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AQA Psychology > approaches > Flashcards

approaches Flashcards

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
Q

What is one strength of Pavlov’s research?

A

Use of experimental method with controlled conditions

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26
Q

What is a limitation of Pavlov’s research regarding the subjects used?

A

Studied non-human animals

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27
Q

What ethical concern is raised by Pavlov’s research?

A

Surgery on dogs’ saliva glands and confinement in harnesses

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28
Q

What does operant conditioning involve?

A

Learning by consequences of behavior

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29
Q

Define positive reinforcement.

A

Receiving a reward when a certain behavior is performed

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30
Q

Define negative reinforcement.

A

Reward by avoiding something unpleasant

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31
Q

What is punishment in the context of operant conditioning?

A

An unpleasant consequence of a behavior

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32
Q

Who was Burrhus Frederic Skinner?

A

A major force in the behaviorism movement

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33
Q

What is the purpose of Skinner’s box in his research?

A

To study operant conditioning

34
Q

What did Skinner demonstrate with positive reinforcement using a rat?

A

Rats learned to press a lever for food

35
Q

How did Skinner demonstrate negative reinforcement?

A

Rats learned to press a lever to stop an electric current

36
Q

What is a strength of Skinner’s research?

A

Use of experimental method to establish cause and effect

37
Q

What is a limitation of Skinner’s research regarding the generalizability of findings?

A

Studied non-human animals

38
Q

What ethical concerns are associated with Skinner’s experiments?

A

Animals kept in small cages and subjected to pain

39
Q

What is the core belief of the behaviorist approach?

A

Behavior is learned from experience and environmentally determined

40
Q

What do behaviorists believe about genetic influence on behavior?

A

There is no genetic influence; we are born a blank slate

41
Q

What types of conditioning do behaviorists believe are used to learn behavior?

A

Operant and classical conditioning

42
Q

Fill in the blank: Operant conditioning means learning through the _______ of your behavior.

A

consequences

43
Q

Fill in the blank: Classical conditioning means learning through _______.

A

association

44
Q

What is a strength of the behaviourist approach?

A

It has practical applications, resulting in successful treatments for phobias and patients in institutions.

Classical conditioning has led to systematic desensitization, while operant conditioning has resulted in token economy systems.

45
Q

What does systematic desensitization aim to achieve?

A

It aims to eliminate the learned anxious response associated with a feared object or situation.

The therapist replaces maladaptive responses with more positive responses.

46
Q

What is a token economy system?

A

A system that rewards appropriate behavior with tokens that can be exchanged for privileges.

It is particularly suitable for patients who lack insight into their condition.

47
Q

What does the effectiveness of behaviourist treatments suggest?

A

It suggests that the behaviourist approach has some validity and merit.

The treatments are based on the assumptions of the approach.

48
Q

Who demonstrated positive and negative reinforcement through experiments?

A

B.F. Skinner.

He conditioned rats to press levers for rewards and to avoid punishment.

49
Q

What was Pavlov’s famous experiment about?

A

Classical conditioning of a dog to salivate at the sound of a bell.

The dog learned to associate the bell with food.

50
Q

What is a methodological strength of the behaviourist approach?

A

It uses the scientific method to investigate human behaviour.

This enhances the scientific status of psychology and leads to empirical evidence.

51
Q

What is a limitation of the behaviourist approach?

A

It is over-simplistic and favours the nurture side of the nature vs nurture debate.

It ignores biological factors that may influence behaviour.

52
Q

How does the behaviourist approach view human behaviour?

A

As a product of external influences, supporting environmental determinism.

This perspective suggests individuals cannot be held responsible for their behaviour.

53
Q

Who is Albert Bandura?

A

A learning theorist who contributed significantly to social psychology.

He is known for uncovering the influence of observation on human learning and aggression.

54
Q

What is the basic idea of Social Learning Theory?

A

We learn behaviour by observing the positive and negative consequences of others’ behaviour.

This means we learn vicariously, through role models.

55
Q

What is identification in the context of Social Learning Theory?

A

When an individual is influenced by another because they are similar to or wish to be like them.

Factors influencing identification include gender, ethnicity, and status.

56
Q

What is imitation in Social Learning Theory?

A

When an individual observes and copies the behaviour of a role model.

