approaches

Question 1

what are the assumptions of the cognitive approach?

Answer 1

cognitive processes shape behaviour
Human minds and computers process information similarly
Theoretical models explain how information is processed
Schema can affect the way information is processed

Question 2

what do cognitive psychologists believe?

Answer 2

that internal mental processes can and should be scientifically tested/

Question 3

what is an inference ?

Answer 3

an act of drawing conclusions from evidence and reasoning to assume how something is working

Question 4

what the evaluation for inferences

Answer 4

One issue is that the inference may not be correct
Possible low ecological validity tasks given may not reflect normal mental process functioning because it is carefully measured in Lab environments
Often relies on self reporting-can lack reliability and validity as people may lie or inaccurately record their processes accurately

Question 5

what is a schema

Answer 5

A mental structure that represents an aspect of the world

Question 6

what is the computer analogy

Answer 6

Cognitive psychologists often compare the human brain to a computer. It compares how we take information from our senses (input) store or change it (process it) and then behave a certain way (output).

Question 7

what are theoretical models?

Answer 7

models that depict a series of stages and explain the process of a mental process

Question 8

what is the evaluation for theoretical models?

Answer 8

Theoretical models are strengthened that certain stages and aspects can be tested individually and examined in detail through inferences
However, inferences are never 100% accurate

Question 9

what are examples of brain scans

Answer 9

fMRI (function magnetic resonance imaging)
PET (positron Emission Tomography

Question 10

what does brain scans involve

Answer 10

Involves scanning the brains of “normal” individuals and comparing them to people who have brain damage. They are usually asked to do a task during the scan. This enables inference to be made about how mental processes work.

Question 11

what are the evaluation for brain scans

Answer 11

Tulving found using MRI that different types of long term memory may be located at different.

Question 12

what are the strengths of the cognitive approach

Answer 12

Is highly controlled and rigorous in its methods. Uses lab experiments which makes it credible and scientific. However, we have to make inferences which cannot be 100% trusted. Strength

Is very applicable to every day life. There is lots of real life application for memory so this could be expanded to other thought processes which the cognitive psychology approach studies

However, there are many artificial tasks used, this lacks external validity.

Can be used for AI technology as the discoveries made can be important for AI research

Less determinist
determinist (can find a cause for every behaviour)
They believe that aspects of the brain guide as in the right decision

Question 13

what are the weaknesses of the cognitive approach

Answer 13

Machine reductionist: it reduces the brain to a more simpler computer. It is too simple to include all aspects of the brain. Won’t have a full understanding of the brain.

Question 14

what is the biological approach

Answer 14

The biological approach combines biology and psychology.

Question 15

what do biological psychologists believe

Answer 15

in giving physiological reasons to behaviour

Question 16

what are the assumptions of the psychological approach

Answer 16

Everything psychological is biological first
Neural structures and neurochemistry shape behaviour
Genes and hormones also shave behaviour
The mind lives in the brain.

Question 17

what are genes?

Answer 17

Are a set of instruction for the growth and development of every cell in the body
We get them from parents
Are packaged in bundles called chromosomes

Question 18

what is a phenotype?

Answer 18

They way genes are expressed

Question 19

what is a genotype

Answer 19

Someone’s genetic makeup

Question 20

what is identical twins

Answer 20

monozygotic

Question 21

what are fraternal twins

Answer 21

dizygotic

Question 22

what are twin studies

Answer 22

they are studies which test traits between twins. They allow us to compare the likelihood to traits having genetic basis by comparing the concordance rates between twin pairs

Question 23

what are concordance rate

Answer 23

how often twins share the same trait

Question 24

what should the concordance rate be between monozygotic twins if a trait is genetic

Answer 24

should be 100%

Question 25

what does it suggest if identical twins have a higgher concordance rate than fraternal

Answer 25

the trait is genetic

Question 26

what is the
Generalisability
Reliability
Applicability
ethics
of twin studies

Answer 26

G: twins may not be representative of other children due to them being only 0.5% of births
R:twins are more common now. However, before the 1980s it was difficult to identify MZ twins which meant that DZ twins could be wrongly allocated
A: identifying if certain behaviours are genetic are important in cases such as schizophrenia where parents may want to know
V: confounding variables as twins may have not been raised the same. Biological determinism
E:there can be issues with consent from the children.

Question 27

what do adoption studies consist of?

