Approaches

Question 1

A01 cognitive approach

Answer 1

-focuses on internal mental processes
-suggests can and should be studies scientifically
-focuses on memory perception and thinking, the areas neglected by the behaviourist approach
-processes studied scientifically by lab studies
-as cognitive processes are ‘private’ + cannot be visibly observed directly so must study indirectly through inferences of what’s going on inside peoples minds by observing their behaviour

Question 2

Cognitive AO1

Answer 2

-uses theoretical models to study internal processes, one important one is info processing approach, suggests info flows through cognitive system in a sequence of stages which include input storage, retrieval as in the multistore model
- cognitive sees mind to work in similar way to computer in the way info is processes
- using metaphor such as processing retrieval to explain what happens with the mind, as well as comparing the brain to the central processing unit of a computer

Question 3

Cognitive A01

Answer 3

-cognitive processes can often be affected by a persons beliefs or expectations often referred too as schemas
-they are packages of ideas and info developed through experience
- they’re unique to individual as our own experiences are subjective to ourselves
- older you get more detailed and sophisticated they become
-useful to us as they enable us to process lots of info quick and fill gaps when info is lacking based on passed experiences
-however schemas may also eliminate anything which does not match out pre expsting beliefs/ ideas or expectations

Question 4

Cognitive A03, reductionist- limitation

Answer 4

-approach reduces all complex behaviour down to one cause ie faulty thinking, stating that depression is caused by irrational thought processes also does not consider emotions and motivation which influence the processing of information for example according to yerkes- Dodson law anxiety can influence memory
Also early theories of the cognitive approach did nit always recognise physical biological psychology and environmental factors in determining behaviour
-weakness because its a simplistic view of behaviour to think depression can only be caused by faulty thinking, ignoring environmental factors or neurotransmitters which may affect our behavoiour
+however important to note that modern cognitive psychology has evolved to incorporate a more holistic understanding of human cognition and behaviour.

Question 5

Cognitive AO3- real life applications- strength

Answer 5

-by identifying the role of cognitive processes in mental disorders, cognitive psycology has informed the development of targeted interventions
-CBT thrall aims to modify the maladaptive thought patterns and belief that underline emotional distress, helping people develop a more balanced and adaptive way of thinking
- cbts basis is to change how people process their thoughts to make them more rational or +ve
- this is a strength as through these techniques CBT helps individuals challenged and change their negative schemas leading to improvements in mood and functioning leading to succesful treatments of people suffering from depression where faulty thinking is identified and altered.

Question 6

Cognitive A03 - scientific methods strength + counter argument

Answer 6

-use of lab experiments in highly controls settings allowed reliable objective data to be gathered and allowed researchers to infer which cognitive processes are at work
-emergence of neuroscience enabled the cognitive and biological approach to come together
-means that the study of the mind has established more of a credible scientific basis since wundts early attempts to measure private mental processes during introspection
-strength as it means the study of the mind has established a credible scientific basis
However BF skinner criticises the cognitive approach as he believes only external stimulus response behaviour should be studies as this can be scientifically measured
- while a strength is it measures in controlled settings they may not always capture real world mental processes, complexity and ecological validity
Certain mental processes like descission making may be difficult to study in lab settings
-this is a weakness as the theories might not explain how the mind and memory works outside the lab

Question 7

Cognitive A03 -soft determinism
Strength

Answer 7

-recognises our cognitive system can only operate with the limits of what we know but that we are free to think before responding to a stimulus
-also recognises that rather being completely controlled by our environment or being completely controlled by our genes, we can control how to behave
- strength as this is more of a reasonable ‘interactionist’ position than the hard determinism suggested by some other approaches like the behaviourist and biological approaches.

Question 8

A01- humanistic approach- belief

Answer 8

-believes all people have free will and full consciousness over their choices
- they reject scientific methods hat attempt to establish general principles of human behaviour, because humans are unique and should be the study of subjective experience

Question 9

A01- humanistic- self actualisation

Answer 9

-Maslow believed humans are motivated by need other than biological survival
- every person a the desire to become the best they can possibly be to achieve full potential
-this is ‘self actualisation’ where one has the desire to grow to their full potential ans self actualisation is the highest level
- the heirarcy ranges from basic needs to levels of psychological and actualisation needs they all must be met to reach self actualisation

Question 10

A01- humanistic- congruence

Answer 10

-carl rogers Argued for a person to grow a persons self and ideal self( what they aspire to be) should have congruence
-of there is a huge gap between these two a person will be incongruent and self actualisation will not be met due to negative feeling of self worth that arise from incognuernce
- to reduce this gap rigers defevloped client centred therapy to help people cope with problems of everyday
-it can often be explained from unconditional love from parents, those who set boundaries on limited for love which cause psyciogical problems for their child in the future

Question 11

A03- humanistic- applications strength

Answer 11

• major influnce of psycological counselling
  -e.g many therapist use rogers ideas of unconditional positive regard to help clients work towards self awareness
• this means its a useful theory with real world applications and has helped improve the outlook of may patients support from psycologicas issues

Question 12

A03- humanistic - holistic and positive strength

Answer 12

• do not try and reduce behaviour down to simpler component parts
• for example biology; psychology reduce behaviour down to genes or neurochemical imbalances
• in contrast humanistic psychologists put forward a holistic view of human nature and is he only approach to consider all aspects f human nature while promoting free will and human choice

Question 13

A03- humanistic - unrealistic weakness

Answer 13

-some cirifc argue that the humanistic approach offered an unrealistic view of human nature
- critics point to more sinister aspects of human nature and argue that humanism focuses on ‘growth orientated behaviour’ while ignoring individual capacity for self destruction
- however such critics argue that a focus of self development ignores situational factors that may provide a more realistic explanation of everyday human behaviours.

