Approaches - Flashcards
What is introspection?
Used by Wundt to investigate the human mind.
A method of collecting data, which involves observing and describing inner mental states.
What is behaviourism?
A social learning approach.
Says that psychology should be the study of behaviour not inner working of mind. (means behaviour can be directly observed therefore scientific approach)
Says that all behaviour is learnt through:
Classical conditioning - learning through association (Pavlov’s dogs)
Operant conditioning - learning through reinforcement (Skinner’s box)
Evaluation of behaviourism?
+ Real world application (classical conditioning has led to development of treatments e.g systematic desensitisation)
+ Reliable methods - controlled conditions (valid and objective)
- Low ecological validity
- Can’t generalise between species
- Ignores all other approaches (biological, cognitive)
What is the social learning theory?
A social learning theory (Bandura 1960’s)
Says that in order for learning to take place there must be a MODEL for them to learn from.
A child them IMITATES this and they learn their behaviours. A child is more likely to imitate a model which they IDENTIFY with.
Children can also learn through VICARIOUS REINFORCEMENT which is were they can observe the consequences of actions as to whether they will repeat it themselves.
The child also has MEDITATIONAL PROCESSES which plays a crucial role.
What are the meditational processes?
Attention (the extent to which we notice the behaviour)
Retention (how well behaviour is remembered)
Reproduction (the ability to perform the behaviour the model has demonstrated)
Motivation (the will to perform the behaviour)
Key study relating to social learning theory?
Bandura 1961 - Bobo doll study
Evaluation of social learning theory?
+ Useful applications (Akers 1998 found that criminal behaviour increases when individual is exposed to models who commit crimes).
+ Less deterministic (not a passive learner)
+ Provides more complete explanation of learning (includes cognitive processes such as meditational processes)
+ Can account for cultural differences
- Bandura’s research lacks external validity - demand characteristics
- May have underplayed role of biological factors (boys more aggressive than girls - result of testosterone?)
What is the cognitive approach?
Study of internal mental processes - says that these determine our behaviour.
Uses COMPUTER ANALOGY - says that the brain works in the same way as a computer and processes everything to either process or store.
SCHEMAS - these are packages of information we develop through experience. They act as a mental framework (expectations) in order to make sense of world.
COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE - for example brain scanning has help us understand the brain better and see what areas of the brain are involved with specific functions. (FMRI’s)
Evaluation of the cognitive approach?
+ Uses scientific and objective methods (combined cognitive and biological approaches)
+ Real - world application (contributed to field of artificial intelligence and treatment of illnesses)
+ Less deterministic (soft determinism - acknowledges that cognitive system can only operate within certain limits and we have free - will).
- Oversimplifies cognitive processing to the same as a computer (ignores human emotion and motivation which affects recall)
- Brain scans lack external validity (artificial stimuli, doesn’t represent everyday life)
What is the biological approach?
Behaviour can be explain by physiological factors,
GENES - heredity passing of characteristics. Studied through twin studies looking at concordance rates (MZ twins share 100% of genetic make up, DZ 50%)
GENOTYPE AND PHENOTYPE - Genotype is genetic code in DNA. Phenotype is physical, behavioural and psychological characteristics.
BRAIN BIOCHEMISTRY - Chemicals in brain regulate psychological functioning e.g. serotonin affects mood (high or low).
NEUROANATOMY - Brain structural abnormalities in areas of brain are result of psychological disorders.
EVOLUTION - Darwin said that organisms adapt over time to their environment due to natural selection.
Evaluation of biological approach?
+ Scientific (controlled, internal validity, objective)
+ Real - world applications (led to development of drug treatments)
- Reductionist and deterministic (can’t put everything down to these things and ignores we have free -will)
- Ignores other approaches (social learning etc.)
- Cause or effect.
- Evolutionary theory flawed
What is the psychodynamic approach?
Developed by Freud
Suggests all human behaviour is driven by unconscious processes.
Childhood is a critical period in development if behaviour and personality.
Says structure of brain is:
ID (present at birth, pleasure principle)
Ego (present at age 3, reality principle, to maintain balance between ID and superego)
Superego (present at age 5, morality principle)
What are the ego’s defence mechanisms?
Sublimation Repression Denial Projection Regression Displacement
What are the psychosexual stages of development?
Oral (0 - 1)
Anal (1 to 3)
Phallic (3 to 6) Links with Oedipus and Electra complexes.
Latency (6 to 12)
Genital (12+)
Freud says to be psychologically healthy, we must successfully complete each stage. Mental abnormality can occur if a stage is not completed (fixation, regression)
Evaluation of psychodynamic approach?
+ Freud first to stress psychological factors causing abnormal behaviour
+ Influenced psychology today (therapies based on ideas)
+Little Hans
- Over emphasised influence of childhood.
- Lacks scientific rigour (subjective)
- Concepts untestable (pseudo-science)
- Ignores social factors. (deterministic)
