Approaches Flashcards
What process did Wundt use?
Introspection
What is introspection?
when a person gains knowledge about their own mental or emotional state as a result of observing their conscious thoughts or feelings
What was the emergence of psychology as a science?
research was based on empiricism - knowledge comes from experience and observation alone and the scientific method
What assumptions was the scientific approach based on?
That all behaviour was caused (assumption of determinism) and
If behaviour is determined then it is possible to predict how people would behave in different conditions (assumption of predictability)
What must the investigative methods be in order for the scientific method to be successful?
Objective, systematic and replicable
What is the scientific cycle?
1 objective and systematic observation
2 building, refining or falsifying
3 Development of scientific theory
4 Testing
What are 2 weaknesses of Wundt’s methods
Methods were unreliable - relied on nonobservable responses as participants had to report their emotions
& Introspection isn’t completely accurate - we have little knowledge on the causes and processes of behaviour and implicit ones can be left out
What are 2 strengths of Wundt’s methods?
The emphasis on empiricism mean that causes can be established rather than a passive acceptance of facts
Research support - Used introspective methods to measure happiness when teenage girls were given a buzzer that went off randomly (they were unhappy but this feeling faded when they had an challenge to complete
What does the behaviourist approach consist of?
Classical conditioning and Operent Conditioning
What does the behaviourist approach say?
focuses on observable events e.g. stimulus and responses and the conditions under which learning may occur
Outline research into classical conditioning?
Pavlov's dog - Investigated salivary reflexes in dogs Food (UCS) - Salivation (UCR) bell (NS) - no response Food + Bell - Salivation (UCR) Bell (CS) - salivation (CR)
What were other factors affecting the learning process of Pavlov’s dog?
Timing - needed to be repeatedly present
Extinction - If remove UCS conditioning is lost
Spontaneous recovery - conditioning can be learnt again
Stimulus generalisation - respond to things similar to CS
Outline research into Operant Conditioning?
Skinner’s Rats - developed a skinner box where rats would move around in and when they would accidentally press the lever food falls into the cage
Rats learnt to associate lever with food
What were other important factors involved in Skinner’s study?
Schedules of reinforcement - continuous reinforcement isn’t as effective as partial reinforcement e.g. having to press the lever 3 times
Punishment
What are 2 strengths of the behavioural approach?
Classical conditioning - led to development of treatment to reduce anxiety e.g. SD
Operant conditioning - used control conditions to help establish a cause and effect
What are 2 limitations of the behavioural approach?
Classical conditioning - Different species face different challenges to survive
Operant conditioning - Was conducted on rats rather than humans so lacks validity
What is the social learning theory?
Learning through observing others and imitating them if it is rewarding
What are the 4 main ways the social learning theory can take place?
through modelling, imitation, identification and vicarious reinforcement
What is the process of modelling?
someone must model the behaviour for it to be learned e.g. a parent, teacher or someone on media
What is the process of Imitation?
imitating the behaviours that are modelled by e.g. parents and for a person to imitate the behaviour they see if they too have the ability to perform the task and observe the consequence of the behaviour
What is the process of identification?
the extent to which a person can relate to the model and feels that they are similar enough so they would receive the same outcome
What is the process of vicarious reinforcement?
Bandura found that children who observed a model rewarded for the aggressive behaviour was more likely to imitate the behaviour than if the model was punished
What is the role of meditational processes?
The social learning theory places importance on meditational processes (internal mental processes that exist between the environment and response made to the stimulus
Which study supports the social learning theory?
Bandura bobo dolls
What was the procedure of Bandura’s study?
children observed either agressive or non-aggressive models (on bobo doll) and then were tested for imitation behaviour
What were the findings of Bandura’s study?
Children who observed the aggressive model was more likely to carry out agressive behaviour
Evaluation - how does the SLT have useful applications?
increased our understanding of criminal behaviour e.g. more likely to have criminal behaviour if they are exposed to a model
Evaluation - research support for identification?
observing a model similar to you leads to more learning than observing a dissimilar person as you are able to visualise yourself in the position of the model
Why is there a problem of causality?
social learning theory may not be the as a result of exposure to deviant role models but the possession of deviant attitudes prior to contact with model makes it more likely
Is the view too oversimplistic?
yes as humans have complex behaviour that are affected by many different factors e.g. genetic predisposition, media portrayals and locus of control
What is the psychodynamic approach?
emphasises the change and development of a person where drive is important
Which psychologist places emphasis on this approach?
Sigmund Freud
What 3 areas did freud the mind consisted of in his iceberg approach?
The conscious mind - aware of
Preconscious mind - not quite aware (just below surface)
Unconscious mind - not aware (prevents traumatic memories)
What was freud’s structure of personality?
The id - The pleasure principle (drive)
The ego - reality principle (reduces conflict)
The superego - Morality principle (right and wrong)
What did freud say about defence mechanisms?
When a person is faced with a situation they are unable to deal with DM is triggered and distorts the reality so anxiety is reduced (unaware of pleasant thoughts)
