Approaches Flashcards
What is psychology
The study of the mind and brain. How we function and behave
Empiricism
Behaviour can be observed and measured scientifically
Psychodynamic approach
Childhood experiences influence adult behaviour
Behavioural approach
Behaviour is learned from the environment. We learn from watching others. It is observable, measurable and objective
Cognitive approach
Thoughts and beliefs shape behaviour.
Biological approach
Genes and biochemistry influence thoughts, feelings and behaviour
- genes
- genotype/phenotype
- neurochemistry
- evolution
Basic assumptions of classical conditioning
Operates on the principle of association
Idea of a stimulus and response
Pavlov’s classical conditioning experiment
Dogs sees food and salivates
Dog hears bell and doesnt react
Dog sees food and hears fork and salivates
Dog hears the bell and salivates because the bell is associated with food
Skinner’s operant conditioning experiment
Rats and pigeons in skinner boxes
When a lever is pressed a food pellet drops
Also press the lever to avoid unpleasant stimulus e.g. Electric shock
Basic assumptions of operant conditioning
Behaviour is learned through consequences and it’s shaped/maintained by reinforcement
Positive reinforcement
Receiving a reward when desirable behaviour is performed
Negative reinforcement
Undesired consequences are avoided by performing a particular behaviour
Punishment
Unpleasant consequence of behaviour
Evaluation of classical conditioning
+ real life application e.g. therapy for phobias, relaxation technique to learn a response
- people have individual differences e.g. depends on survival instinct, peoples behaviour is also governed by emotions
Evaluation of operant conditioning
+ lab experiment under controlled conditions which increases reliability and validity
- conducted on animals and humans are more complicated, this is a reductionist approach
What is social learning theory
Albert bandura
Relationship between behaviour and consequences
Modelling/imitation and direct/indirect reinforcement
A model carries out a behaviour and the individual will imitate what they see based on the consequences
4 stages of social learning theory
Attention
Retention
Motor reproduction
Motivation
Bobo doll study
Bandura, ross & ross 36 boys and 36 girls 24 shown aggressive model 24 shown non aggressive model 24 not shown a model
Children watched how an adult acted with the bobo doll
Evaluation of social learning theory
+ real life applications which supports credibility
+ explains why we have cultural differences
+ takes into account a comprehensive set of behaviours
- suffers from demand characteristics which undermine validity
- underestimates biological influences
- doesnt determine deviant behaviours/attitudes
Cognitive approach
Mental processes Unobservable processes - reasoning - attention - analysing - remembering - decision making
Information processing model (cognitive approach)
Info flows through a sequence of stages
Input, storage & retrieval
E.g. Multistore model of memory
Computer model (cognitive approach)
The mind works like a computer
Info is coded into a usable format and stored in designated storage devices
What is a schema?
Cognitive framework
Organises & interprets information
Guide our expectations and form behaviours
Interpret a situation
Become more complicated with age as a persons brain develops
Can lead to stereotypical thinking
What does cognitive neuroscience look at?
Influence of brain structure on mental processes
Neural circuits
Relies on use of technology
PET and MRI scans
Evaluation of the cognitive approach
+ scientific/objective, experimental methods give evidence
+ real life application, has lead to successful treatment of mental illnesses
- lab conditions, less ecological validity
- reductionist, ignores the role of emotions and is too focused on the brain as a computer
Basic assumptions of biological approach
Biological structures, genes, neurochemistry, nervous system
Mind is distinct from the brain
Evolutionary perspective
What is evolution (biological approach)
Natural selection
Genetic behaviours are passed on through generations
Natural survival instinct
Advantageous behaviours
Genotype
Actual genetic makeup/code that a person has
Phenotype
The way that the genes are expressed through physical, behavioural and psychological characteristics
Evaluation of the biological approach
+ scientific methods in controlled environment
+ real life applications, developments of drugs
- deterministic view, all internal
- claims casual conclusions, more than one factor associated with mental illnesses
