Approaches Flashcards

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1
Q

Who is Wilhelm Wundt? And what did he believe?

A

He is considered one of the founders of psychology.
He believed that all aspects of behaviour and the human mind could be studied scientifically.
He also created the first experimental psychology laboratory.

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2
Q

What is Wilhelm Wundt’s approach called?

A

Structuralism
This involves looking at the structure of our abilities and behaviours.
His approach is influenced by biologists, philosophers and medical experts.

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3
Q

What does introspection mean?

A

“Looking into”

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4
Q

What does the process of introspection involve?

A

Introspection involves the examination of one’s thoughts.

Introspection relies primarily on on non-observable responses and although participants can report conscious experiences, they are unable to comment on unconscious factors relating to their behaviour.
Introspection should be obtained DURING a task performance rather than after to avoid memory problems.

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5
Q

How did Wundt help instigate psychology as we know it?

A
  • Use of standardised procedures and instructions
  • Systematic observation and experimentation on human and animal behaviour
  • Opening of the first experimental psychology laboratory
  • Introduced use of “controlled conditions”
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6
Q

What is the scientific model?

A
  1. Theory
    -> use a theory to form a hypothesis
  2. Hypothesis
    -> Design a study to support the hypothesis
  3. Research
    -> Perform the research
  4. Observations
    -> Create or modify the theory

This is placed in a continuous cycle

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7
Q

What are the 5 features of science? (FROGS)

A

Falsifiable - it should be possible to test a theory or the findings of a study to refute/ falsify them (prove them wrong)

Replicable - refers to the ability to repeat research and achieve the same findings as the original study

Objective - unbiased view

General Laws - the research/ theory should provide general laws about psychology that can be used as a paradigm

Systematic- as objective, well ordered methods for close examination of an aspect of behaviour to obtain reliable and unbiased data by observers

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8
Q

Evaluations of origins of psychology:

A
  • Useful general laws (controlled lab experiments, standardised procedures, replicability)
  • Highly subjective (can easily change, vulnerable to bias, Wundt used own students(demand characteristics), brains are too complex)
  • Practical applications (opened first experimental lab and trained 186 graduate students)
  • Lacks generalisability (small sample of upper class white men from 19th century)
  • Lacks temporal validity
  • Andocentric (all males)
  • Ethnocentric
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9
Q

What is structuralism?

A

Defined as: attempting to understand what underpins a behaviour, rather than focusing on the behaviour itself.

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10
Q

What are the 2 processes Charles Darwin which our behaviour has been acquired through?

A
  1. Natural selection
  2. Survival of the Fittest
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11
Q

Define Evolution:

A

The gradual change within a species over several generations in response to environmental pressures.

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12
Q

Define Natural Selection:

A

The process where inherited characteristics that enhance survival (or fitness) are passed onto the next generation.

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13
Q

Define adaptive:

A

Refers to a behaviour or trait that will increase the chance of survival and boost reproductive success.

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14
Q

What is biological preparedness?

A

A predisposition to be sensitive to certain stimuli

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15
Q

What did Seligman suggest?

A

There was a biological preparedness to phobias of certain things.
We have an innate tendency to rapidly acquire a phobia to potentially harmful phenomena. This is why phobias such as heights/ spiders/ snakes are more common as it would be a threat to early man

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16
Q

Give an example of a highly adaptive behaviour.

A

Showing fear to a massive furry spider.

This would lead to higher survival rates as people know to avoid it.

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17
Q

All humans are genetically 99.9 the same. But why don’t we all look or act the same?

A

Due to having a unique genotype.

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18
Q

Define Genotype.

A

The genetic constitution of an individual. Each cell contains the same genotype.

(Variation in human genotype can account for enormous variation across species)

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19
Q

How genetically similar are we to chimpanzees

A

98% genetically similar

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20
Q

Define phenotype

A

The results of your genetic material interacting with your environment to establish a behaviour.

It is a set of observable characteristics of an individual resulting from the interaction of its genotype with the environment.

(What you look like)

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21
Q

Are Identical twins (monozygotic) genetically identical?

A

Yes they are identically the same.

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22
Q

Are non-identical twins (dizygotic) genetically identical?

A

No, they share 50% genetic similarity

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23
Q

Are non-identical twins (dizygotic) genetically identical?

A

No, they share 50% genetic similarity

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24
Q

What are the 4 parts of the biological approach?

A
  • Evolution and behaviour
  • Genes and behaviour
  • Biological structures in the brain (Neuroanatomy)
  • Neurochemistry and behaviour
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25
Q

Raine at al (1997) used PET scans to identify several areas of murders brains who pleaded not guilty.

Summarise findings of Raine

A

Raine identified several areas of murders brains as significantly different to matched controls by using PET scans.

  • There was reduced activity in the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus
  • Abnormal asymmetries as reduced activity in the left and greater activity of the right hemisphere
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26
Q

What are the Assumptions of Behaviourism?

A
  • When we are born our minds are a blank slate
  • Little differences between learning that takes place in animals and other animals (can generalise)
  • Behaviour is result of a stimulus- response
  • ALL behaviour is learnt from the environment through classical and/or operant conditioning
27
Q

Is the learning approach nature or nurture?

A

Extreme NURTURE

this is due to learning approach focusing on that all behaviour is learnt and born with a blank slate

28
Q

What are the 3 key ways the learning approach assumes we learn behaviour? (CIA)

A

Consequences
Imitation
Association

29
Q

Research support for classical conditioning. (Association)

A

Pavlov’s Dog study.

