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approaches Flashcards

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1
Q

Who is considered the father of psychology?

A

Wilhelm Wundt

Wundt established the first psychology laboratory in 1879.

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2
Q

What year did Wundt establish the first psychology laboratory?

A

1879

This laboratory was located at Leipzig University.

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3
Q

What is introspection?

A

The systematic analysis of one’s own conscious experience

It involves analyzing thoughts, feelings, emotions, and sensations.

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4
Q

What was the primary method used by Wundt in his psychological research?

A

Introspection

Wundt trained participants to analyze and report their inner thoughts.

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5
Q

What does the empirical method in psychology refer to?

A

Evidence that is directly observable and gathered through the senses

This method can be verified by measurements.

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6
Q

What is the main criticism of introspection according to John Watson?

A

It is not objective and varies from person to person

This makes it difficult to establish general principles.

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7
Q

What is a key assumption of the behaviorist approach?

A

Behavior is learned from experience

According to behaviorism, we are born as ‘blank slates’.

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8
Q

What is classical conditioning?

A

Learning by association

It involves creating an association between a neutral stimulus and a reflex response.

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9
Q

What does UCS stand for in classical conditioning?

A

Unconditioned Stimulus

It refers to a stimulus that naturally triggers a response.

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10
Q

What is the outcome of repeatedly pairing a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus?

A

The neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus

This leads to a conditioned response.

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11
Q

Fill in the blank: Wundt’s work marked the beginning of the _______ approach in psychology.

A

scientific

He moved psychology away from philosophy into a scientific discipline.

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12
Q

What are the features of science in psychology?

A
  • Empirical method
  • Objectivity
  • Replicability
  • Falsifiability
  • Theory construction and hypothesis testing
  • Paradigms and paradigm shifts
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13
Q

True or False: The scientific method always guarantees high ecological validity.

A

False

Many psychologists argue that purely scientific methods do not capture realistic human behavior.

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14
Q

What did Pavlov’s research initially focus on?

A

The digestive system of dogs

His work earned him the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1904.

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15
Q

What is the significance of the Little Albert experiment?

A

It demonstrated classical conditioning by creating a phobia

A loud noise (unconditioned stimulus) was paired with a rat (neutral stimulus).

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16
Q

What is the main idea behind operant conditioning?

A

Behavior is influenced by consequences, such as reinforcement and punishment

Positive and negative reinforcement/punishment are key concepts.

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17
Q

What does the term ‘paradigm shift’ refer to?

A

A change in a distinct set of concepts or thought patterns

It occurs when a theory is falsified and a new one is established.

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18
Q

What does UCR stand for in classical conditioning?

A

Unconditioned Response

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19
Q

What does NS represent in classical conditioning?

A

Neutral Stimulus

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20
Q

What does CS stand for in classical conditioning?

A

Conditioned Stimulus

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21
Q

What is CR in the context of classical conditioning?

A

Conditioned Response

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22
Q

Who conducted the famous ‘Little Albert’ experiment?

A

Watson & Rayner

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23
Q

What was the unconditioned stimulus used in the ‘Little Albert’ experiment?

A

Loud noise

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24
Q

What was the outcome of the ‘Little Albert’ experiment?

