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A-Level Psychology > Approaches > Flashcards

Approaches Flashcards

1
Q

Cartesian Dualism

A

The mind is capable of independent action and is seperated from the body

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2
Q

Empiricism

A

The idea that all science should only accept and produce empirical evidence

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3
Q

Introspection

A

Systematically gaining insight to the nature of mental processes by documenting behaviour and self-report

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4
Q

Hypothesis Testing

A

Using data to support and challenge hypotheses

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5
Q

Define psychology

A

The study of the human mind and its functions, especially how those functions affect behaviour in a certain context

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6
Q

What year was the first lab established

A

1873 (or around 1880)

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7
Q

Who suggested Cartesian Dualism?

A

Rene Descartes (1596-1650)

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8
Q

How was psychology depicted during the 17th and 19th centuries?

A

It was considered a branch of philosophy as it prioritised ideas rather an evidence

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9
Q

Who proposed empiricism? And why?

A

John Locke, because all human experiences are gained through the senses

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10
Q

Name five things about Wundt

A

He opened the first experimental lab in 1973.
He was named the father of psychology
He proposed the theory of structuralism (sense, idea, perception, thought and emotion)
He wrote the first book about psychology: Principles of Physiological Psychology
He suggested introspection

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11
Q

Define the scientific approach

A

The process of objectively establishing facts through testing and experimentation

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12
Q

Name the six assumptions or focuses of the scientific method

A

A systematic procedure (when participants are all treated the same way so they all get the same experience)
Empirical methods (methods that can be observed and measured)
Controlling variables (when causation can be asserted between IV and DV because EV is controlled)
Reliability (when the variables are controlled so the study is replicable and the results are the same or similar multiple times)
Objectivity (the results are not affected by the opinions of the researcher)
Hypothesis testing (testing whether an hypothesis is true or false using facts)

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13
Q

Evaluate the scientific approach (1+/3-)

A

+Objective and reliable methods so cause explained through empirical methods
-Artificial stimuli
-Some psychology is unobservable so they cannot be measured
-Not all researchers view human behaviour as something that can be explored using scientific methods

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14
Q

Evaluate introspection (1+/2-)

A

-Focus on non-observable behaviour using self-report so not reliable and patterns cannot be established

-Lacks accuracy (Nisbett and Wilson); ‘halo effect’, unaware of our thoughts and choices so we cannot observe them

+Used in contemporary research (Czikzent and Hunter); study of happiness in positive psychology, teenagers are happier in challenging tasks; relevance in certain aspects of behaviour

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15
Q

Name nine A01 points about the Behaviourist Approach

A
  • Stimulus-response research (tabula rasa)
  • John Loke empiricism
  • Not interested in unobservable data
  • Introspection is much too vague
  • Controlled experiments
  • All animals learn the same way
  • Classical conditioning (Pavlov’s dogs)
  • Operant conditioning (Skinner’s rats )
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16
Q

Name the three AO3 points for behaviourism (1+/2-)

A
  • Mechanistic view; passive; inappropriate
  • Highly deterministic; ignores free will
    + Real-life applications; schools; quality of life
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17
Q

Define behaviourism

A

An approach of psychology that is only interested in studying observable behaviour, such as stimulus-response behaviour

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18
Q

Define stimulus

A

A change in the environment detected by the senses

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19
Q

Define ‘tabula rasa’

A

The idea that all humans are born empty and all behaviours from then on are learnt

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20
Q

Define classical conditioning

A

A procedure where an animal or person learns to associate a reflex response with a new stimulus

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21
Q

Define operant conditioning

A

A method of learning that uses rewards and punishment to modify behaviour

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22
Q

Define learning

A

An active process where animals and humans operate in their environments

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23
Q

Define positive reinforcement

A

Receiving a reward when a certain behaviour is performed which increases the likelihood of the behaviour

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24
Q

Define negative reinforcement

A

When an animal or human avoids an unpleasant stimulus increasing the likelihood of rewarding behaviour

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25
Q

Define punishment

A

An unpleasant consequence of a behaviour which causes it to reduce

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26
Q

Define social learning theory

A

An approach that suggests that we learn through observation and limitation of others in a social ontext

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27
Q

Define indirect learning

A

Learning by observation and imitation, i.e watching someone perform an action and attempting to replicate it to get similar results

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28
Q

Define Vicarious reinforcement

A

The act of imitating an observed action only if it is seen as rewarding

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29
Q

Define the mediational processes

A

The bridge between traditional behaviourism and cognitivism that describes the internal mental processes involved in imitation and observation

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30
Q

Name the four mediational processes

A

Attention, retention, motivation, motor reproduction

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31
Q

Define identification

A

Being more likely to imitate someone because they have been identified with as they have similar characteristics such as gender or high status

32
Q

Define role models

A

People who are identified with and are likely to be imitated

33
Q

Name the six AO1 points of social learning theory

A
  • Direct and indirect learning
  • Vicarious reinforcement
  • Mediational processes
  • Because of MPs, behaviour can be stored and learned later
  • Identification
  • Bandura’s experiments
34
Q

Name the AO3 of the social learning theory (1+/2-)

A
  • Lacks validity
  • Ignores biological factors
    + Less reductionist than behavioural
35
Q

Define theoretical models

A

Implications often using diagrams to help us understand the memory and other unobservable concepts

36
Q

Define the information processing approach

A

This suggests that information flows through the cognitive system in a sequence of stages including input, storage and retrieval

37
Q

Define computer models

A

This suggests that there are similar in the way information is processed between a human and a computer using concepts such as encoding and the use of stores

38
Q

Define schema

A

Packages of knowledge that develop as we experience the world and often affect cognitive processes

