approaches Flashcards
what are the assumptions of the cognitive approach?
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
what do cognitive psychologists believe?
that internal mental processes can and should be scientifically tested/
what is an inference ?
an act of drawing conclusions from evidence and reasoning to assume how something is working
what the evaluation for inferences
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
what is a schema
A mental structure that represents an aspect of the world
what is the computer analogy
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).
what are theoretical models?
models that depict a series of stages and explain the process of a mental process
what is the evaluation for theoretical models?
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
what are examples of brain scans
fMRI (function magnetic resonance imaging)
PET (positron Emission Tomography
what does brain scans involve
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.
what are the evaluation for brain scans
Tulving found using MRI that different types of long term memory may be located at different.
what are the strengths of the cognitive approach
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
what are the weaknesses of the cognitive approach
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.
what is the biological approach
The biological approach combines biology and psychology.
what do biological psychologists believe
in giving physiological reasons to behaviour
what are the assumptions of the psychological approach
Everything psychological is biological first
Neural structures and neurochemistry shape behaviour
Genes and hormones also shave behaviour
The mind lives in the brain.
what are genes?
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
what is a phenotype?
They way genes are expressed
what is a genotype
Someone’s genetic makeup
what is identical twins
monozygotic
what are fraternal twins
dizygotic
what are twin studies
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
what are concordance rate
how often twins share the same trait
what should the concordance rate be between monozygotic twins if a trait is genetic
should be 100%
what does it suggest if identical twins have a higgher concordance rate than fraternal
the trait is genetic
what is the
Generalisability
Reliability
Applicability
ethics
of twin studies
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.
what do adoption studies consist of?
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
what is the
Generalisability
Reliability
Applicability
ethics
of adoption studies
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
what is natural selection
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.
what are principles which the behaviours that need adapt are dependent on
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.
what are the strengths of the biological approach
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
what are the weaknesses of the biological approach?
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.
what do humanist psychologists believe
They believe that human behaviour should focus on the subjective experience of humans.
what are the assumptions of the humanistic approach
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
what is free will
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
what does Maslow believe and argue
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
what do Humanist psychologists believe about self actualisation
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.
what did rogers believe about self actualisation?
that your actual self and ideal self have to be congruent (in line) with each other.
what will happen if your actual self is too different to your ideal self
will experience a state of
incongruence resulting in negative feelings of self worth this prevents them from reaching their growth needs.
what is the aim of client centred therapy
Aim to increase self worth to reduce incongruence between ideal self and actual self
what did Roger’s believe about client centred therapy
Believed that it was better to refer to the people who took on therapy as clients rather than a patient
what was the impact of client centred therapy
Transformed therapy in the UK and US by introducing self directed therapy which worked for many people
when is client centred therapy best applied?
in mild conditions and not severe
what did Rogers believe about the patient
Saw individuals as an expert on their condition allowed them to be in control(guided by patient)
what three things did Roger’s believe therapists should provide
genuineness,empathy and unconditional positive regard.
what are the strengths of the Humanist approach
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
