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Approaches Flashcards

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1
Q

Assumptions of behaviourist approach

A
  • all behaviour is learnt and we are born a blank slate
  • psychologists should focus only on things that can be measured and scientifically objective
  • animals can be used in research
  • environmentally deterministic
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2
Q

Classical conditioning

A
  • based on involuntary behaviours
  • an unconditioned response (salivating to food) can be triggered by a neutral stimulus (bell ringing) through repeated pairing
  • eventually, the neutral stimulus alone produces the conditioned response (salivating to the bells’ sound)
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3
Q

Operant conditioning

A
  • based on voluntary behaviours
  • behaviour is learnt through +/- reinforcement and punishment
  • positive reinforcement happens when you are rewarded for a behaviour, and negative reinforcement when you avoid an unpleasant consequence
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4
Q

Skinner’s rats (Positive reinforcement)

A
  • hungry rats were placed in a ‘Skinner’s Box’ with a lever and a food dispenser
  • they learnt that when they pressed the lever, they would get food so repeated the lever-pushing behaviour
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5
Q

Skinner’s rats (Negative reinforcement)

A
  • modified the ‘Skinner’s Box’ to give an electric shock through the cage wires
  • when the rat pushed the lever, the shock stopped
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6
Q

AO3 Behaviourist approach - Scientific

A
  • objectively observable
  • establishes causal relationships
  • can be replicated
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7
Q

AO3 Behaviourist approach - Generalisability issues

A
  • research done on animals
  • may not adequately explain human behaviour
  • ethical issues with animals
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8
Q

AO3 Behaviourist approach - Application

A
  • real-life application in treatments to therapies
  • use in token economies in prisons
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9
Q

AO3 Behaviourist approach - Environmentally Reductionist

A
  • states that all behaviour is learnt, but some things have been found to be innate
  • Meltzoff and Moore saw caregiver-infant interactions as early as 3 days old, which is not long enough to be conditioned
  • an interactionist approach would better explain behaviour
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10
Q

Assumptions of Social Learning Theory

A
  • agrees with many behaviourist assumptions but also believes that internal mental processes are involved as learning is a cognitive process which happens in a social context
  • focuses on vicarious reinforcement and mediational processes
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11
Q

Mediational processes

A
  • must happen between observing a model and imitating a behaviour
  • attention, retention, reproduction, motivation
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12
Q

Bandura’s procedure

A
  • ppts aged 3-6 were split into two groups
  • the first group observed an adult be aggressive towards a Bobo doll in a room filled with toys
  • the second group observed an adult behave non-aggressively with different toys
  • the children were observed in the same room from behind a one-way mirror
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13
Q

Bandura’s findings

A
  • children exposed to an aggressive model were more likely to be aggressive themselves
  • identification with a model was seen when boys were more likely to imitate an aggressive male model than a female one
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14
Q

AO3 Social Learning Theory - Robust evidence

A
  • Bandura’s lab study had high internal validity and levels of control
  • standardised procedure
  • matched pairs ensured each group had an equal mix of aggressive children
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15
Q

AO3 Social Learning Theory - Ecological validity

A
  • ecological validity of Bandura’s study is questionable
  • Bobo doll was designed to be hit, not representative of learning in real-life situations
  • cannot be generalised to real-life situations
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16
Q

AO3 Social Learning Theory - Based on inferences

A
  • processes like model identification, mediational processes, and vicarious reinforcement and not directly observable
  • inferences could be incorrect and true causes of behaviour could be different
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17
Q

AO3 Social Learning Theory - Research support from Fox and Bailenson

A
  • generated AI virtual humans that either engaged in exercise or loitering
  • models looked either similar or dissimilar to ppts
  • ppts who viewed their virtual model exercising engaged in more exercise 24 hours following the experiment than those who viewed their virtual model loitering or a dissimilar model exercising
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18
Q

Wundt’s contribution to psychology as a science

A
  • set up the first psychological lab in Liepzig in 1879
  • used introspection to make inferences about behaviour
  • first trained ppts to report conscious experiences as objectively as possible
  • asked ppts to focus on a metronome and systematically report their experience
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19
Q

