APPROACHES 2.0 Flashcards
what are the 3 other approaches?
biological approach
pyschodynamic
humanistic approach
waht are the main assumptions of biological approach?
if we understand the physcial e.g brain we can understand the pyschological e.g mind
BA firmly on nature side of nature/nurture debate
.. often criticised for being reductionist -> ignores social + cultural infl on beh
what are the infl of our genes?
genentic inheritance comes from 50% mother 50% father … we share both physical and pyschologial characteristics w parents
altho genes contain instr for paticular charactertic, how they dev or are expressed depends on the environment indiv is in adn the compelx interactions between these genes
what is 1 way psychologists study this interaction?
twin studies
monozygotic (identical twins) share 100% of genes
dizygotic (non-identical) only share 50% genes
… the saem as”normal siblings”
psych look at concordance rates
-> the expectation is that if characteristic is inherited there will be a higher concordance rate in identical twins
concordance rate def?
% of both twins displaying same characteristics
name a research that studied concprdance rates?
gottesman and shields found 58% concordance rate for schizophrenia in MZ twins
compared to 12% concordance rate with DZ twins
define genotype
waht is the phenotype?
refers to the genes an indiv possesses
the observable traits or characteristics shwon by indiv
-> characteristics are due to combined effect of genes + envi
what is the genotype determined by?
phenotype?
deterined by genes inherited from parents
phenotype is result of these genes interacting w environment (e.g diet, stress)
what do we inherit from parents?
we inherit 2 genes for each characteristic - one from each parent
2 genes inherited may be same form or different (alleles)
heterozygous gene def
homozygous gene def
genetype consists of 2 diff genes Ee
consists of 2 same genes EE or ee
according to biological model..
the mind lives in the brain
.. all thoughts, feelings + beh ultimately have a physicial bias
-> difference sin brain structure may infl persons beh
e.g it is know that schizophrenics often have larger brain ventricles than non-schizophrenics
.. showing poss side affects og biological str on beh
label brain
https://2totallypsyched.home.blog/2018/10/08/wb-9th-oct-localisation-of-the-brain/
waht happened to phineas gage?
a pole went thru brain .. changed brain str
- > injuries to brain affects how brain functions
- > ‘HE DIDNT SEEM LIKE GAGE’ -> changed beh
how does neurochemistry infl human beh?
lvls of neurotransmitters in brain
low lvls of serotonin resp for depression
one treatment for dep is SSRIs -> drugs aim to incr lvls of serotonin + had been effective treatment
-> suggests serotonin lvls are why ppl have depression
schizophrenia -> hgih lvls of dopamine have been assosiated w onset of this disorder
what did darwin suggest?
organisms evolve + become adpted over time to their environemt -> process called natural selection
-> aka survival of the fittest
-> suggests thatr organisms who have the genes which give best characteristic for survival in their envi
-> they have a greater chance of survival
the longer org servives -> more liekly it is of them to reproduce
-> passing on these desirable genes to next generation
expl giraffes in natural selection theory
mutation in genes .. some g have longer neck and some shorter necks due to genes
giraffes w LN can reach more leaves on trees .. more food available for them
a better food supply means girffe more liekly to survive
so giraffe w LN more liekly to survive + breed
.. more genes for LN get passed to next gen
over amny gens all g have LN
how can evolution affect human beh?
Buss argues mate choices have changed bc they lead to reproductive success
-> women desire men w resource bc provides for them + offspring. m prefer young physically attr w bc indicates fertility
how could evolutin expl why humans have good memories?
remembering problems regarding survival + remembering..
-> where food is + sources of nourishment
potential threats
how does evol explan human paretns and offspring usually make strong attachments?