39
Q

Define cognitive neuroscience

A

The scientific study of the influence of brain structures on mental processes or the mapping of brain areas to specific cognitive functions

40
Q

Name six AO1 points for cognitive approach

A
  • Internal mental processes can and should be studied
  • Use of controlled experiments to make inferences
  • Theoretical models
  • Information Processing Approach
  • Computer Models
  • Schema
  • Effects of schema
41
Q

Name the A03 points for cognitive approach (1+/2-)

A

+ Controlled experiments
- Machine reductionist
- Artificial stimuli–external val

42
Q

Define biological determinism

A

The idea that behaviour or a change in behaviour is reliant on the influence of innate factors such as genes, biostructure and neurochemistry

43
Q

Define genes

A

A section of the DNA which inherited from our parents which determine physical and, possibly, behavioural traits

44
Q

Define biostructure

A

The arrangement of parts of the body to form of an organ or system

45
Q

Define neurochemistry

A

Relating to the chemicals in the brain that regulate functioning such as serotonin

46
Q

Define twin studies

A

A study carried out to investigate the behaviour of twins and determine if biology can explain their behaviour

47
Q

Define phenotype and genotype

A

Genotype is our genetic makeup while phenotype is the expression of the phenotype in relation to the environment

48
Q

Define evolutionary psychology

A

The study of behaviour in relation to adaptive characteristics that are passed down through generations

49
Q

Name five AO1 points for the biological approach

A
  • The biological approach assumes that biological factos affect the mind
  • These factors include: genes (affect cells so physical and also behavioural traits), biostructure and neurochemistry
  • Genotype and Phenotype (nature vs nurture)
  • Nesdadt et al twin studies
  • Evolution/Physical adaptive characteristics passed down–men attracted to more fertile younger women
50
Q

Name the A03 points for the biological approach (2+/1-)

A

+ Employs scientific methods (Nestadt et al + Tulving)
+ Used in treatment (SSRIs for OCD-70% effective)
- Deterministic (shy child) and (legal system )

51
Q

Unconscious mind

A

The things that we are unaware of and cannot be aware of but affect our behaviour

52
Q

Conscious mind

A

The part of the mind that we are aware of

53
Q

Preconscious mind

A

The things that we could become aware of if we tried hard enough

54
Q

Id

A

The selfish beast of the personality that works on the pleasure principle

55
Q

Ego

A

The executive of the personality that uses cognitive ability to mange and control the id and superego

56
Q

Superego

A

Works on the morality principle and opposes the desires of the id

57
Q

Intrapsychic conflict

A

Conflict between the components of the personality that can lead to anxiety

58
Q

Defense mechanisms

A

Coping mechanisms that the ego uses to protect it from id’ego conflicts including displacement, repression and denial

59
Q

Psychosexual development

A

The process during which personality and sexual behaviour mature through a series of stages

60
Q

Fixation

A

Getting stuck at one of the stages of Psychosexual development

61
Q

Libido

A

The desire to live

62
Q

Pleasure zone

A

Any area of the body that is pleasurable to touch

63
Q

Primary Activity

A

Any activity that appease the pleasure zone

64
Q

Name the AO1 points of the psychodynamic approach

A
  • The three parts of the mind and psychic determinism (including parapraxes)
  • The two ways to access the unconscious mind (dream analysis and free association)
  • The three parts of the personality (id, ego and superego), Intrapsychic conflict and the defense mechanisms
  • The five stages of Psychosexual development, libido and fixation
  • The phallic stage - oedipus and electra
65
Q

Name the A03 points of the psychodynamic approach (2+/1-)

A
  • Emphasis of importance of unconscious factors, widespread support (Nisbett and Wilson), revolutionary
  • Release of psycho conflicts through insight, catharsis (dream analysis and free association), quality of life
  • Lack of scientific validity
66
Q

Free will

A

The notion that humans make choices and are not determined by biological factors or external forces

67
Q

Hierarchy of need

A

A system where individuals rank personal amd growth needs in order to reach self actualisation

68
Q

Ideal self image

A

What an individual wants to be or be seen as

69
Q

Actual self image

A

What an individual is actually like

70
Q

Congruence

A

The state of balance when an individual’s self-image is broadly equivalent to their ideal self-image

71
Q

Incongruence

A

Perceptions of inadequacy when an individual’s actual self-image is not equivalent to their ideal self-image leading to feelings of low self-worth

72
Q

Unconditional positive regard

A

When love is given freely without conditions

73
Q

Client-centered therapy

A

An adaptation of the Q-sort assessment that measures a person’s congruence or incongruence and aims to make them reach congruence and high self-worth

74
Q

Name the seven AO1 points for the humanistic approach

A
  • Concerned with human experiences, uniqueness, meaning, freedom and choice in the pursuit of personal growth and fulfillment
  • Def of free will (not controlled by external constraints). we are active agents and capable of making our own judgement.
  • Hierarchy of needs including physiological, safety, belonging, self-esteem and personal growth (to reach self actualisation). Human motivational factors are evolutionary
  • Motivation toward improvement – positive image of human condition
  • Congruence and the incongruence in relation to ideal and actual self-worth
  • Unconditional positive regard and Conditions of worth
  • CCT (Rogers made an adaptation to give unconditional positive regard) and Q-sort (Stephenson); how they work and how they are related
75
Q

Name the evaluation of humanistic approach (2+/1-)

A

+ Less reductionist; red exp are more scientific; has general evidence
+ Optimistic; positive image of human condition
- Not very objective; uses qualitative methofs, vague, lacks cred.

A-Level Psychology (7 decks)

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