Approaches Flashcards
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
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)
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
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
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
6
Q
AO3 Behaviourist approach - Scientific
A
- objectively observable
- establishes causal relationships
- can be replicated
7
Q
AO3 Behaviourist approach - Generalisability issues
A
- research done on animals
- may not adequately explain human behaviour
- ethical issues with animals
8
Q
AO3 Behaviourist approach - Application
A
- real-life application in treatments to therapies
- use in token economies in prisons
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
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
11
Q
Mediational processes
A
- must happen between observing a model and imitating a behaviour
- attention, retention, reproduction, motivation
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
- Oral
- Anal
- Phallic
- Latent
- 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
