Approaches

Question 1

assumptions of psychodynamic approach

Answer 1

-all behaviour can be explained by deep-rooted, psychological conflict within the UNconscious mind
-childhood experiences also have an influence on later life

Question 2

3 parts of tripartite personality (brief, PSD)

Answer 2

1. id
2. ego
3. superego

Question 3

role of id + principle

Answer 3

-biological, innate, instinctive part of personality
-source of unconscious desires and demands immediate gratification (hunger, thirst, sex)
-present at birth
-pleasure principle

Question 4

role of ego + principle

Answer 4

-conscious part of personality + develops between 1-3yrs
-mediates conflict between id and superego by meeting needs of id in socially acceptable ways
-uses defence mechanisms to solve conflict
-reality principle

Question 5

role of superego + principle

Answer 5

-responsible for unconscious morals based on our internalised same sex parent
-ensures ego doesnt use unacceptable measures to satisfy id
-develops between 5-6
-2 parts: conscience (tells us what we should NOT do, makes us feel guilty), ego ideal (tells us what we should do, makes us feel proud)
-morality principle

Question 6

3 defence mechanisms (brief, PSD)

Answer 6

1. repression
2. denial
3. displacement

Question 7

why are defense mechanisms needed

Answer 7

-triggered when we are confronted w a situation that we are unable to deal w
-defense mechanisms distort reality on an unconscious level (we are unaware of them) and reduce anxiety associated w the situation

Question 8

what is repression

Answer 8

-defense mechanism
-unconscious blocking of unacceptable thoughts and impulses from the conscious mind
-affects behaviour without the person being aware
-eg. painful childhood memories

Question 9

what is denial

Answer 9

-defense mechanism
-refusal to accept reality to avoid painful feelings
-eg. alcoholics often deny theyre an alcoholic even after being arrested/confronted

Question 10

what is displacement

Answer 10

-defense mechanism
-redirecting thoughts/feelings from original target to a more acceptable one
-occurs when person feels unable to express feelings in presence of person they should be directed to
-eg. being angry at ur dad so shouting at ur sister

Question 11

psychosexual stages of development + ages (brief)

Answer 11

1. oral - 0-1
2. anal - 2-3
3. phallic - 3-6
4. latency - 6 - puberty
5. genital - beyond puberty

Question 12

what is the oedipus complex

Answer 12

-occurs in boys in the phallic stage of development
-boys develop unconscious desire for mother but realise they cant compete w their dad
-develop castration anxiety and fear their father will castrate them if they find out abt the desire for their mother
-anxiety overcome by internalising fathers morals (become superego) and believe if they become more masculine their father will like them and not want to castrate them

Question 13

what is the electra complex

Answer 13

-girls believe they dont have a penis because their mother castrated them, so turn to their father for love in hope of regaining their penis.
-girls have penis envy for rest of their lives unless they have a male baby, male lover or a career
-believe girls have weaker morals and superego as they dont identify as strongly w same-sex parent due to not having castration anxiety

Question 14

reasons for and outcome of oral fixation

Answer 14

-over/under fed as baby
-early weaning

-smoking
-biting nails
-dependency
-aggression

Question 15

reasons for and outcome of anal fixation

Answer 15

-too harsh/lax potty training

-anally retentive: tidy, obsessive, mean/cruel
-anally expulsive: untidy, generous, impulsive

Question 16

reasons for and outcome of phallic fixation

Answer 16

-abnormal family dynamics leading to unusual relationship w mother/father

-vanity
-self-obsession
-sexual anxiety

Question 17

strengths of psychodynamic (PSD) approach

Answer 17

-case study evidence - Little Hans
-Explanatory power - eg. personality development, abnormal behaviour, morality, gender
-practical applications- psychoanalysis therapies

Question 18

limitations of psychodynamic (PSD) approach

Answer 18

-case study method - not generalisable, subjective interpretation
-untestable concepts mean it isnt scientific

Question 19

wundt introspection - explanation

Answer 19

-claimed mental processes such as memory and perception could be observed using introspection where ppts describe the inner processes they experienced during a certain stimulus

Question 20

assumptions of behaviourism

Answer 20

-all behaviour is learnt from our environment
-animals and humans learn in the same ways (so animal experiments are useful)

Question 21

strengths of behaviourism

Answer 21

-practical app - led to development of SD treatment for phobias
-research support - watson and rayner - little albert -hit metal rod every time albert touched white rat, so he started to fear rat
-scientific method - lab experiments = reliable

Question 22

limitations of behaviourism

Answer 22

-animals studies - results cant always be generalised to humans and unethical
-reductionist - ignores biological factors that can influence behaviour as its firmly nurture

Question 23

assumptions of SLT

Answer 23

-learn through observation and imitation of others behaviour

Question 24

bandura bobo dolls exp - SLT

Answer 24

36 boys and 36 girls in groups:
1. shown model hitting doll
2. shown model normal play w doll
-children who were shown aggressive model were more aggressive (1/3 repeated behaviour)
-boys imitated more physically aggressive acts than girls

Question 25

5 features of SLT (brief)

Answer 25

1. modelling
2. identification
3. imitation
4. vicarious reinforcement
5. mediational processes

Question 26

what is modelling SLT

Answer 26

providing example of behaviour that can be observed and later reproduced

Question 27

what is identification SLT

Answer 27

a person that identifies w the model is more likely to imitate their behaviour eg. same sex model and child

Question 28

what is imitation SLT

Answer 28

when a person copies/reproduces the behaviour of a model they identify w

Question 29

what is vicarious reinforcement SLT

Answer 29

we observe the consequences of behaviour before reproduction, instead of immediately after
eg. child seeing another being rewarded for a behaviour is more likely to reproduce it

Question 30

what are mediational processes SLT

Answer 30

cognitive aspect of SLT that suggests there