A

Little Albert became phobic of rats

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25
What is one strength of Pavlov’s research?
Use of experimental method with controlled conditions
26
What is a limitation of Pavlov's research regarding the subjects used?
Studied non-human animals
27
What ethical concern is raised by Pavlov's research?
Surgery on dogs' saliva glands and confinement in harnesses
28
What does operant conditioning involve?
Learning by consequences of behavior
29
Define positive reinforcement.
Receiving a reward when a certain behavior is performed
30
Define negative reinforcement.
Reward by avoiding something unpleasant
31
What is punishment in the context of operant conditioning?
An unpleasant consequence of a behavior
32
Who was Burrhus Frederic Skinner?
A major force in the behaviorism movement
33
What is the purpose of Skinner's box in his research?
To study operant conditioning
34
What did Skinner demonstrate with positive reinforcement using a rat?
Rats learned to press a lever for food
35
How did Skinner demonstrate negative reinforcement?
Rats learned to press a lever to stop an electric current
36
What is a strength of Skinner’s research?
Use of experimental method to establish cause and effect
37
What is a limitation of Skinner’s research regarding the generalizability of findings?
Studied non-human animals
38
What ethical concerns are associated with Skinner's experiments?
Animals kept in small cages and subjected to pain
39
What is the core belief of the behaviorist approach?
Behavior is learned from experience and environmentally determined
40
What do behaviorists believe about genetic influence on behavior?
There is no genetic influence; we are born a blank slate
41
What types of conditioning do behaviorists believe are used to learn behavior?
Operant and classical conditioning
42
Fill in the blank: Operant conditioning means learning through the _______ of your behavior.
consequences
43
Fill in the blank: Classical conditioning means learning through _______.
association
44
What is a strength of the behaviourist approach?
It has practical applications, resulting in successful treatments for phobias and patients in institutions. ## Footnote Classical conditioning has led to systematic desensitization, while operant conditioning has resulted in token economy systems.
45
What does systematic desensitization aim to achieve?
It aims to eliminate the learned anxious response associated with a feared object or situation. ## Footnote The therapist replaces maladaptive responses with more positive responses.
46
What is a token economy system?
A system that rewards appropriate behavior with tokens that can be exchanged for privileges. ## Footnote It is particularly suitable for patients who lack insight into their condition.
47
What does the effectiveness of behaviourist treatments suggest?
It suggests that the behaviourist approach has some validity and merit. ## Footnote The treatments are based on the assumptions of the approach.
48
Who demonstrated positive and negative reinforcement through experiments?
B.F. Skinner. ## Footnote He conditioned rats to press levers for rewards and to avoid punishment.
49
What was Pavlov's famous experiment about?
Classical conditioning of a dog to salivate at the sound of a bell. ## Footnote The dog learned to associate the bell with food.
50
What is a methodological strength of the behaviourist approach?
It uses the scientific method to investigate human behaviour. ## Footnote This enhances the scientific status of psychology and leads to empirical evidence.
51
What is a limitation of the behaviourist approach?
It is over-simplistic and favours the nurture side of the nature vs nurture debate. ## Footnote It ignores biological factors that may influence behaviour.
52
How does the behaviourist approach view human behaviour?
As a product of external influences, supporting environmental determinism. ## Footnote This perspective suggests individuals cannot be held responsible for their behaviour.
53
Who is Albert Bandura?
A learning theorist who contributed significantly to social psychology. ## Footnote He is known for uncovering the influence of observation on human learning and aggression.
54
What is the basic idea of Social Learning Theory?
We learn behaviour by observing the positive and negative consequences of others' behaviour. ## Footnote This means we learn vicariously, through role models.
55
What is identification in the context of Social Learning Theory?
When an individual is influenced by another because they are similar to or wish to be like them. ## Footnote Factors influencing identification include gender, ethnicity, and status.
56
What is imitation in Social Learning Theory?
When an individual observes and copies the behaviour of a role model. ## Footnote Key determinants include the model's characteristics and the observer's ability.
57
What is modelling?
Observing the behaviour of a role model. ## Footnote Models can be live (e.g., parents) or symbolic (e.g., TV characters).
58
What does vicarious reinforcement mean?
The reinforcement the observer sees the model receiving, not the reinforcement they receive directly. ## Footnote Observers are more likely to imitate rewarded behaviours.
59
What are the four mediational processes in Bandura's theory?
* Attention * Retention * Motor reproduction * Motivation ## Footnote These processes intervene between stimulus and response.
60
What is the role of attention in the mediational processes?
For behaviour to be imitated, it must first be noticed. ## Footnote Attention is crucial for the likelihood of imitation.
61
What is retention in the context of Social Learning Theory?
The ability to remember the observed behaviour for later imitation. ## Footnote Memory formation is essential for social learning.
62
What does motor reproduction refer to?
The physical ability to imitate a behaviour after observing it. ## Footnote Limitations in physical ability can influence the decision to imitate.
63
What does motivation refer to in the mediational processes?
The desire to perform the behaviour based on perceived rewards and punishments. ## Footnote If perceived rewards outweigh costs, the observer is more likely to imitate.
64
What was the aim of Bandura's 1961 study?
To examine if children would imitate an aggressive adult model and the influence of the model's gender. ## Footnote Participants observed either aggressive or non-aggressive role models.
65
What were the results of Bandura's 1961 study?
Children who observed aggressive behaviour acted more aggressively, with boys showing more aggression than girls. ## Footnote Greater imitation was noted for same-sex role models.
66
What conclusion did Bandura draw from his research?
Children learn social behaviour such as aggression by observing others, especially same-gender models. ## Footnote This emphasizes the importance of observational learning.
67
What is a strength of Bandura’s studies?
Use of the experimental method ## Footnote Bandura used controlled conditions to discover causal relationships between modeling and aggression.
68
What independent variable did Bandura manipulate in his studies?
Gender and behaviour of the model ## Footnote This manipulation allowed Bandura to measure its effect on children's behaviour.
69
What dependent variable did Bandura measure in his studies?
Children's behaviour ## Footnote The study aimed to measure the effect of modeling on children's aggression.
70
What is a limitation of Bandura’s studies regarding ecological validity?
Conducted in an unfamiliar controlled environment ## Footnote The lack of real-life interaction may exaggerate the effects of modeling.
71
What was a key criticism regarding the interaction between the child and the model in Bandura’s studies?
The model and child were strangers to one another ## Footnote This lack of familiarity may affect the results.
72
What was a significant limitation regarding the timing of measuring effects in Bandura’s studies?
Effects were measured almost immediately ## Footnote This snapshot may not reflect long-term behavior changes.
73
What was a limitation concerning the age of participants in Bandura’s studies?
Use of children as participants ## Footnote Results may not reflect true behavior in a non-laboratory setting.
74
What ethical concern arises from Bandura’s studies?
Participants may have experienced psychological harm ## Footnote The study raised ethical issues regarding the protection of participants.
75
What is Social Learning Theory?
Theory suggesting we learn behavior by observing others ## Footnote It emphasizes the role of vicarious reinforcement.
76
What key term describes the process of learning through observing the consequences of others' behavior?
Vicarious reinforcement ## Footnote This concept is central to Social Learning Theory.
77
What role do models play in Social Learning Theory?
Individuals observe the behavior of role models ## Footnote Role models can include parents, teachers, or media characters.
78
List the four mediational processes documented by Bandura.
* Attention * Retention * Motor reproduction * Motivation ## Footnote These processes intervene between stimulus and response.
79
What is a strength of Social Learning Theory regarding evidence?
Supported by evidence from Bandura's studies ## Footnote Children exposed to aggressive models behaved more aggressively.
80
What does Social Learning Theory imply about the role of cognitions in behavior?
Cognitions intervene between stimulus and response ## Footnote This suggests that behavior is influenced by multiple factors.
81
How does Social Learning Theory differ from operant or classical conditioning?
It provides a more holistic and less deterministic view of behavior ## Footnote This perspective allows for individual control over actions.

AQA Psychology (3 decks)

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