Approaches

Question 1

What does the behaviourist approach focus on ?

Answer 1

Behaviour that can be observed and measured.

Question 2

What is introspection ?

Answer 2

Attempt to study the mind by breaking up conscious awareness into thoughts images and sensations. (Wundt)

Question 3

Explain Pavlov’s classical conditioning research.

Answer 3

Learning through association
Dogs conditioned to salivate to sound of bell. Neutral stimulus can create a new learned response (conditioned response).

Question 4

Explain Skinners research of operant conditioning.

Answer 4

Behaviour shaped by consequences
Positive reinforcement - reward inc likelihood of behaviour
Negative reinforcement - avoiding something unpleasant
Punishment - unpleasant consequence

Rats, rat activate leaver for food

Question 5

What are strengths of the behaviourist approach ?

Answer 5

Well controlled research - lab setting, breakdown of behaviour into basic stimulus response units mean extraneous variables removed. Scientific credibility.

Real world application - operant conditioning is basis of token economy systems used successfully in prisons etc. Reward appropriate behaviour with tokens that can exchange for privileges. Increases value due to widespread application.

Question 6

What is a limitation of the behaviourist approach ?

Answer 6

Environmental determinism - sees all behaviour as conditioned by past experience. Ignores free will eg skinner said free will is an illusion. Ignored influence of conscious decision making processes on behaviour.

Question 7

What is the SLT ?

Answer 7

Way of explaining behaviour that includes direct and indirect reinforcement. Combines learning theory with role of cognitive factors.

Question 7

What are the meditational process in SLT ?

Answer 7

Attention - what extent we notice behaviour
Retention - how well behaviour is remembered
Motor reproduction - ability to perform
Motivation - will to perform

Question 8

What did Bandura find about SLT ?

Answer 8

Behaviour of children who watched adult behave aggressively towards hobo doll. Children also acted aggressively (modelling).

Adults praised or punished. Those who saw adults praised were most aggressive (vicarious reinforcement).

Question 8

What are strengths of SLT ?

Answer 8

Cognitive factors - classical and operant conditioning alone are not enough. Humans and animals store info to make judgements. So SLT is more comprehensive as it recognises the role of mediational processes.

Real world application - Explains cultural differences in behaviour. Modelling, imitation and reinforcement account for how children learn from others around them. Helps understand how children understand gender roles etc. Increases value of approach.

Question 9

What is a limitation of SLT ?

Answer 9

Lab studies - demand characteristics. Main purpose of doll is to strike it so the children were acting as expected. So shows little about how children learn aggression irl.

Question 10

What is the cognitive approach ?

Answer 10

Focuses on how mental processes affect behaviour eg schema.

Question 11

What is a schema ?

Answer 11

Mental framework of beliefs and expectations that influence cognitive processing. Pockets of information developed by experience.

Question 12

What does the computer model explain ?

Answer 12

Information flows through the cognitive system in a sequence of stages like input, storage and retrieval. (multi store model).

Question 13

What is cognitive neuroscience ?

Answer 13

Scientific study of biological structures that underpin cognitive processes.
eg brocas area damage can impair speech production.

Question 13

What are strengths of the cognitive approach ?

Answer 13

Scientific methods - objective and highly controlled methods. Lab studies for reliable data. Cog neuroscience combined bio and cog psych to enhance scientific basis of study. So has credible scientific basis.

Real world application - important contribution in ai and development of robots. Revolutionise the future. Can also be applied to treatment of depression and improved EWT. Supports value of cog approach.

Question 14

What is a limitation of the cognitive approach ?

Answer 14

Machine reductionism - there are similarities between mind and computers but ignores emotion and motivation. eg memory can be affected by emotional factors like anxiety. Weakens validity of cog approach.

Question 15

What is the biological approach ?

Answer 15

Emphasises the importance of physical processes in the body eg genetic inheritance and neural functional.

Question 16

What are concordance rates ?