adv to form attachments .. allow u to teach b how ti survive
… grow up+pass on genes
-> keeping family blood alive
how evol expl why some humans have OCD
hyper activation of warning systems which evolve to allow us to face against a whole range of enviro threats
(physical, pathogenic,social etc)
strengths of biological approach? (2)
based on r .. employs a scientific method
-> using scanning technqs + tests for hormones + twin studies
-> technq objective .. free from bias -> greater sientifc credibility
Has real life appl as it has led to better treatments for mental illness
-> BA has dev no of drug therapies
-> e.g anti-depressant drug which incr serotonin lvls are effective for up to 75% of ppl
-> .. has pos implications
weakness of biological approach? (3)
rductoinist view as reduces complex human beh down to simple component parts
-> genes or chemicals
-> fails to take in account of environ, social, cognitive factors which can also affect human beh
->e.g we learn some of our beh from models in environ (SLT) … maybe a more holistic appr to expl beh is needed
BA too deterministic bc it sees beh as being governed by internal biological processes .. we have no control
-> plus ignores our free will to choose how to behave
e.g for aggression -> testostrone may make us feel momre agg however we may choose to not act aggressively. biological app to simpilistic
further problems arise when one attemots to sep nurture + nature. use of id twins in r often use to support genetic basis for beh
-> howevr id twins normally brouight in same envir.. this could be considred as evidence forenvironment controlling (nurture) rather than our shsred genes (nature) .. limits use of twin studies
waht are the main assumptions of the psychodynamic approach?(4)
dev driven by biology as we inherit innate drive and insticts that propel us to be who we are
-> humans are hardwired to live + seek pleasure
PA stresses the interaction between conscious mind and unconscious. most of our mind is amde from unconscious
there are complex interactions between these 2 sets of thoughts + these may cause conflict resulting in psychological abnormality
freud stressed importance of childhood exp + states that they can affect adult beh in paticularthe formation of the psyche (mind/personality) + psychosexual development are of paramount importance
waht is the structure of pysche (personality)?
personality made up of 3 components according to freud (id, ego, superego)
the id is present at birth adn operates on pleasure principle as it demands gratification + pleasure. may lead to aggression adn violence. id is selfish and unconscious part of mind
the superego is your conscience + has a internalised sense of right and wrong
oper on morality princ
punishes the ego for wrongdoing (guilt)
unconconscious part of mind. forms at end of phallic stage around age 5
ego is developed around age 2 + balances the id and superego. it manages this by employing defence mechanisms + operates on reality principle
-> as constantly balances demadns of real world agaisnt instinctive drives of the id. conscious
THERE IS UNCONSCIOUS CONFLICT BETW ID AND SUPEREGO
what does superego represent?
represents the moral standards of childs same sex parent .. if parents divorced + son lives with mother he will have a weaker superego bc son will find it harder to identify w mother
->not same sex
what happes if ego fails to abalnce the id and superego?
pyschological disorders may resukt
what can constant balancing of demand cause?
can cause anxiety … we dev ego-defence mechanisms
waht are the 3 ego defence mechanisms?
repression - where threatening impulses and distressing memories pushed back to unconscious mind .. become unaware of tehm (but emerge as symptoms of psych adnormality) .. dont think about them
displacement - transferring feelings from tru source of distressing emotion onto a substitue target
denial - where an indiv refuses to akknowldge some aspet of reality such as an event or situation
what happens if u over use a paticular defence mechanism?
may lead to defence beh becoming exaggerated + becoming a symptom of abnormality
give examples for defence mechanisms
repression - an indiv forgettin the trauma of fav pet death
denial - continuing to turn up for job alr been sacked in
displacement - slamming the door after a row with brother
why is childhood and adolensence important in the pyschodynamic approach?
bc we dev sexually
-> frued said we go thru series of stages and in each stage, id focuses pleasure on diff bodily part
over or under gratification in any one of these stages can cause indiv to become fixated
-> can cause certian beh later on
fixation def?
getting stuck aat any one of the stages during childhood determines our adult character personality + beh traits
if this happens stages of this trait can remain in beh as asn adult
name the 5 pyschosexual stagse
oral anal phallic latency genital old aged pensioners love gravy
when do the stages develop?
oral 0-1 yrs anal 1-3yrs phallic 3-5 yrs latency 5 up until puberty genitial puberty
where are the areas of gratification eithin stages?
focuses on pleasure in mouth
-> nmothers breasts is object of desire
-> focuses on pleasure of the anus ..child gains pleasure from withholding and expelling faeces
focuses on pleasure in genital area. c exp the oedipus or electra complex
Earlier conflicts are repressed
Sexual desires become conscious alongside the onset of puberty .. sexual feelings become less focused on the self and isntead directed to potential partners
what might oral lead to if fixated during chidlhood?
oral fixation : smoking, biting nails, chewing
sarcastic or being critical
anal retentive?
anal expulsive?
retentive - perfectionist, obssessive parents too strict w potting training.. trained too early + punsihed for potty accidents
expulsive - thoughtless, messy + caused by potty training being too late
phallic personality fixation?
phallic personality : narcissistic, reckless , possibly homosexual
genital fixation?
difficulty forming heterosexual relationships
what do u need to know about PA for 6 marks?
