Approaches

Question 1

Who was the first ‘Psychologist’?

Answer 1

Wundt (1832-1920)

He believed all aspects of nature, including the human mind can be studied scientifically.

Question 2

What technique was used by Wundt?

Answer 2

Wundt used a technique called introspection.

(Do NOT need the exact definition - just the section in capitals)

This is the process where a person gains knowledge about his or her OWN MENTAL STATES as a result of the OBSERVATION OF THEIR OWN conscious THOUGHTS OR FEELINGS

Question 3

What is Empiricism?

Answer 3

The scientific method where knowledge is derived from experience.

Question 4

Outline one criticism of Wundt’s contribution to psychology. (3 marks)

Answer 4

NOTE: This is an actual possible exam question, make sure to make all points listed

1. Criticisms mainly from BEHAVOURISTS
2. introspection is unreliable due to it being ‘unobservable’
3. we have very little knowledge of why we do things

Question 5

Classical conditioning key study

Association

Answer 5

Pavlov's Dog's:
NS = Neutral stimulus (bell)
UCS = Unconditioned stimulus (food)
UCR = Unconditioned response (salivation)
CS = Conditioned stimulus (bell)
CR = Conditioned response (salvation)

NS + UCS = UCR
eventually
NS (CS) = CR

Question 6

Operant conditioning key study

Reinforcement/punishment

Answer 6

Skinner’s Box
A rat is placed in a box, when it presses a leaver a food pellet (the reinforcer) is dropped into the box. The rat then learns to obtain food it must press the leaver. If the food pellets stop the rat tries the leaver a few more times then abandons it (extinction).

Question 7

What are the two types of reinforcement?

Answer 7

Positive reinforcement - adding something, e.g. praising a child or giving an animal food when they do something well

Negative reinforcement - removal of unpleasant stimulus e.g. pressing the ‘off’ button on an alarm to stop the ringing.

Question 8

What are two other features of classical conditioning?

Answer 8

NOTE: I have listed 4, only 2 are needed

1. timing - if the time interval between NS and UCS is too great conditioning will not take place.
2. extinction - Pavlov discovered that if the association of the CS is stopped the CR will also stop
3. spontaneous recovery - following extinction if the CS and UCS are then paired together again the link is made much more quickly
4. stimulus generalisation - Pavlov discovered once an animal has been conditioned they will also respond to other stimuli that are similar to the CS

Question 9

Social learning theory key study

Answer 9

Bandura’s Bobo doll
children observed aggressive or non-aggressive adult models and were then tested for imitative learning in the absence of the model.
Children who observed the aggressive model reproduced a good deal of behaviour resembling the model, children who observed the non-aggressive models exhibited virtually no aggressive behaviour towards the Bobo doll

Question 10

Define ‘identification’

Answer 10

A form of influence where an individual adopts an attitude or behaviour because they want to be associated with a particular group or person.

Question 11

Define ‘imitation’

Answer 11

The action of using someone or something as a model and copying their behaviour

Question 12

Define ‘modelling’

Answer 12

A form of learning where individuals learn a particular behaviour by observing another individual performing that behaviour

Question 13

Define ‘social learning theory’

Answer 13

learning through observing others and imitating behaviours that are rewarded

Question 14

Define ‘vicarious reinforcement’

Answer 14

Learning that is not a result of direct reinforcement of behaviour, but through observing someone else being reinforced for that behaviour

Question 15

What is the role of a schema?

Answer 15

A schema is a cognitive framework that helps organise and interpret information in the brain.
A group of information which allows us to act accordingly e.g. mental interpretation of how to act at a festival vs in a church.

Question 16

What does the cognitive approach compare or use to explain mental processes?

Answer 16

This approach compares mental processes and memory to a computer model. The hard-disk would represent the long-term memory, the RAM would represent the working memory as on a computer the RAM functions on limited capacity to carry out specific tasks.

