Approaches Flashcards
What did Wundt do? (4 things)
Opened first psychology lab
Introspection
Controlled procedures
Structuralism
What did Wundt’s controlled procedures involve?
Ppts presented with a ticking metronome, and asked how it made them think and feel.
What is structuralism?
Breaking up the consciousness into thoughts, images and functions.
Evaluation of Wundt
+ Aspects of Wundt’s work are scientific; he recorded the introspections from within a controlled lab environment.
- Aspects of Wundt’s work are subjective; relied on people’s abilities to self-examine their inner processes, very subjective
Key features of SLT
Vicarious learning
Vicarious reinforcement (relating behaviour to consequences)
Mediational processes in learning
Identification with role models
What are the four mediational processes?
Attention
Retention
Reproduction
Motivation
Bandura procedure (1961)
Children watched either:
-Adult behaving aggressively to Bobo doll
-Adult behaving passively to Bobo doll
Bandura findings (1961)
Children copied adult behaviour
Bandura and Walters procedure (1963)
Children saw adult who was either _______ for being aggressive to Bobo doll:
-Rewarded
-Punished
-Shown no consequence
Bandura and Walters findings (1963)
Children who saw rewards were much more likely to copy behaviour
Evaluation of SLT (Emphasis)
+ SLT emphasises importance of cognitive factors; humans and animals store information about perceived behaviours in order to make judgements later on when in those scenarios.
- COUNTER: Research shows that observational learning is controlled by neurons in the brain, which suggests SLT might not put enough emphasis on biological factors
Evaluation of SLT (Real world application)
Explains how children learn gender roles through representation in the media
Key features of the cognitive approach
Study of mental processes
Inference of information
Schemas
Theoretical models e.g multi-store model
Computer models
Cognitive neuroscience
What are schemas?
Packages if information developed through experience that form a mental framework
What is cognitive neuroscience?
The study of the influence of brain structures on mental processes
CN found that the parahippocampal gyrus links to OCD
Evaluation of cognitive approach? (methodology)
+ Cognitive approach uses scientific and objective methods; lab studies to remove any extraneous variables when inferring cognitive processes
- COUNTER: Use of inference can make cognitive psychology too abstract and theoretical, also often uses artificial stimuli (such as word lists) so lacks mundane realism and has low external validity
Evaluation of cognitive approach? (Real world application)
+ Cognitive behavioural therapy as a treatment for depression (also most common therapy)
Key features of biological approach
All behaviour links to biological processes
“Mind” is part of the brain
Neurochemical basis of behaviour
Genetic basis of behaviour
Genotypes + Phenotypes
Theory of Evolution
What is neurochemistry?
Chemical inside the brain, and what they do
e.g. underproduction of serotonin in OCD
What does “genetic basis of behaviour” mean?
Psychological characteristics (eg Intelligence) are inherited
Twins studies showed higher similarity rates between identical twins than non-identical twins
How does evolution tie in to the biological approach?
Any genetically determined behaviours that enhance chances of survival are passed down as the holders live to reproduce and pass them down
Evaluation of biological approach (Real world application)
+ Drug therapy; SSRIs to treat depression and OCD
- COUNTER: Drug therapy doesn’t work for everybody, so brain chemistry alone must not be the only factor of these disorders
Evaluation of biological approach (Methodology)
+ Uses scientific methodology, such as fMRI scans that are not in any way open to bias