Question 14

A01 biological approach-

Answer 14

-three main assumptions
- our behaviour is influenced by our genetic material which has evolved like our physical characteristics through evolutionary adaptation to meet the demands of our environment
-CNS is main focus when explaining behaviour as its the origin of how the world is seen and acted upon
- neurotransmitters are seen to infulence our behaviour as they influence our reactions to the environment

Question 15

A01 biological approach- genes

Answer 15

• hi lights indulgence of genes on our behaviour
• genotype: individuals genetic makeup which dictates characteristics such as hair colour
  Phenotype: when the genotype interact as with the environment
• to highlight the influence of genotype twin studies are conducted on MZ and DZ twins to measure concordance rates
  -e.g MZ twins the concordance rate for SZ was 48% compared to 17% for DZ

Question 16

A01 biological approach - biological structures

Answer 16

-e.g the CNS and endocrine system which controls and releases hormones, neurons which send messages to and from the brain as well as the PNs which detects info from our environment sending it to the brain

Question 17

A03 biological approach strength: scientific

Answer 17

-highly scientific
-greater availability of technology scientists are able to examine effects of bio recesses on human behaviour much greater than
- e.g EEGs and fMRI make it possible to measure breaking activity accurately
-tech is all unbiased increasing objectivity of approach
- allows for a higher level of control establishing clear cause and effect
-creates standardisation allowing for replicabilty and increased credibility for bio approach

Question 18

A03 biological approach- strength: practical application

Answer 18

-led to treatments for mental disorders
-e.g key factor of OCD is low serotonin which as now led to drug prescription to increase and balance serotonin
-SSRIs help the reduce the uptake of serotinin which increases the mood
-allows sufferers to be treated which can allow them to go back to work sooner and beneficial for the economy whilst improving quality of life
-strength as it shows value of bio approach to treat the ill and increase quality of life for ODC patients

Question 19

A03 biological approach-weakness: reductionist

Answer 19

• view that human behaviour can be explained by breaking it down into small compartments e.g genes
• e.g bio approach explanation of depression suggests depression is due to low serotonin levels while ignoring cognitive emotional and cultural factors
• matters at the bio approach disregards any other factors that contribute to depression which makes it an incomplete reductionist approach at explaining human behaviour

Question 20

Social learning theory A01-

Answer 20

-states new patterns of behaviour can be acquired by observing someone else’s behaviour and through vicarious reinforcement
-however unlike the behaviorist approach SLT accepts that people exert some influence over their environment as they are able to make descisions on whether to imitate others behaviour
-therefore almost an improvement on the behaviourist approach as its less determinist and assumes people have an element of free will

Question 21

Social learning theory A01-modelling

Answer 21

-argues we learn through meddling by observiving the models behaviour and replicating it
- also states identification is also involved as the more we relate to the model the more likely we are to replicate the behaviour
- vicarious reinforcement is the process of learning indirectly through the consequences of an individuals behaviour
-however 4 mediational processes occur between observation and imitation
-attention:behavior has to be notices
-retention: we must remember behaviour well enough to replicate
-reproduction: physical ability to perform
Motivation: the will to perform the hebaiour
-Bandura explained how we are likely to be motivated of this behaviour was performed by a role model such as a peer or celebrity and if the performer was rewarded or punished

Question 22

Social learning theory A01-bandura

Answer 22

-Baruta conducted a study to investigate social learning theory using. Bobo doll
- children were shown a clip f adult being aggressive towards a doll and one non agressive control
- there were three groups who were shown different endings, adult being punishes, rewarded or no ending
- when placed n a room those who saw rewarded had high level of agresses
-this with no ending had medium and those who with punished had low
-and those who saw the aggressive behaviour wre more likely to act aggressive towards the bobo doll than the non aggressive control
-this demonstrated that children learn behaviour through observation and imitation of role models
Also demonstrates the concept of vicarious reinforcement; that we observe others being reinforced or punished for behaviour then choose whether to imitate behaviour

Question 23

Social learning theory A03- weaknes bio reductionis

Answer 23

• can be classed as reductionist as it does not consider any bio factors That may influence behaviour
• e.g it was found that boys were more physically agressive than girls, even woth the same role model
• this cannot be explained by SLT but can be explained by the fact that boys are likely to have higher tsetorsteone levels which make them more prone to agressiion
• means SLT does not account for factors that may infulence behaviour making it reduactionst
• however bandura did highlight that boys were more likely to imitate the behaviour of the same sex model and act more aggressively towards the doll than girls
  -so does support the notion that behaviour s learnt and more likely to be reproduced in individual identifies with the models behaviour

Question 24

Social learning theory A03 - lacks validity

Answer 24

-much of the evidence that supports SLT is conducted in lab study’s which lacks E validity
- also lab study’s can be criticised for being contrived as people may show demand characteristics for example the children may have been led by the hammer and guns to behave more aggressively than usual
- this means its difficult to generalise the study t everyday works which limits the validity of SLT
- however SLT explaines changes in behaviour across cultures such as gender norms that vary worldwide
- as children learn through media, peers and adults SLT can explain how these norms are learned and passes on within a specific culture

Question 25

Social learning theory A03- ethics

Answer 25

• ethical concerns
• baduras study was conducted in the 1960s and raised numerous ethical concerns which wouldn’t be allowed today
  -e.h children in the study were not given the right to withdraw, not protected from harm and there was no effort to debrief ps
• means its difficult to test experimental hypothesises about the social learning of aggressive behaviour in children and consequently difficult to establish the scientific credibility to theory