / parents for not offering unconditional love to children + instead giving conditions of worth
Ruined their self-esteem (4th deficiency) maybe why self esteem is barrier for majority from reaching their potential.
Evaluate the humanist approach (1+)
Places focus on whole individual - one of only to do so.
Allows humans not be seen as only products of stimulus-response links + places individual’s subjective experience at centre of values.
High credibility - reflects + satisfies most people’s idea of what being human means as it values personal ideals
Evaluate the humanist approach (2-)
Cultural bias
Focused around self-fulfilment + personal values - mirrors individualistic societies e.g. UK, seen as selfish in collectivist societies e.g. India that place emphasis on group + interdependence.
These societies may reject approach due to self-centred values
Imposed etic - assumed beliefs + approach developed in west generalise to world