Answer 16

What extent twins share same characteristics

Question 17

What is the difference between a genotype and a phenotype ?

Answer 17

genotype - actual genetic makeup
phenotype - how genes are expressed

mz twins have same genes but may be expressed differently

Question 18

What is evolution ?

Answer 18

The changes inherited over a population through generations due to best qualities and survival of fittest

Question 19

What are strengths of the biological approach ?

Answer 19

Real world application - use of psychoactive drugs to treat mental disorders eg antidepressants to increase serotonin levels help decrease symptoms. Can help better people with mental disorders so they do not have to remain in hospitals.

Scientific method - objective methods like scanning techniques. Not open to bias. Objective and reliable data.

Question 20

What is a limitation of the biological approach ?

Answer 20

Biological determinism - sees behaviour as governed internally and we have no control. However phenotype is influenced by environment and we can’t justify criminals due to genetics. Too simplistic and ignores mediating effects of environment.

Question 21

What is the psychodynamic approach ?

Answer 21

Describes the different forces most of which are unconscious that operate on the mind and direct human behaviour and experience.

Question 22

What is Freud’s tripartite ?

Answer 22

Id - pleasure principle, selfish
Ego - reality principle, defence mechanisms
Superego - morality principle

Question 23

Describe Freud’s 5 psychosexual stages.

Answer 23

Oral (0-1) : mothers breast desire , unresolved = oral fixation eg smoking

Anal (1-3) : pleasure from withholding faeces , unresolved =
retentive - perfectionist, obsessive
expulsive - thoughtless, messy

Phallic (3-6) : genital area , unresolved = phallic personality eg narcissistic

Latency : earlier conflicts are repressed

Genital : sexual desires become conscious , unresolved = difficulty forming hetero relationships

Question 24

What is the Oedipus complex ?

Answer 24

Little boys form feelings for mothers and hatred for fathers in fear of castration the boys repress the feelings. (Little Hans)

Question 25

What are strengths of the psychodynamic approach ?

Answer 25

Real world application - introduced idea of psychotherapy. Freud created psychoanalysis to treat disorders psychologically not physically. Tried to access unconscious eg through dreams. Since therapies like talking therapies have been introduced. Value of creating new approach to treatment.

Explanatory power - Significant in drawing attention to connection with childhood experiences and later development. Positive impact on psych.

Question 26

What is a limitation of the psychodynamic approach ?

Answer 26

Untestable - Popper argues it is not falsifiable. Not open to empirical testing. Unconscious cannot be tested. So ideas are subjective like little hans. Cannot be made universal, pseudoscientific not factual.

Question 27

What is the humanistic approach ?

Answer 27

Emphasises importance of subjective experience and each persons capacity for self determination.

Question 28

What was Maslows hierarchy of needs ?

Answer 28

Self actualisation (top)
Self esteem
Love and belongingness
Safety and security
Physiological needs

Question 29

What is self actualisation ?

Answer 29

Desire to fulfil one’s potential and become what you are capable of.

Question 30

What did Carl Rogers research ?

Answer 30

For personal growth to be achieved idea of self must be congruent with their ideal self. If not self actualisation is not possible.

Created client centred therapy to help cope with everyday living problems.

Issues as adults can be explained by lack of unconditional positive regard from parents. Conditions of worth bad for child.

Question 31

What are strengths of the humanistic approach ?

Answer 31

Not reductionist - rejects attempts of reductionism. Advocate for holism (idea subjective experience can only be understood by considering whole person). More valid than other approaches.

Optimistic - bringing person back into psych and promoting positive image of human condition. Freud saw humans of prisoners of past. Refreshing and helps people feel in control of lives.

Question 32

What is a limitation of the humanistic approach ?

Answer 32

Cultural bias - individual freedom and personal growth associated with individualistic cultures eg us. Collectivist countries eg china emphasise needs of group more. So for some countries ideals of humanistic approach may be less important. May not apply universally and is product of cultural context of where it was developed.