approaches Flashcards
what is Wundt known as
the father of psychology
what did Wundt do
- set up first psychology lab
- wrote first academic journal and textbook
- promoted the use of introspection as a way of studying mental processes
what is introspection
systematic analysis of own conscious experience of stimuli
strengths of Wundt
- partly scientific, introspections within a controlled lab setting using standardised methods
what are limitations of Wundt
- self reporting was subjective
- Introspection isn’t as valid as many aspects of our minds, outside of our conscious awareness, e.g Nisbett and Wilson researched the halo affect
what are the key points of behaviourism
- only concerned with observable behaviour that can be measured (not internal mental processes)
- controlled lab study’s used to remove bias and maintain objectivity
- animals used as experimental subjects because processes that govern learning are the same in all species
what is classical conditioning
learning through association
what is operant conditioning
learning through consequences
strengths of behaviourism
- scientific, gave psychology credibility, objective measures
- rwa, used for treatments for phobias sd, used in prisons token economy’s (link to gilroy et al)
limitations of behaviourism
- machine reductionism, ignores emotions, meditational processes ?
- environmental determinism, just the product of our conditioning, ignores conscious decision making
- issues with generalisation
what is the social learning theory
indirect learning through observation and imitation of role models in a social context
what is vicarious reinforcement
Observation of the consequences of behaviour. Rewarded behaviour more likely to be copied
what are meditational processes
Internal mental processes involved between stimulus and response. Attention (focus on it), retention (code into memory), motor reproduction (belief it can be copied), motivation (benefits outweigh costs)
what is identification
people imitate role models they identify with (similar age, high status, attractive, likeable, gender)
what was Bandura et al
Lab experiment. Children watched video of aggressive or non-aggressive adult. Children’s behaviour recorded in room
Hostile acts and novel language, e.g. ‘Pow’, copied
what did Bandura and walters do
Three conditions: Aggressive model praised; aggressive model punished; aggressive model no consequence.
Imitation depends on consequences. Praised copied most
strengths of slt
- importance of cognitive factors recognised, less reductionist
- less deterministic, allows for some choice in behaviour
limitations of slt
- underestimates the role of biology, boys more aggressive, due to testosterone
- demand characteristics, children may have thought they we’re supposed to hit the doll, is it really testing aggression, lacks internal validity
what is the main idea of the biological approach
everything psychological is first biological
mind and body are one and the same, the mind lives in the brain therefore all thoughts have a physical basis