Approaches Flashcards
Wundt and introspection
Set up first psych labs in 1870s
Introspection : systematic analysis of your own conscious experience of a stimulus
1) focus on stimulus
2) reflect on different mental processes
3)description of inner processes
4)compare different participants
Emergence of psychology as a science
Empirical approach through direct experience
Pavlov and skinner developed behaviourist approach - observable learned behaviour
Rise of cognitive in 60s saw study of mental processes more scientific
1980s - biological approach - advances in tech e.g. fMRI and EEGs
Behaviourist approach
Stimulus-response learning
Classical conditioning - Pavlov - learning by association with dogs
Operant conditioning - Skinner - learning by reinforcement with rats in ‘skinner boxes’
Positive reinforcement - treat when press lever
Extinction - treats stop so rats stop pressing lever
Negative reinforcement - perform same behaviour to avoid mild electric current beneath feet
S - behaviourist
STRENGTH
Observable and measurable
Highly controlled
Empirical evidence
P - behaviourist
STRENGTH
Systematic desensitisation- successful phobia treatment
McGrath - 75% success
R - behaviourist
WEAKNESS
Reduces human behaviour down to specific variables
Environmental - no biological E.g. twin studies
Requires more holistic
E - behaviourist
WEAKNESS
Animal studies e.g. Pavlov and skinner
Humans may be able to control behaviour more effectively in response to external factors
Limited in ability to explain human behaviour
D - behaviourist
WEAKNESS
Environmental determinism - factors outside of control
Doesn’t explain why we all react differently to same environment e.g. two people experience similar frightening experience, won’t both necessarily develop phobia
Ignores free will
Social learning theory
Bandura - learn indirectly through observation and imitation
Vicarious reinforcement
Identification and modelling - possess similar characteristics, attractive, high status
Mediational processes - attention, retention, reproduction, motivation
Bobo doll experiment
Aim - see if role models influence behaviour
Procedure - half shown aggressive and other half shown non-aggressive and then taken to room with toys and behaviour rated on scale of aggression
Findings - half shown aggressive reproduced aggression onto bobo doll whereas those shown non-aggressive didn’t show aggression
Also greater imitation when model was same gender
Conclusion - aggressive model leads to aggressive behaviour - level of imitation affected by characteristics
S - SLT
STRENGTH
Observable and measurable
E.g. Bandura bobo doll was highly controlled
Empirical evidence
HOWEVER
Mediational processes can to be observed and must be inferred
P - SLT
STRENGTH
Concepts like identification and modelling used to encourage positive behaviour
Pro social ads e.g. anti alcohol
R - SLT
STRENGTH
Incorporates internal cognitive factors and how they interact with environment
E.g. identification and modelling
May still ignore biological however it is more holistic than behaviourist
E - SLT
WEAKNESS
Influenced by demand characteristics
E.g. argued that main purpose of bobo doll is to strike it
May be based on flawed evidence
D - SLT
STRENGTH
Less determinist than behaviourist - doesn’t suggest that behaviour is caused totally by factors outside of control
Do have some ability to mediate
Middle ground between determinism and free will
Cognitive approach
Internal mental processes - studied indirectly by making inferences
Theoretical and computer models e.g. MSM
schema - mental frameworks of ideas or expectations developed through experience - act as shortcuts but can distort interpretations of the world with stereotypes
Cognitive neuroscience - scientific study of the biological structures and functions that underpin cognitive processes - fMRI and PET scans e.g. Tulving LTM
S - cognitive
STRENGTH
Observable and measurable
E.g. lab experiments and emergence of cognitive neuroscience enabled researchers to infer cognitive processes
Empirical
HOWEVER
Inferences could be mistaken
P - cognitive
STRENGTH
CBT - March - just as effective as drugs when treating depression
Cognitive neuroscience - localisation of function e.g. memory
R - Cognitive
WEAKNESS
Reduces human behaviour down to level of computer
Ignores role of human emotion e.g. EWT - anxiety affects memory
Machine reductionism - requires more holistic
E - cognitive
WEAKNESS
lacks ecological validity
E.g. memory evidence uses meaningless materials - random word or digit lists
Flawed evidence
D - cognitive
STRENGTH
Less determinist than others - doesn’t suggest behaviour is totally caused by factors outside of control
E.g. free to think before responding to stimulus
Soft determinism - middle ground
Biological approach
Physical structures and processes in brain
Genetic basis of behaviour - concordance rates between twins - MZ have higher than DZ
