approaches Flashcards
behaviorist approach
a learning approach that suggests that all children are born as tabula rasa (blank slate) learning through their interactions with their environment
biological approach
a learning approach that views human behaviour as a result of genetics and proposed that individual psychology stems from internal physiology
classical conditioning
a form of learning which occurs by associating naturally occurring instinct with new stimuli, thus creating a conditioned response
cognitive approach
a learning approach which likens the human mind to a computer, with internal mental processes turning an input to an output. This approach suggests studying these internal processes by inference is the key to understanding human psychology
congruence
when a person’s ideal self and actual self are aligned
defence mechanism
strategies employed by the ego to protect the mind from feelings that may be too overwhelming
denial
a defence mechanism utilised by the unconscious mind. This is the complete refusal to acknowledge the occurrence of an event in an attempt to prevent harm
displacement
a defence mechanism utilised by the unconscious mind. This mechanism works by substituting the real target of overwhelming emotions with a defenceless target. This allows for cathartic release of emotions that would not be possible with the original target
ego
one of the three components of the personality according to the psychodynamic approach. The ego develops after the id and functions to mediate between the fesires of the id and what is attainable. The ego is the decision making component
free will
the idea that we are in full control of our behaviour and decisions
genotype
the genetic profile of an individual e.g. the genes they carry
humanistic approach
a learning approach which presumes that all humans are fundamentally good, and encourages the holistic study of the entire individual
Id
one of three components of the personality according to the psychodynamic approach. The id is most primitive and selfish paet of the personality, the only one present at birth and only concerned with desires and achieving them
identification
a form of learning according to the social learning theory, which suggests humans can learn by observing rol models whom they perceive as similar to themselves. It suggests we internalise the beliefs of someone we identify with- are similar to, perhaps in age, gender of goals
imitation
a form of learning suggested by social learning theory which proposes that people learn through copying the behaviour of a role model they identify with
maslows hierarchy of needs
theory that suggests humans have multiple needs that need to be achieved in a particular order to fully achieve a person’s potential
modelling
when a role model enacts a behaviour that can be imitated by an observer
mediational processes
internal processes that contribute to producing certain behaviours, hence mediators between ibservation and imitation
negative reinforcement
a behaviour performed in response to a negative stimulus in the expectation that negative stimulus would be removed.
For example a mother comforting a crying child. They learn to comfort their child again and again (reinforced behaviour) to avoid the child crying (negative stimulus)
operant conditional
a form of learning by direct consequences for behaviour. Whether that be reinforcement (consequences that increase behaviour) or punishment (consequences that decrease behaviour)
phenotype
an organisms physical manifestation of their genotype
positive reinforcement
administration of a positive stimulus that aims to increase a certain behaviour.
An example would be giving a child a treat (positive stimulus) of they clean their room so they clean their room more often. (reinforced behaviour)
psychodynamic approach
a learning approach that describes human behaviour as a product of unconscious processes
psychosexual stages
a theory by freud that suggests a personality develops via overcoming a series of stages in childhood. failure to complete a stage would result in fixation which manifests as some sort of disorder in adulthood
repression
a defence mechanism utilised by the unconscious mind. The mechanism prevents disturbing memories reaching the conscious mind, in attempt to prevent harm
schema
a mental framework based on previous information that allows us to interpreted new information efficiently
self actualization
essentially a person’s full potential, which can be achieved after primary needs have been met
social learning theory
a learning approach that combines the behaviourist ideas of learning through our environment and the cognitive ideas of involvement of internal mental processes. Proposed that new behaviors can be acquired by observing and imitating others
superego
one of the three components of the personality according to the psychodynamic approach. The superego develops last and aims to be the moral component of personality that encourages the ego to achieve perfection via self criticism
vicarious reinforcement
indirect encouragement of behaviour through observation of consequences for other people’s behaviour