Key determinants include the model’s characteristics and the observer’s ability.

57
Q

What is modelling?

A

Observing the behaviour of a role model.

Models can be live (e.g., parents) or symbolic (e.g., TV characters).

58
Q

What does vicarious reinforcement mean?

A

The reinforcement the observer sees the model receiving, not the reinforcement they receive directly.

Observers are more likely to imitate rewarded behaviours.

59
Q

What are the four mediational processes in Bandura’s theory?

A
  • Attention
  • Retention
  • Motor reproduction
  • Motivation

These processes intervene between stimulus and response.

60
Q

What is the role of attention in the mediational processes?

A

For behaviour to be imitated, it must first be noticed.

Attention is crucial for the likelihood of imitation.

61
Q

What is retention in the context of Social Learning Theory?

A

The ability to remember the observed behaviour for later imitation.

Memory formation is essential for social learning.

62
Q

What does motor reproduction refer to?

A

The physical ability to imitate a behaviour after observing it.

Limitations in physical ability can influence the decision to imitate.

63
Q

What does motivation refer to in the mediational processes?

A

The desire to perform the behaviour based on perceived rewards and punishments.

If perceived rewards outweigh costs, the observer is more likely to imitate.

64
Q

What was the aim of Bandura’s 1961 study?

A

To examine if children would imitate an aggressive adult model and the influence of the model’s gender.

Participants observed either aggressive or non-aggressive role models.

65
Q

What were the results of Bandura’s 1961 study?

A

Children who observed aggressive behaviour acted more aggressively, with boys showing more aggression than girls.

Greater imitation was noted for same-sex role models.

66
Q

What conclusion did Bandura draw from his research?

A

Children learn social behaviour such as aggression by observing others, especially same-gender models.

This emphasizes the importance of observational learning.

67
Q

What is a strength of Bandura’s studies?

A

Use of the experimental method

Bandura used controlled conditions to discover causal relationships between modeling and aggression.

68
Q

What independent variable did Bandura manipulate in his studies?

A

Gender and behaviour of the model

This manipulation allowed Bandura to measure its effect on children’s behaviour.

69
Q

What dependent variable did Bandura measure in his studies?

A

Children’s behaviour

The study aimed to measure the effect of modeling on children’s aggression.

70
Q

What is a limitation of Bandura’s studies regarding ecological validity?

A

Conducted in an unfamiliar controlled environment

The lack of real-life interaction may exaggerate the effects of modeling.

71
Q

What was a key criticism regarding the interaction between the child and the model in Bandura’s studies?

A

The model and child were strangers to one another

This lack of familiarity may affect the results.

72
Q

What was a significant limitation regarding the timing of measuring effects in Bandura’s studies?

A

Effects were measured almost immediately

This snapshot may not reflect long-term behavior changes.

73
Q

What was a limitation concerning the age of participants in Bandura’s studies?

A

Use of children as participants

Results may not reflect true behavior in a non-laboratory setting.

74
Q

What ethical concern arises from Bandura’s studies?

A

Participants may have experienced psychological harm

The study raised ethical issues regarding the protection of participants.

75
Q

What is Social Learning Theory?

A

Theory suggesting we learn behavior by observing others

It emphasizes the role of vicarious reinforcement.

76
Q

What key term describes the process of learning through observing the consequences of others’ behavior?

A

Vicarious reinforcement

This concept is central to Social Learning Theory.

77
Q

What role do models play in Social Learning Theory?

A

Individuals observe the behavior of role models

Role models can include parents, teachers, or media characters.

78
Q

List the four mediational processes documented by Bandura.

A
  • Attention
  • Retention
  • Motor reproduction
  • Motivation

These processes intervene between stimulus and response.

79
Q

What is a strength of Social Learning Theory regarding evidence?

A

Supported by evidence from Bandura’s studies

Children exposed to aggressive models behaved more aggressively.

80
Q

What does Social Learning Theory imply about the role of cognitions in behavior?

A

Cognitions intervene between stimulus and response

This suggests that behavior is influenced by multiple factors.

81
Q

How does Social Learning Theory differ from operant or classical conditioning?

A

It provides a more holistic and less deterministic view of behavior

This perspective allows for individual control over actions.

AQA Psychology (3 decks)

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