AO3 Wundt

A
  • used controlled experiments that were replicable and established general of mental processes
  • however, not truly scientific and ppts cannot be relied on to accurately report their mental states and could display demand characteristics
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20
Q

Assumptions of cognitive approach

A
  • mental processes can and should be studied scientifically
  • uses computer-like models to test theories, eg. MSM/WMM
  • schemas are mental packets of information that develop through experience
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21
Q

What is cognitive neuroscience

A
  • the scientific study of the influence of brain structures (like neurotransmitters) on mental processes
  • uses brain scan techniques like fMRI and PET
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22
Q

AO3 Cognitive Approach - Artificial research

A
  • memory studies taking a cognitive approach lack mundane realism
  • recalling long digits don’t mirror daily memory use
  • low ecological validity
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23
Q

AO3 Cognitive Approach - Real life application

A
  • the cognitive approach has led to understanding of depression (due to faulty mental processes) and the development of useful treatments like CBT and REBT
  • strong due to useful application and improving people’s lives
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24
Q

AO3 Cognitive Approach - Machine Reductionist

A
  • likens the brain to a computer, although some believe the brain is much more complex
  • computers are perfect whereas human memory and other functions are flawed
  • should take a more comprehensive approach
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25
Q

AO3 Cognitive approach - Scientific rigour

A
  • experiments taking a cognitive approach have high internal validity, involve the manipulation of variables, and can be replicated
  • supports psychology as a science
26
Q

Assumptions of Biological Approach

A
  • as humans are biological, behaviour should be explained as result of biological structures and processes
  • involves hormonal and nervous systems, genetics, neurochemistry, and evolution
27
Q

Genotypes and phenotypes

A
  • genotype: an individual’s genetic makeup
  • phenotype: the physical expression of the genotype
  • behaviour is a result of interaction between the two
28
Q

Evolution

A
  • the process by which organisms have developed and diversified from earlier forms during the history of the earth
  • any genetically-determined behaviour, which gives an individual a selective advantage (increasing their chances of surviving, reproducing and passing down this beneficial allele onto their offspring), will be present in future generations
29
Q

AO3 Biological Approach - Development of treatments

A
  • taking a biological approach has led to useful treatments being developed for depression, OCD, etc.
  • depression and OCD have been linked with lower levels of serotonin, so SSRIs are used and have been extremely effective
  • Soomro et Al found SSRIs to be more effective than placebos in the treatment of OCD in 17 trials
30
Q

AO3 Biological Approach - Research support

A
  • Gottesman and Shields conducted a meta-analysis on twins with regard to the genetic basis of schizophrenia
  • found a 48% concordance in MZ twins
  • suggests a strong genetic component , however 100% concordance rates have never been found, suggesting an environmental element
31
Q

AO3 Biological Approach - Reductionist

A
  • reductionist at the lowest level (biological)
  • oversimplifies complex things like mental disorders to genes and neurotransmitters
  • doesn’t explain eg. depression that happens after a certain event
  • diathesis-stress model could offer a better, more interactionist approach
32
Q

AO3 Biological Approach - Socially sensitive

A
  • putting things like aggression down to genes can lead to discrimination against people with MAOA variant for example
  • genes could also be used to excuse people’s behaviour, undermining moral responsibility in the judicial system
  • it is damaging to place so much importance on biological factors
33
Q

Assumptions of psychodynamic approach

A
  • behaviour is psychically determined by childhood experiences
  • the personality is split into 3 parts
34
Q

The tripartite personality

A
  • made up of the id, superego, and ego
35
Q

The id

A
  • the primitive instincts, driven by libido
  • operates in the unconscious mind
36
Q

The superego

A
  • operates on the morality principle
  • develops in the phallic stage
  • controls the id’s impulses in the unconscious mind
37
Q

The ego

A
  • the only conscious part
  • uses reason to mediate between the id and superego
  • aims to satisfy the id’s demands in a realistic and acceptable way
38
Q

Psychosexual stages of development

A
  1. Oral
  2. Anal
  3. Phallic
  4. Latent
  5. Genital
39
Q

Oral stage

A
  • 0-1 years
  • mouth is the focus of pleasure
  • conflict can arise when weaning, and leads to oral fixations (smoking, overeating, nail biting)
40
Q

