Approaches Flashcards
Who is Wundt?
- the first person to call themselves a psychologist
- established the first psychology laboratory
- worked at Leipzig university
Define introspection
The systematic analysis of one’s own conscious experience, thought processes, emotions and sensations
What is the method of introspection?
- Wundt and his colleagues recorded their own conscious thoughts with the aim of breaking these down into their constituent parts.
- researchers were carefully presented with the controlled stimuli and were asked to provide a description of the inner processes they were experiencing
- all introspections were recorded under strictly controlled conditions using the same stimuli and standardised instructions each time
What is the empirical method?
Evidence is directly observable and gathered through senses. Can be verified by measurements and does not go beyond observation
What is objectivity?
If a piece of research is objective then it is free from bias. Based on observable data
What is replicability?
The extent to which a study can be repeated
What is falsifiability?
When it is possible to prove a statement, hypothesis or theory wrong
What are the strengths and limitations of the scientific approach?
+ some aspects are scientific (e.g. in a Lab)
+ still considered a useful method by modern psychologists
- not scientific (e.g. based on non empirical, subjective method)
- low ecological validity
What are the assumptions of the behaviourist approach?
- behaviour is learned from experience
- only observable behaviour is measurable scientifically
- psychologists should use lab experiments
- basic processes of learning is the same in all species so is valid to study animals as they share the same principles of learning as humans
What is classical conditioning?
Classical conditions is where behaviour is learned through associations
What is the equations of classical conditioning? (Watson and Rayner)
___——> no response
___——> fear response (___)
___ + ___ ——> fear response (___)
__ ——> fear response (__)
NS ——> no response
UCS ——> fear response UCR
UCS + NS ——> fear response UCR
CS ——> fear response CR
Evaluation of Pavlovs research
+ used the experimental method (in a lab)
- study of non human animals
- Unethical ( pavlov performed surgery on dogs salivary glands and had them harnessed in the same place for multiple hours)
What is operant conditioning?
Operant conditioning is the idea that behaviour is learned through consequences and reinforcements
What are the 3 types of reinforcement?
- positive reinforcement
- negative reinforcement
- punishment
What was skinners work?
- Skinner worked on rats and pigeons in his box called the ‘skinner box’
- the box contained a response lever and a metal floor which was able to administer an electric shock to the rat is required
What is the evaluation of operant conditioning?
+ used the experimental method (lab)
- studied non human animals
- unethical (kept animals in small cages)
What is the overall evaluation of the behaviourist approach?
+ practical applications (CC led to systematic desensitisation/ OC led to token economy in institutions)
+ supported by Pavlov and Skinner
- over simplistic favouring the nurture side of nature vs nurture
- supports the determinism side of free will vs determinism
What are the two assumptions of social learning theory?
- Behaviour is learned from environment and thus genetics do not influence behaviour
- Behaviour is learned through observation
Define identification in social learning theory
An individual is influenced by another because they want to be like them or are similar to them. Factors include :
- ethnicity
- age
- higher status
- gender
Define imitation in social learning theory
An individual observes behaviour from a role model and copies it.
What is modelling in social learning theory?
An individual observes a live model and example of behaviour demonstrated my be imitated at a later stage
Define vicarious reinforcement
Term used to describe reinforcement when an individual observes a model receiving a reward. They do not recieve the reward themselves but they see someone else get it
What does ARRM stand for in the role of mediating processes
Attention
Retention
Motor reproduction
Motivation
What was the Aim of banduras bobo doll experiment? AO1
To examine if children would imitate an aggressive adult model to discover the extent which gender of role models influences the child’s motivation to imitate
What is the evaluation of Banduras Bobo doll experiment? AO3
+ experimental method
- low ecological validity
- used children as participants
- unethical
Why was using children as participants in Banduras Bobo doll experiment a weakness? AO3
P: used children as participants
E: children in aggressive condition may have thought they were being tested for the ‘right response’ and thus were required to behave aggressively.
Impossible to establish if participants would of imitated behaviour if experiment did not take place in labatory
What are the evaluation points of social learning theory? AO3
+ supported by Banduras bobo doll experiment
+ acknowledges the role of cognitions in behaviour
+ enables us to understand cultural differences
- favours nurture side of nature vs nurute
What evidence is social learning theory supported by? AO3
P: supported by evidence
E: bandura demonstrated that children who observed an aggressive role model behaved more aggressively than children who observed a non aggressive one and there was also a greater level of imitation in same gender models
E: suggest SLT provides an accurate explanation of aggression
How does social learning theory acknowledge the role of cognitions in behaviour? AO3
P: acknowledges role of cognitions in behaviour
E: suggests that cognitions intervene between stimulus and response
E: provides a holistic and less deterministic view of behaviour than operant or classical conditioning
How does social learning theory help us understand cultural differences? AO3
P: enables us to understand cultural differences in behaviour
E: can help us understand diversity of cultural norms across different cultures. Helps understand how cultural norms are transmitted through society and role models
E: enhances our understanding of a number of different behaviours
How does social learning theory favour the nurture side of nature vs nurture? AO3
P: favours the nurture side of nature vs nurture
E: suggest we learn behaviour through observation and vicarious reinforcement ignoring the wealth of evidence suggesting that biological factors also contribute to behaviour
E: takes a very one sided view and bandura is criticised for fact that in his research boys were more aggressive than girls regardless of specifics or experimental setting, suggesting there is a biological component to behaviour
What are the 3 assumptions of The Cognitive Approach?
- thought processes should be studied scientifically
- the mind works like a computer (input and output)
- stimulus and response is appropriate but only if the thought processes that occur between them are acknowledged
What is a schema?
A mental framework that incorporates our ideas about the world
How are schemas useful?
- Allow us to process information quickly
- take shortcuts when interpreting data
- allow us to predict what might happen in the world and how to respond appropriately
What does the Information processing approach suggest?
Information flows through the cognitive system in a sequence similar to a computer
What do theoretical models provide?
A testable hypothesis
What does the computer analogy suggest?
The human mind is like a computer working by a series of processing steps
What is a good example of the computer analogy?
The multi store model of memory
What are the 2 evaluation points of the Theoretical and computer models of mental processes? AO3
- oversimplistic
- deterministic
How are theoretical and computer models oversimplistic?
P: oversimplistic
E: ignores individual differences and the role of emotion in behaviour. Could also be considered machine reductionism, the belief that human functions are the result of units of activity
E: overlooks the complexity of human behaviour
How are theoretical and computer models deterministic?
P: deterministic view of human behaviour
E: suggests humans lack the free will to control their own behaviour and thus can’t be held accountable for their actions
E: many psychologists disagree with this and believe that humans have the ability to use their free will
What is cognitive neuroscience the scientific study of?
The influence of brain structures on mental processes
What is the main focus of cognitive neuroscience?
Look for a biological basis to thought and understand the role on neurons in this processes
How does a FMRI scan measure activity in the brain?
Measured blood flow through radio waves and magnetic fields. When part of brain is active it requires more oxygen and thus more blood flow
How do PET scans measure activity in the brain?
The presence of a radioactive glucose molecule tracer. Glucose is a source of energy so is used when activity takes place in brain. The tracers will build up and show on a scan as a bright colour
What are the evaluation points of neuroscience? AO3
+ the use of PET scans to test LTM
- practical applications can be controversial