genotypes and phenotypes - influenced by environmental
Neurochemistry - neurotransmitters affect behaviour
Localisation of function
Natural selection
S - biological
STRENGTH
Observable and measurable
Brain scans highly controlled
Empirical evidence
P - biological
STRENGTH
drug therapy
Soomro - SSRIs more effective than placebos in treating OCD
R - biological
WEAKNESS
reduces behaviour down to biological and ignores environmental
E.g. studies by Pavlov skinner and bandura show behaviours are learned
Limited and over simplifying - requires more holistic explanation
E - Biological
WEAKNESS
Struggle to disentangle nature and nurture
Twins and members of same family share same environment so unclear whether behaviour is biologically determined or environmentally
May be based on flawed evidence
D - biological
WEAKNESS
Suggests behaviour is caused by factors outside of our control
Biological determinism - doesn’t explain MZ twins don’t always have 100% concordance rates e.g. 68% for OCD
Ignores free will
Psychodynamic approach
Freud - Behaviour is explained by unconscious mind
Personality - tripartite
Id- pleasure principle - selfish
Ego - reality principle - mediator - reduces conflict by defence mechanisms
Superego - morality principle - based on moral standards of same sex parent - punishes the ego for wrongdoings through guilt
Defence mechanisms
Repression
Denial
Displacement - transfer feelings from true source of distress onto substitute
Psychosexual Stages - any unresolved conflict leads to becoming fixated
Oral - 0-2 - leads to smoking or nail biting
Anal - 2-3 - anally retentive or expulsive
Phallic - 3-6 - Oedipus and Electra - narcissism
Latency - 6-12 - conflicts are repressed
Genital - 12+ - sexual desires become conscious during puberty
S - psychodynamic
WEAKNESS
Not observable and measurable
Abstract concepts such as id, ego, superego cannot be falsified
No empirical evidence
P - psychodynamic
STRENGTH
Psychoanalysis - aims to access unconscious mind
Successful in treating phobias
R - psychodynamic
STRENGTH
Less reductionist than others
Argues other factors play a role
E.g. instinctive drives and upbringing (nature and nurture)
More holistic than others
E - psychodynamic
WEAKNESS
Case studies e.g. Little Hans - phobia of horses - Freud argued repressed and displaced fear of father
Not generalisable so may be flawed
D - psychodynamic
WEAKNESS
Suggests behaviour is caused by factors outside of control
Known as psychic determinism - many argue that we have more conscious control than Freud suggests
Ignores free will
Humanistic approach
Behaviour is explained in terms of free will
Maslows hierarchy of needs - realise our true potential
Five levelled sequence ( physiological, safety, love and belonging, esteem, self actualisation)
Morality, creativity spontaneity, problem solving, lack of prejudice,
Self congruence
Conditions of worth - Rogers - lack of unconditional possible regard as child
Counselling psychology
Show empathy and provide unconditional positive regard
Dissolves conditions of worth and increase self congruence
S - humanistic
WEAKNESS
Not Observable and measurable
Abstract concepts such as self actualisation and congruence are unfalsifiable
No empirical evidence
P - humanistic
STRENGTH
Revolutionised counselling
Counsellors use the client-centred approach and similar ideas are used in schools and social work
R - humanistic
STRENGTH
Avoids reducing behaviour down to specific variables
E.g. argues that person can only be understood by considering whole person
Doesn’t oversimplify - holistic
E - humanistic
WEAKNESS
Non-experimental methods so impossible to verify results of counselling - uses more qualitative such as interviews
Lacks objectivity
D - humanistic
WEAKNESS
rejects determinism - active agents with free will
Ignores role of factors outside of our control e.g. biological
Need a more reasonable position between determinism and free will - middle ground
Value and contribution to science - Wundt
1870s
1st psych lab
Pulled away from philosophy and made subject of its own right
Value and contribution to science - Psychodynamic
1896 - Freud
Understanding unconscious mind
Explained personality and effect of childhood
Psychoanalysis
Value and contribution to science - behaviourist
1913 - Skinner and Pavlov
More scientific and observable
Animal studies
Falsifiable
Systematic desensitisation
Value and contribution to science - humanistic
1950s - Maslow and Rogers
Positivity
Counselling
Value and contribution to science - SLT
1961 - Bandura
Pro social ads
Middle ground for determinism
Interaction between environment and internal processes
Value and contribution to science - cognitive
1960s
Theoretical models e.g. MSM
CBT
Scientific
Value and contribution to science - biological
1980s
SSRIs
Development in medicine and tech
Nature - rejects nurture
Value and contribution to science - cognitive neuroscience
1990s
Bridge between biological and cognitive
