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Psychology A Level > Approaches > Flashcards

Approaches Flashcards

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1
Q

Introspection

A

‘Looking into’
Reflect on own cognitive processes and describe them
The first systematic experimental attempt to study the mind by breaking up conscious awareness into basic structures of thoughts, images and sensations.

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2
Q

Rene Descartes

A

Cartesian dualism

Mind and body separate entities

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3
Q

John Locke

A

Empiricism
Knowledge derived from sensory experience, studied using scientific method
Formed basis of behaviourist approach

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4
Q

Charles Darwin

A

Evolution
Human and animal behaviour changed over generations. Individuals with more adaptive genes survive and reproduce (survival of the fittest)

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5
Q

Wilhelm Wundt

A

‘Principles of physiological psychology’
Opened 1st psych laboratory
‘Father of psychology’
Structuralism- isolating the structure of consciousness, breaking down behaviours into basic elements

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6
Q

Scientific method

A

All behaviour is seen as being caused (determined)
If behaviour determines, should be possible to predict how individuals would behave in different conditions (predictability)
Objective
Systematic
Replicable

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7
Q

Objective

A

Fair
Unbiased
Based on facts/evidence

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8
Q

Systematic

A

Prescribed procedure

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9
Q

Replicable

A

Can be repeated again in same way with same results

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10
Q

Introspection evaluation: strengths

A

Pavlov and Thorndike-reproducible results could be generalised to all
May not seem scientific but used today to gain access to cognitive processes (Griffiths asked think aloud)

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11
Q

Introversion evaluation: weaknesses

A

Relies on non-observable responses
Unable to comment on unconscious factors
Subjective data (varied from people) so difficult to establish general principles, results not reproduced

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12
Q

Scientific approach evaluation: strengths

A

Info acquired from replicable methods

Scientific knowledge is ever-evolving (self-corrective)

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13
Q

Scientific approach evaluation: weaknesses

A

Controlled situations=artificial behaviour
Unobservable so can’t be measured with any degree of accuracy
Not all agree behaviour can be explored through scientific methods

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14
Q

Empiricism

A

Belief that all knowledge is derived from sensory experience and can be studied using scientific method

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15
Q

Structuralism

A

Breaking down behaviours into their basic elements

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16
Q

JB Watson

A

Rejected vagueness of introspection and focussing on how we are a product of our learning, experience and environment

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17
Q

Assumptions of behaviourist approach

A

Observable behaviour
Scientific- observed in high control
When born, mind is blank slate
Learning in humans and animals are almost the same
Behaviour=result of stimulus, produces response
Learnt from environment (classical/operant)

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18
Q

Stimulus

A

Anything that brings about a response

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19
Q

Response

A

Any reaction in the presence of a stimulus

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20
Q

Reinforcement

A

The process by which a response is strengthened

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21
Q

Conditioning

A

Shaping or changing a behaviour

Classical and operant

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22
Q

Classical conditioning

A

Learning through association
Pavlov’s dogs
Involves pairing a response naturally caused by one stimulus with another previously neutral stimulus

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23
Q

Skinner claimed..

A

All behaviour is learnt as a result of consequences in environment
Operant conditioning

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24
Q

Operant conditioning

A

Learning from consequences like gaining rewards or punishments
Skinner’s rats
Association between response and consequence has to be made close together in time for learning to occur

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25
Q

Positive reinforcement

A

Increases the likelihood of a response because it involves a reward for the behaviour

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26
Q

Negative reinforcement

A

Increases the likelihood of a response because it removes an unpleasant consequence

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27
Q

Positive punishment

A

Receiving something unpleasant

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28
Q

Negative punishment

A

Removing something desirable

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29
Q

Behaviourist approach strengths

A

Scientific
Replicable
Quantitative data
Can be applied to real world, produced practical applications

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30
Q

Behaviourist approach weaknesses

A 
Ignores mental processes 
Reductionist-only looks at biology 
Deterministic-ignores free will
Lack ecological validity
Research unethical 
Lack qualitative data (feelings)
Data from animals
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31
Q

Cognitive approach

A

Behaviour is determined by the way we process information taken in from our environment
Behaviour in terms of thoughts, beliefs, attitudes

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32
Q

Assumptions of cognitive approach

A

Events within a person
Possible to study internal mental processes
Insight into mental processes may be inferred from behaviour
How thinking shapes behaviour

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33
Q

Cognitive processes

A

Way in which knowledge is gained, retained and used

34
Q

Internal mental processes

A

Humans are information processors

How info received from senses is processed by brain and how this directs how we behave

35
Q

Mental processes studied by cognitive psychologists

A 
Perception
Attention 
Memory 
Language 
Thinking 
Problem solving
36
Q

Schema

A

Building blocks of knowledge
Mental structures that represent an aspect of world
Help make sense of world by providing short cuts
Developed from experience

37
Q

Theoretical and computer models

A 
Compare human mind to computer 
Take info (input), store or change (process), recall when necessary (output)
38
Q

Computer analogy

A

Brain = hardware

Cognitive processes = software

39
Q

Cognitive neuroscience

A

The scientific study of biological structures that underpin cognitive processes
Interested in social cognition : brain regions involved when interacting