Question 17

What is the main focus of neuroscience?

Answer 17

cognitive neuroscience is dedicated to underlying neurons in the human body. These neurons can be tested via PET scans and fMRI scans.

Question 18

What is an issue with cognitive psychology research?

Answer 18

some studies may lack ecological validity, for example it is not normal for someone to record how many random word lists or digits they can remember for a specific amount of time.

Question 19

What is the biological approach?

Answer 19

the biological approach views humans as biological organisms. it focuses mainly on genetics and evolution.

Question 20

What is the difference between genotype and phenotype?

Answer 20

Genotype is the genetic makeup of an individual - DNA which determines our genetic outcome.

Phenotype is the observable characteristics of an individual - these are consequences of our genotype and the environment.

Question 21

What does neurochemistry refer to?

Answer 21

neurochemistry refers to neural and chemical processes in the nervous system.

Question 22

What are the two nervous systems in the human body and what are their purposes?

Answer 22

the central nervous system (CNS) consists of the brain and spinal cord.
the peripheral nervous system (PNS) consists of the somatic and autonomic nervous systems.

the nervous system is responsible for carrying messages from one part of the body to another as well as controlling breathing, eating and sexual behaviour.

Question 23

what is the frontal lobe responsible for?

Answer 23

the frontal lobe is responsible for speech, thought and learning

Question 24

what is the temporal lobe responsible for?

Answer 24

hearing and memory

Question 25

what is the parietal lobe responsible for?

Answer 25

sensory information such as temperature, pain and touch

Question 26

what is the occipital lobe responsible for?

Answer 26

visual information

Question 27

What is a limitation of the biological approach?

Answer 27

it is reductionist - this is where understandings are broken down to the most simplistic explanation (similar to mental health issues broken down to one singular chemical imbalance) although this is scientific it is argued to cannot use reductionist approaches because it ignores all other environmental factors.

Question 28

What is the psychodynamic approach?

Answer 28

this is Freud’s theory which explains behaviour in terms of a conscious and unconscious mind including the structure of the personality.

Question 29

What is the unconscious?

Answer 29

this is the part of the human mind that contains repressed ideas and memories as well as primitive desires that have never been allowed to enter the conscious mind.

Question 30

What is the structure of the personality?

Answer 30

the ID is the part which operated the unconscious mind only, it demands immediate gratification.

the ego mediates between the ID and superego.

the superego is the part which follows social rules and produces guilt when rules are broken.

Question 31

What are Freud’s psychosexual stages?

Answer 31

stage 1: ORAL (0-2 years)
the mouth is the focal point of sensation

stage 2: ANAL (2-3 years)
beginnings of ego development, toilet training takes place so the child can control their own bodily waste

stage 3: PHALLIC (3-6 years)
sexual energy is now focused on the genitals. the Oedipus complex is now present.

stage 4: LATENT (6-12 years)
child develops mastery of the world around them, conflicts and issues of the previous stages are repressed and children are unable to remember much of their early years.

stage 5: GENITAL (12+ years)
fixing of sexual energy in the genitals, directs us towards sexual intercourse and the beginning of adult life.

Question 32

define free-will

Answer 32

the ability to choose how to behave without being influenced by external factors.

Question 33

what is the humanistic approach?

Answer 33

the humanistic approach states that people have the freedom and choice to make their own life choices via free-will, and therefore have the power to direct their own lives.

Question 34

who developed the humanistic approach?

Answer 34

Maslow developed the humanistic approach in the 1950’s by creating a hierarchy of needs that people need to achieve in order to reach self-actualisation

Question 35

what are the stages of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs?

Answer 35

physiological:
breathing, food, water, sex, sleep

safety:
security of body, employment, morality, family, health, and property

love/belonging:
friendship, family, sexual intimacy

esteem:
self-esteem, confidence, achievement, respect of and by others

self-actualisation:
morality, creativity, acceptance of fact, lack of prejudice, problem solving