PC CUP Psyche Conscious Conflict unconscious Pyschosexual stages
waht is the oedipus compelx?
-> oedipus complex occurs in Phallic stage
and involves a boy aged 3-6 becoming unconsciously sexually attracted to mother + hostile towards father (views him as rival)
the boy ..envy + jealousy at fatehr (object of mothers affectoin and attention)
rivalry toward the father lead to fantasies of getting rid of his father + taking his place with the mother.
The hostile feelings towards the father lead to castration anxiety, an irrational fear that the father will castrate (remove his penis) him as punishment.
.. castration anxiety is overcome when SON IDENTIFIES W SAME SEX PARENT
+ INTERNALIZSES MORALS W HIM
what us oedipal compelx?
eletra compelx
oedipus complex
waht is electra complex?
female version of oedipus cpmplex
inv a girl 3-6 yrs unconc sexually attr to father + incr hostile to m
for g the electra complex begins w belief that alr been castrated .. blames mother for this + exp penis envy
for g to dev superego they need to identify w m
but g motivation forgiving up f as lov objectin order to move back to mis much less obv than b identifyig w f..
girlsidentificaition w m less complete than boys
..females superego weaker
pos for PA? 2
childhood important in shaping adult beh
-> can be seen in areas of developmental psychology e.g ainsworths work SS
-> attachment styles in infancy simialr to adulthood
PA large contribution to understanding of pyschology
F theroy first to emphasise the sig of unconscious proesses and repressed amterial infl our beh.
-> now widely accepted
much evidence for role of these factors in aread such as child abuse in pyschologicalabnormality in childhood e.g eating disroder linked to childhood sexual abuse
… PA has been v useful of gaining insight into human bhe
neg for PA? 3
overemphasis on ifantile stages + importance of ealy life in causing pyshcolgoical problems
-> problems can arise as resut of adult experiences
Freud assumed that later pyschologcail disorders could be caused by problems w early pyschoseual development . fixation. however not always the case
-> e.g his theoryfailed ot recog genetic factrs. Schizophrenia have a large genetic contribution as indiv risk of developing it is 18 times higher if 1 parent has it .. PA too simple
MAJ PROBLEM is concepts freud described (id, repression, physchosexual stages + unconscious conflict) are unverifiable .. no way of dsicovering if they actually exist .. little empirical evidence … may be less scientific
Freud research uses idiographic approach .. mainly used the case study method
.. samples based on small no of indiv.. lowgenenralisabiltiy
-> dioes not rep entire population
wehn who did humanistuic approach emerge?
1950, main fiunders were MASLOW AND ROGERS
waht does huamnism emphasise?
huamnism emphasises imp of indiv human experiecens
.. values subjectuve feelings + conscious thoughts of the person
what are the 3 main assumptions of HA?
each person has free will and has control over what they think and feel + how they beh
each p is a rational adn conscious ebing an not dominated by unconscious primitive instincts (clasheswith PA)
EACH P subjective view adn exp of wold is greater impiortance to understadning the person than objective reality (factual reality)
-> these assumptions are foundations for numerous diff theorieswithin HA
what is free will?
Humanisitc oyshcology diff to all other app -? sugg that humans have free will
- > but does not mean p arent qaffected by external or internal infl
- > we are active agents who haev te ability to determie their own developent
what does it mean if humanistic aporoach is a person centered app?
Rogers and maslow sugg as active agents indiv are unique adn propose that psych should concern itseof w study of subective exp rather than general laws (unlike biological app)
reffered to as person-centered ap
waht is self actualisation
every p has an innate tendency to achieve their fullpotential .. to be the best tehy can poss be
self actualisation represents the uppermost lvl of Malows heirarchy of needs
.. all lower lvls of hierarchy (deficiency needs) must be met b4 indiv can work towards priamry goal of self actualisation + fulfil their potential
what is personal growth?
it is essential part of waht is it to be human
personal growth is concerned w developing and changing as person to become fulfilled + satisfied and goal oriented
waht is the rule for moving up maslows hierarchy?
can only mve up onve current need in seq have been met
what is maslows hieracrchy o #f needS?