Getting dogs to salivate in response to a bell

30
Q

Describe the process of classical conditioning using pavlov’s dog study as an example.

A

Before conditioning:
Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS) = Unconditioned Response (UCR)
Food = Salvation

During conditioning:
Neutral Stimulus (NS) + Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS) = Unconditioned Response (UCR)
Bell + Food = Salvation

After conditioning:
Conditioned stimulus (CS) = Conditioned Response (CR)
Bell = Salvation

31
Q

Define Extinction in classical conditioning

A

If the conditioned stimulus is continually presented without the unconditioned stimulus then the conditioned response gradually dies out or extinguishes.

32
Q

Define Spontaneous Recovery in classical conditioning

A

If a conditioned response is not reinforced, it becomes extinguished. But may after a period of rest the response may suddenly reappear.

33
Q

Define Discrimination in classical conditioning

A

The conditioned response is only produced by presentation of the original stimulus, it does not extend to similar stimulus.

E.g No generalisation (only specific bell)

34
Q

Define Generalisation in classical conditioning

A

Extension of the conditioned response from the original stimulus to similar stimuli.

E.g. Little Albert’s phobia of white rat generalised to all white fluffy things

35
Q

Define One Trial Learning in classical conditioning

A

When conditioning occurs immediately after event occurs once.

E.g. phobias formed from traumatic events

36
Q

Research support for operant conditioning in the learning approach

A

Skinners box.

37
Q

What is a primary reinforcer?

A

Anything that fulfils a basic biological need
E.g food fulfils hunger

38
Q

What is a secondary reinforcer?

A

Only becomes a reinforcer when associated with a primary reinforcer
E.g caregiver gives the food that fifties the hunger

39
Q

What is continuous reinforcement?

A

Desired behaviour is reinforced every single time it occurs.
E.g. rats get a food pellet every time it presses lever in skinners box.

40
Q

What is partial reinforcement?

A

Desired behaviour is reinforced only part or some of the time

41
Q

What is a Fixed ratio schedule in terms of reinforcement?

A

Gets rewarded at every particular interval.
E.g. Rat gets a food pellet after 5 lever presses

42
Q

What is variable ratio schedule in terms of reinforcement?

A

Random and no pattern for reinforcement.
E.g A rat gets a food pellet after a number of lever presses which changes all the time.

43
Q

What is positive reinforcement?

A

Increases the frequency of a desired behaviour by giving a present consequence. Rewarding behaviour. Strengthens behaviour.

44
Q

What are examples of positive reinforcement?

A
  • workers getting paid bonuses for working hard
  • the dogs get a treat for returning when called
  • child gets dessert for eating their vegetables
  • reward points are given for good work at schools
45
Q

What is negative reinforcement?

A

Increasing the frequency of a desired behaviour by removing something unpleasant. Escaping from an unpleasant consequence.

46
Q

Examples of negative reinforcement:

A
  • car buzzer turns of when seat belt is put on
  • torture stops when victim confesses
47
Q

What is meant by punishment?

A

Decreasing the frequency of a desired behaviour by giving an unpleasant consequence.

48
Q

Examples of punishment:

A
  • commit crime -> go to prison
  • skip school-> grounded by parents
49
Q

What is the difference between positive punishment and negative punishment?

A

Positive punishment involves adding something
Negative punishment involves taking something away

50
Q

What is Social learning theory (SLT) suggest

A

We indirectly learn through imitating role models

See, Think, Do

51
Q

What is Imitation in SLT?

A

Refers to copying the behaviour we have observed in a role model, which may or may not have gained a reward.
(Mimicking and low level)

52
Q

What is Identification in SLT?

A

Occurs when we see ourselves as being similar to a particular individual and wish to be like them, so we are influenced by their behaviour and more likely to imitate them.

(Behaviour and attitude, deeper level)

53
Q

What is modelling in SLT?

A

Refers to copying the behaviour of an individual who is viewed as a role model.

54
Q

What are the 3 types of modelling in SLT?

A
  1. Live model (what we see)
  2. Verbal model (what we hear)
  3. Symbolic models (film stars/characters)
55
Q

What is vicarious reinforcement in SLT?

A

This occurs when an individual observes a role model being rewarded for a behaviour. They are then motivated to imitate this behaviour in the hope of receiving a similar rewarding consequences.

56
Q

What is Vicarious punishment in SLT?

A

Occurs when the tendency to engage in a behaviour is weakened after having observed the negative consequences for another engaging in that behaviour.

57
Q

Name the meditational processes in Social Learning Theory?
(ARRM)

A

Attention
Retention
Reproduction
Motivation

58
Q

What is mean by Attention as one of the meditational processes in Social Learning Theory?

A

The observer has to concentrate on the model’s behaviour if it is to be intimidated. Identification with the role model is important here. Close attention needed.

59
Q

What is mean by Retention as one of the meditational processes in Social Learning Theory?

A

The Behaviour has to be remembered and stored if it is going to be imitated later. Individuals will need a good enough memory to retain what you see.

60
Q

What is mean by Reproduction as one of the meditational processes in Social Learning Theory?

A

The observer must be capable of imitating / reproducing the behaviour that they have observed. Physically being able to repeat the behaviour.

61
Q

What is mean by Motivation as one of the meditational processes in Social Learning Theory?

A

The observer must have a good reason and want to imitate the behaviour that has been observed.

62
Q

What is meant by Alpha bias?

A

A theory or research over-exaggerates sex differences. Creates stereotypes.

63
Q

What is meant by beta bias?

A

A theory or research which minimises sex differences. This is more common in study’s. Over generalised.