Approaches Flashcards
Wundt
established first psychology lab opened in Leipzig, Germany 1879
Introspection was the first systematic experimental attempt to study the mind by breaking up conscious awareness into basic structures of thoughts, images and sensations
Wundt’s work was significant as it separated modern scientific psychology from it’s broader philosophical roots
AO3
:) controlled lab
:(self report
John B Watson
early behaviourist
argued introspection was subjective as it varied from person to person
Behaviourism
only concerned with studying observable behaviour, not concerned with mental processes
controlled lab studies
suggest process of learning is the same in all species so uses animal studies
Pavlov, Skinner
nvn- nurture
r- reductionist
d- environmental determinism
A03
:) scientific credibility due to controlled lab studies
:) laws developed have real life application, token economy systems
:( animal studies
:( environmental determinism
Skinner
Operant conditioning
behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences
rats
a desirable consequence led to behaviour being repeated
if pressing lever meant an animal avoided an electric shock, the behaviour would also be repeated
positive reinforcement - reward when good behaviour
negative reinforcement - produce behaviour that avoids something unpleasant
punishment - unpleasant consequence of behaviour
Pavlov
Classical conditioning
learning through association
before-
UCS- food UCR- salivation Ns- bell
during-
NS + UCS appear at same time
after-
CS- bell CR- salivation
Social learning theory
Bandura
learning occurs through experience in a social context (imitation)
if behaviour is seen as rewarded it is much more likely to be imitated (vicarious reinforcement)
mediational processes:
1- attention (is it noticed)
2- retention (remembered)
3- motor reproduction (ability to perform)
4- motivation (will to perform it)
identification with role models is important as children are more likely to imitate behaviour if it comes from someone they identify with
nvn- nurture
r- reductionist
d- reciprocal determinism
AO3
:)more complete explanation than behaviourist
:( relies on lab studies, demand characteristics
:)explains cultural differences as norms are learned
:) less determinist as recognises free will
Bandura
Bobo dolls
used lab experiment
conditions:
1- aggressive 24
2- non aggressive 24
3- no model 24
stage 1 modelling
stage 2 aggressive arousal (very best toys)
stage 3 test for delayed imitation ( non aggressive vs aggressive toys e.g tea set vs darts gun or bobo doll)
those subject to aggressive role model were more likely to imitate that
boys more physically aggressive
(2nd research showed when aggression was rewarded, children were much more aggressive themselves)
= vicarious reinforcement
AO3
:) controlled lab
:( demand characteristics
:( novelty value, Cumberbatch children less familiar 5x more likely to imitate
Cognitive approach
scientific study of mental processes, uses inference
uses theoretical and
computer models
schema- mental framework, packages, develop with age
emergence of cognitive neuroscience: scientific study of the influence of brain structures on mental processes
-advances in tech and brain scanning
-e.g episodic and semantic memories (opposites of prefrontal cortex)
nvn- innate but refined by experience
r- machiene reductionism
d- soft determinism
AO3
:) scientific and objective
:( machine reductionism
:( lacks external validity due to research using fake stimuli
:) applies to everyday life, AI
:) soft determinist so less so than other approaches as recognises free will
Psychodynamic approach
Freud: mind is made up of 3
1-conscious
2-pre conscious may become aware of through dreams or ‘slips of the tongue’
3- unconscious
tripartite structure of personality:
1-id (pleasure principle) immediate gratification
2-ego (reality principle) mediator
3- superego (morality principle) sense of right from wrong, punishes ego through guilt
psychosexual stages
determine adult personality
1- oral (0-1) mouth
2- anal (1-3) anus
3- phallic (3-5) genital
4- latency (earlier conflicts repressed)
5- genital (puberty) sexual desires become conscious
oedipus complex - phallic - boys love mums and hate dads, later repress these feelings and identify with father
defence mechanisms used by ego to keep id in check-
-repression (forcing distressing memories out)
-denial (refusal to acknowledge reality)
-displacement (transfer feelings from source to substitute target)
nvn- nature
r- reduces behaviour to biological drives
d- psychic determinism
AO3
:) explanatory power
:( case study, little hans, not possible to make universal claims about human nature based on an individual
:( Popper, not falsifiable
:) psychoanalysis = real life application
:( determinist
Humanistic approach
concept of free will is central
Maslow- hierarchy of needs
-self actualisation (morality, problem solving)
-esteem (confidence, achievement)
-love/belonging (friends, family)
-safety (security of body, employment, family)
-physiological (food, water, sleep)
must meet lower levels in order to achieve full potential
focus on self
Rogers, growth requires individual’s concept of self to be congruent with their ideal self
if gap is too big, person will experience incongruence and self actualisation isn’t possible
parents who impose conditions of worth may prevent personal growth, lack of unconditional positive regard ‘I will only love you if…’
client centred therapy
effective therapist=
-genuine
-empathy
-unconditional positive regard
increases feelings of self worth and reduces incongruence
nvn- nurture
r- anti reductionist, holist
d-free will
AO3
:)holism, validity
:( limited real world application, loose set of abstract concepts
:)sees human as positive being, Freud ; slaves to their past’ - optimistic alternative
:( untestable concepts
biological approach
everything psychological is first biological
to fully understand human behaviour need to look at genes etc
behaviour is inherited like eye colour
neurochemistry also explains behaviour e.g low serotonin in ocd
mind and body are one unlike cognitive approach
twin studies to investigate genetic basis of behaviour, MZ 68% ocd, DZ 31%
genotype- genetic makeup
phenotype expression of this which can be influenced by environment
Darwin, natural selection, genetically determined behaviour that enhances survival and reproduction gets passed on. These are adaptive genes and give advantage to their offspring
nvn- nature
r- bio reductionism
d- bio determinism
AO3
:)scientific, fmri, drug trials
:) real life application, increased understanding of brain processes led to development of psychoative drugs for illnesses such as depression
:( biologically determinist
tripartite personality
id- pleasure principle
unconscious urges/drives
ego- reality principle
rational, mediates, conscious, decision making, if ego fails by reality principle anxiety occurs and defence mechanisms are deployed to rid of this
superego- morality principle
unconscious, values and morals of society learned through parents and others,
conscience- ‘inner voice’ when we’ve done something wrong, punishes id through guilt
ideal self- imaginary picture of who we want to be
e.g workout
The id: I want to skip my workout because I feel lazy and just want to relax.
The superego: I shouldn’t skip the workout because it’s essential for my health and discipline.
The ego: I can do a shorter workout today and make up for it with a longer session tomorrow.
psychosexual stages
personality development
1- oral (0-1) libido = mouth
cause- forceful feeding, under or over fed (passive, aggressive)
fixation- sucking thumb, smoking, greedy
2- anal (1-3) libido =anus (withholding or excelling facesus )
cause- toilet training too harsh or too lax (retentive and expulsive)
fixation - tidy (retentive) /untidy (expulsive)
3- phallic (3-5) libido = genital
cause- abnormal family set up, genital stimulation
oedipus and electra
castration, little Hans and penis envy
fixation -reckless
4- latency (earlier conflicts repressed)
5- genital (puberty) libido = genitals
sexual desires become conscious
fixation - difficulty forming heterosexual relationships
defence mechanisms
denial
repression
displacement
psychoanalysis
-seeks to explore the unconscious mind to uncover repressed feelings and interpret deep-rooted emotional patterns, often using techniques like dream analysis and free association.
hierarchy of needs
Maslow
-self actualisation (morality, problem solving)
-esteem (confidence, achievement)
-love/belonging (friends, family)
-safety (security of body, employment, family)
-physiological (food, water, sleep)