Self actualisation
esteem - confidence, achievement
love/belonging - freindhsip, familiy, sexual inticay
safety- sec of body, resources, the family, health, property
physiological - breathing, food and water, excretion
waht are physcilogical needs?
basic needs deriving from bioogy and relate directly to survival of indiv
safety?
needs for secuirty, freedom from fear
love/belonging
we need to be loved by others to belong
self esteem?
self respect + regard from other ppl
self actualisation?
self actualisastion needs are to do w realising our full potential
what did rogers argue?
for personal grwoth to be achieved
an indivs self concept (the way they see themselves) must be in line with or have congreunce with their ideal self
-> person they want to be
if gap is too big between self concept and ideal self
-> incongruence … self actualisation impossible
-> due to neg feelings of self worth that arise
waht did rogers do in order to reduce the gap between self concept and ideal self?
r develoed client therapy to help cope w problems of everyday living
r claimed that issues such as worthlessness/ low self esteem have roots in childhood
-> expl by lack of unconditional positive regard
-> or lack of unconditional love
… r saw 1 of his roles as an effective therapist
-> providing unconditional positive regard that they failed to receive as children
pos of humanistic app 3
promotes a pos image of human beingd + human condition
-> the concepts of personal growth + self actualisation demonstrate ways in which each p can grow + change thru out life
less deterministic than other appr as person is seen as being in control of their life, experiences + relationships
-> have free will
contrasts to pyschodynamic app
maslows hierarchy of needs widely applied outside humanistic pysch
-> important concept in organisational pysch
+ application has been made to help understand + predict what gives ppl job satisfaction
-> driven to be succ in career
neg of humanistic app 2
lack of empirical r
humanists reject scientific app … does not have emp evidence to support its claims + believes all humans unique .. no point in measuring scientifically
harder to understnad than other app
-> eg beh app
humanism focuses on one main drive -> motive or need for self actualisation. this focus is limited as other theories sugg environmental factors play a much bigger role in shaping motiviation
-> reward or punishment
what is councelling pysch
rogers client centered therapy -> important form of modern day pyschotheraphy
reffered to them as clients instead of patients
-> believed experts on own condition
theraphy is non directive + c encouraged to discover own solutions with in a warm, supportive + non judgmental atmosphere
what did rogers suggest than an effective therapist should provide clients with?
genuineness
empathy
unconditional pos regard
if client is able to say whatever they want waht will that mean
c will be accepted no matter what … will be totally honest
thisn honest will help them realise potential barriers to becoming congruent
why active listening is an important skill in client theraphy
bc c need to feel as if they are being lsitened to and understood
wahtr are the infl of councelling pyschology
r work transformed pyschotheraphy … introduced a variety of councelling techn incl active lsitneing + focus on unconditional pos regard
.. simialrcouncelling skills are practicd in us and uk
-> not only in clinical setting but also education, social ..
Person centered councelling wass adopted by Marriage guidance council in 1950s uk + rapidly spread to other organisatins
- > the british association for councelling and psychotherapy
- > also identified this as thier core approach (dryden 2007)
client centered app infl other therapies
- > CBT (cog beh theraphy)
- > all therapies should integrate a client-centered app like r to be effectie
pos of infl on councelling psycj
r by elliot 2002 showed meta analyiss 86 studies
-> humanistic therapies prompted a sig improvment in patients when compared w ppl not receivng it
-> more reliable bc large sample
all w same concl
..shows it is effectie
client centered theraphy praised as forward looking and eff app
-> focuses on present problems rather than dwelling on past (e.g pyschodynaic)
neg of infl on councelling psycholgoy 3
cant be used to treat those w schizophrenia
-> they need to talk to make it worok
-> often schizophrenic may have difficulty fprming sentnces
.. drug theraphy more appro
->client cetnered therpahy only wprk on “mild” pyschological conditons - anxiety or low self worth
success is dependat on personality of client + therapist
different for every therapist
-> might not get on w them
-> t may show simialrities w person that is causing problem .. clients may not want to talk to them
.. not get along well
for most of these studies is that effectieness is absed on waht c says
-> sef report techn -> qeustionnaire
.. can lie about it .. not totally relaible