40
Q

Cognitive approach strengths

A

Scientific, controlled research
Computer models help understand unobservable mental processes
Less deterministic (think before responding)
Useful applications
Successfully integrated into other approaches

41
Q

Cognitive approach weaknesses

A

‘Man as machine’ = simplistic, reductionist, ignoring emotional, motivational and social factors in human behaviour
Lab experiments - lack ecological validity
Ignores why cognitive processes happen

42
Q

Albert Bandura proposed

A

Important mental processes lie between stimulus and response
Bridge between behavioural and cognitive approach

43
Q

Assumptions of social learning approach

A

Human rather than animal behaviour
People as active manipulators of own environment rather than passive receivers of experiences (responsible for behaviour)
Learning occurs through the observation of role models
Learning can occur without reinforcement
Mediational processes

44
Q

Mediational processes

A

Observational learning uses cognitive processes such as memory. Occur between stimulus and response

45
Q

4 stages of modelling

A

Attention
Retention
Motor reproduction
Motivation

46
Q

Attention

A

Noticing the behaviour

47
Q

Retention

A

Remembering the behaviour

48
Q

Motor reproduction

A

It has to be physically possible

49
Q

Motivation

A

Has to be a reason to want to copy the model

50
Q

Acquisition of behaviour

A

Attention

Retention

51
Q

Performing of a behaviour

A

Reproduction

Motivation

52
Q

Expectancy

A

Behaviour only imitated if there’s an expectancy of reinforcement
Motivated by results

53
Q

Self-efficacy

A

Belief that behaviour can be imitated

54
Q

Social learning approach strengths

A

Considers cognitive factors in learning
Based on lab exp
Less deterministic and reductionist
Explains development of culture
Explains learning of complex behaviours (aggression)
Applied to many areas of psychology (gender development)

55
Q

Social learning approach weaknesses

A

Ignores biology
Mostly on external behaviour
Doesn’t explain individual differences (reinforcement may have diff affect)
Lab exp = artificial

56
Q

Biological approach

A

Tries to explain how we think, feel and behave in terms of physical factors within the body
Physiology - the study of the body and its parts and how they function

57
Q

Assumptions of biological approach

A

Everything psychological is first biological
How biological structures and processes impact behaviour
Behaviour has physiological cause - genetically/ environmentally altered
Genes affect
Study brain
Mind lives in brain

58
Q

Genetic basis of behaviour

A

Trying to determine and provide evidence for the extent to which behaviour, or a characteristic such as intelligence are the product of inheritance, or environmental influences

59
Q

Methods of investigating genetic basis of behaviour

A

Twin studies
Family studies
Adoption studies
Selective breeding

60
Q

Concordance rates

A

Extent to which a pair of twins share similar traits or characteristics

61
Q

100% concordance rate

A

Between MZ twins if particular characteristics is genetic

62
Q

Francis Galton proposed

A

All natural abilities are inherited

Later agreed that any resemblance between relatives could be because of environment

63
Q

Selective breeding

A

Artificially selecting animals for a trait, breeding for offspring

64
Q

Genotype

A

Actual set of genes an individual has

65
Q

Phenotype

A

Individuals anatomical features or observed traits

66
Q

Evolution

A

The changes in inherited characteristics in a biological population over successive generations

67
Q

Biological approach strengths

A

Scientific
Establishes psychology as a respectable science-lends credence to study of psychology
Lead to treatment
Measurements from machines

68
Q

Biological approach weaknesses

A 
Deterministic (no free will)
Reductionist (not unique as individuals)
Ignores environment 
Research focus on rare conditions that have little impact on everyday lives of most
Human error with machines 
Correlations don't mean cause and effect
Small samples 
Lab exp
69
Q

Human nervous system divides into

A

Central nervous system (CNS)

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

70
Q

CNS divides into

A

Brain

Spinal cord

71
Q

PNS divides into

A

Autonomic nervous system

Somatic nervous system

72
Q

Autonomic nervous system divides into

A

Sympathetic nervous system

Parasympathetic nervous system

73
Q

PNS

A

transmits messages via millions of neurones to and from CNS

74
Q

Somatic nervous system

A

Part of PNS responsible for carrying sensory and motor info to and from spinal cord

75
Q

Autonomic nervous system (ANS)

A

Governs vital functions in body such as breathing, heart rate

76
Q

Two divisions of ANS are

A

Mostly antagonistic, so work in opposition to each other

77
Q

Sympathetic nervous system actions

A 
Slows digestion 
Inhibits saliva production 
Increases heart rate 
Stimulates glucose production 
Stimulates urination 
Dilates pupils 
Dilates bronchi
78
Q

Parasympathetic nervous system actions

A 
Increases digestion
Increases saliva production 
Decreases heart rate 
Stimulates bile production 
Inhibits urination 
Constricts pupils 
Constricts bronchi
79
Q

Sympathetic nervous system

A

Generally prepares the body to expend energy for fight or flight

80
Q

Parasympathetic nervous system

A

Generally maintains and conserves body energy and functions

81
Q

The endocrine system

A

In charge of body processes that happen slowly e.g. cell growth/hormones

82
Q

Adrenaline

A

Released into bloodstream, prepares body for fight or flight by constricting blood vessels in stomach - inhibits digestion - sick feeling, increased heart rate

Psychology A Level (9 decks)

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