Answer 27

These tests consist of comparing a trait or characteristic between adopted children and their biological or adoptive parents.
We can conclude whether a trait is biological or environmental from these studies

Question 28

what is the
Generalisability
Reliability
Applicability
ethics
of adoption studies

Answer 28

G: may not be representative of everyone. They often separate under difficult circumstances
R: there are alot of extraneous variables affecting the studies.
A:could tell parents how to effectively parent their children
V:their are confounding variables. Adoptive parents are picked to be as similar to the biological. Environmental determinism
E: they use presumptive consent from the adoptive parents

Question 29

what is natural selection

Answer 29

Animals which have traits that provide them with an advantage are more likely to survive and reproduce. This thereby passes on the “adaptive traits”. This is known as natural selection because it isn’t decided by anything other than the advantages given by the possessor.

Question 30

what are principles which the behaviours that need adapt are dependent on

Answer 30

The principle of diversity
Variety within a species

The principle of interaction
Which is how this variety of
species adapt and fit in with the environment

The principle of differential amplification

Those who adapt to their
environment will
reproduce and those
who do not will die out.

Question 31

what are the strengths of the biological approach

Answer 31

An advantage of this approach is that it can be used for lots of research and its real life application. This is because wh have been able to develop psychoactive drugs to treat mental illness

An advantage is the scientific research involved. This can be done by using brain scans such as function magnetic resonance imaging

Question 32

what are the weaknesses of the biological approach?

Answer 32

A disadvantage of this approach is that it is deterministic. It sees behaviour as being governed by only biological aspects, this means that it is limited

A disadvantage of this approach is that it lacks internal validity. This is because the assumptions made forget confounding variables such as the factor.

Question 33

what do humanist psychologists believe

Answer 33

They believe that human behaviour should focus on the subjective experience of humans.

Question 34

what are the assumptions of the humanistic approach

Answer 34

Humans have free will and choice over their actions
People have an innate drive to achieve their full potential
Incongruence(a space between) of the self and ideal self prevent growth
People need unconditional positive regard

Question 35

what is free will

Answer 35

Humans are 100% self determining
A belief in free will does not mean that people are not influenced by internal and external factors. It simply means that people are active agents who can choose to reject these influences if they want and determine their own behaviour. Is a person centred approach

Question 36

what does Maslow believe and argue

Answer 36

Believed that human behaviour is the result of our innate drive to reach our full potential

Maslow argued that every person has the innate tendency to achieve their full potential (known as self-actualisation) in order to reach self actualisation you must meet other needs

Question 37

what do Humanist psychologists believe about self actualisation

Answer 37

Once you havemet all your needs your can work towards self-actualisation. Humanist psychologists believe that this is the way for humans to develop is to grow personally. Personal growth involves changing as a person to become fulfilled,satisfied and goal oriented.

Question 38

what did rogers believe about self actualisation?

Answer 38

that your actual self and ideal self have to be congruent (in line) with each other.

Question 39

what will happen if your actual self is too different to your ideal self

Answer 39

will experience a state of
incongruence resulting in negative feelings of self worth this prevents them from reaching their growth needs.

Question 40

what is the aim of client centred therapy

Answer 40

Aim to increase self worth to reduce incongruence between ideal self and actual self

Question 41

what did Roger’s believe about client centred therapy

Answer 41

Believed that it was better to refer to the people who took on therapy as clients rather than a patient

Question 42

what was the impact of client centred therapy

Answer 42

Transformed therapy in the UK and US by introducing self directed therapy which worked for many people

Question 43

when is client centred therapy best applied?

Answer 43

in mild conditions and not severe

Question 44

what did Rogers believe about the patient

Answer 44

Saw individuals as an expert on their condition allowed them to be in control(guided by patient)

Question 45

what three things did Roger’s believe therapists should provide

Answer 45

genuineness,empathy and unconditional positive regard.

Question 46

what are the strengths of the Humanist approach

Answer 46

Is not reductionist. Doesn’t reduce down to the simplest form. This is a strength because it takes into account every aspect of the mind and humans. They take a holistic approach. Is a strength because it recognises human behaviours complexity

The humanistic approach promotes a positive image of humans and their future. This is because humans are reaching for an ideal self or actualisation (Maslow) and Rogers stated that your ideal self and current self need to be congruent. This is because all theories talk about goals. This is a strength because believing in free will and achieving goals is encouraging for people. It is less disheartening so positive for mental health