Anal stage

A
  • 1-3 years
  • the anus is the focus of pleasure
  • conflicts can arise when potty training, and lead to an anal retentive/ expulsive personality
41
Q

Phallic stage

A
  • 3-6 years
  • genitals are the focus of pleasure
  • conflicts can arise and cause the Oedipus/Electra complex, leading to vanity and impulsivity
42
Q

Latent stage

A
  • sexual energy is repressed
  • development of social skills and confidence occurs
43
Q

Genital stage

A
  • genitals are the focus of pleasure again
  • sexual desires become conscious with the onset of puberty
44
Q

Oedipus complex

A
  • boys desire closeness with their mother and resents the father for having her
  • boys being to experience castration anxiety, so to reduce it they use defence mechanisms and identify with their father
  • the Oedipus complex is complete and male characteristics have been internalised
45
Q

Electra complex

A
  • girls desire closeness with their father and experience penis envy
  • they fear losing their mother’s love, so to reduce anxiety the girls identify with their mother
  • the Electra complex is complete and female characteristics have been internalised
46
Q

Defence mechanisms

A
  • unconscious psychological mechanisms that stop an individual becoming aware of any unpleasant thoughts and feelings associated with traumatic events
47
Q

Denial

A
  • a form of avoidance
  • occurs when a person is not keen on accepting reality
    -eg. smokers refusing to accept it’s bad for their health
48
Q

Repression

A
  • when the mind subconsciously blocks any information considered unpleasant
  • aggressive thoughts about the same sex parent during a complex are repressed
49
Q

Displacement

A
  • when a person feels unable to express difficult or hostile feelings at the time and therefore might transfer them to a helpless person or object
  • someone frustrated at work may go home and kick their dog
50
Q

Little Hans case study

A
  • 5 year old Hans had a phobia of horses which represented his father
  • his father’s moustache was represented by the horse’s black mouth harness
  • example of repression
  • rich qualitative data, however not generalisable or subjective
  • supports the theory
51
Q

AO3 Psychodynamic approach - Application in therapy

A
  • psychodynamic therapy is useful in treating things like ED’s, anxiety, and addictions
  • can be a useful alternative to people that don’t respond well to biological treatments
52
Q

AO3 Psychodynamic approach - Lack of scientific rigour

A
  • his methods are unfalsifiable
  • the tripartite personality cannot be measured
  • his use of case studies cannot establish nomothetic laws, and can be subject to researcher bias
  • lacks scientific rigour and doesn’t support psychology as a science
53
Q

AO3 Psychodynamic approach - Gender bias

A
  • alpha bias as exaggerates gender differences between men
  • androcentric as only focuses on men
  • views femininity as failed masculinity
54
Q

Assumptions of humanistic approach

A
  • rejects deterministic approaches like psychodynamic and behaviourist and instead emphasises our free will
  • we all have an innate desire to better ourselves
55
Q

Congruence

A
  • for self-actualisation to occur, the individual has to have congruence between their real and ideal self
  • if the gap is too big, incongruence and negative feelings will be experienced
56
Q

Conditions of worth

A
  • when a parent places limits or boundaries on their love of their children
  • hinders self-actualisation
57
Q

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

A

Self-actualisation
Self-esteem
Love and belonging
Safety and security
Physiological needs

58
Q

AO3 Humanistic Approach - Application to therapy

A
  • many contemporary therapists use Rogers’ ideas of unconditional positive regard to help patients work through their issues
  • useful theory with real-world application and can be a useful alternative to biological treatments
  • however, a causational relationship between humanistic counselling and success from therapy
59
Q

AO3 Humanistic Approach - Unrealistic

A
  • most people will never reach self-actualisation
  • some critic the humanistic approach as it doesn’t consider human’s self-destructive potential
  • it is idealistic rather than realistic
60
Q

AO3 Humanistic Approach - Holistic

A
  • takes a holistic approach to explaining behaviour
  • is not reductionist and gives a comprehensive understanding of human behaviour
61
Q

AO3 Humanistic Approach - Unfalsifiable

A
  • isn’t based on empirical evidence and experimental studies
  • things like incongruence cannot be measured
  • lacks scientific rigour and doesn’t support psychology as a science

Psychology (11 decks)

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