Approaches Flashcards
What are the assumptions of The Behaviourist Approach?
- Observable behaviour is all that needs to be studied
- Basic processes are the same in all species
What are the subsections of The Behaviourist Approach?
- Classical Conditioning
- Operant Conditioning
What’s the evaluation of The Behaviourist Approach?
+ Well-controlled research : Behaviour broken down into stimulus-response units
+ Real-world application : Token economy systems
- Environmental determinism : All behaviour influences by past experience, no free will
What are the assumptions of Social Learning Theory?
- Behaviour is learnt from experience
- Learnt through observation and imitation of others
What are the subsections of Social Learning Theory
- Vicarious reinforcement
- Mediational Processes
- Identification
What’s the evaluation of Social Learning Theory?
+ Cognitive Factors : Comprehensive account of learning
- Contrived lab studies : Demand characteristics
+ Real-world application : SLT can account for development of cultural differences
What are the mediational processes?
Attention, retention, motor reproduction and motivation
What is Identification?
When someone is more likely to imitate role models they identify with
What are the assumptions of the Cognitive Approach?
- Internal mental processes can be studied through inference
What are the subsections of The Cognitive Approach?
- The role of Schema
- Theoretical and Computer Models
- Emergence of cognitive neuroscience
What’s the evaluation of the Cognitive Approach?
+ Scientific methods : Produce objective data
+ Real-world application : Applies to AI, depression and EWT
- Machine reductionism : We are not machines
+ Soft determinism : Middle-ground
What are assumptions of the Biological Approach?
- The mind and body are one in the same
What are the subsections of The Biological Approach?
- Neurochemical basis of behaviour
- Genetic basis of behaviour
- Genotype and Phenotype
- Evolution and Behaviour
What’s the evaluation of The Biological Approach?
+ Real-world application : Development of psychoactive drugs
+ Scientific methods : Objective methods
- Biological determinism : Behaviour is governed by genetics, oversimplification
What are the assumptions of the Psychodynamic Approach?
- The conscious mind is the ‘tip of the iceberg’
What are the subsections of the Psychodynamic Approach?
- The structure of personality
- Psychosexual stages
- Defence mechanisms
What makes up personality?
- Id
- Ego
- Superego
What is the Id (Personality)?
Pleasure principle
What is the Ego (Personality)?
Reality principle
What is the Superego (Personality)?
Morality principle
What’s the evaluation of the Psychodynamic Approach?
+ Real-world application : Therapy
+ Explanatory factor : Influential theories about personality and moral development
- Untestable concepts : Unfalsifiable, pseudoscientific
- Psychic determinism : No room for free will
What are the assumptions of the Humanistic Approach?
People are active agents who are self-determining
(Free will)
What are the subsections of the Humanistic Approach?
- Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
- Self-actualisation
- The self, congruence and conditions of worth
- Counselling psychology
What are Maslow’s hierarchy of needs?
Physiological, safety and security, love and belongingness, self-esteem and self-actualisation
What’s the evaluation of Humanistic Psychology?
+ Not reductionist : Emphasis on holism
+ Positive approach : Sees people as good and in control
- Cultural bias : Associated with individualism
What is Introspection?
The first systematic experimental attempt to study the mind by breaking up conscious awareness into basic structures of thoughts, images and sensations
What is reinforcement?
A consequence of behaviour that increases the likelihood of that behaviour being repeated
What is Classical Conditioning?
Learning by association
Operant Conditioning
Learning in which behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences
What is Imitation?
Copying the behaviour of others
What is Modelling?
Imitating the behaviour of a role model
What is Inference?
The process whereby cognitive psychologists draw conclusions about the way mental processes operate on the basis of observed behaviour
What is congruence?
The aim of Rogerian therapy, when the self-concept and the ideal self are seen to broadly accord or match
What are conditions of worth?
When a parent places limits or boundaries on their love of their children
What is Self?
The ideas and values that characterise ‘I’ and ‘me’ and includes perception and valuing of ‘what I am’ and ‘what I can do’
