Approaches Flashcards
Explain the role of Wundt in early psychology
First lab dedicated to psychological enquiry opened in leipzig in 1879. Document and describe nature of human consciousness. Known as introspection. Recording their own conscious thoughts. Isolating structure of consciousness in this way is called structuralism
How scientific was wundts research
Introspections recorded under strictly controlled conditions using same stimulus every time. Same standardised instructions issued to all participants. Marked the separation of modern scientific psychology from its broader scientific roots
What did Watson and the early behaviourists do
Beginning of 20th century introspection questioned by John B Watson. His main problem was it produced data that was subjective data. Also critical of private mental processes. Scientific psychology should be restricted to studying phenomena that could be observed and measured
Evaluation of origins of psychology
Wundts methods were unreliable - criticism of structuralist approach non observable responses. Lack of reliability and subjective
Not accurate- nisbett and Wilson claimed little knowledge of causes of, processes underlying or behaviour and attitudes so conclusions can’t be drawn e.g unaware If a person is implicitly racist
Strengths of a scientific approach - corrections and adaptations to theories mean incorrect Ines are not around for long
Lack of ecological validity- contrived lab based situations that tell us little about how people would act in real life
Assumptions of the behaviourist approach
Only studying behaviour that’s observable and measurable. Not investigating mental processes. John B Watson rejected introspection. Maintain control and objectivity and relied on lab experiments to do this. Behaviourist research in animals can be applied to humans
What’s the research for classical conditioning
Pavlovs dogs
What’s the research for operant conditions
Skinners rats
What’s positive reinforcement
Receiving a reward when a certain behaviour is performed
What is negative reinforcement
Occurs when an animal or human behaves in a certain way to avoid something unpleasant
Evaluation of behaviourist approach
Gave psych scientific credibility through the use of language and methods from natural sciences, highly controlled lab settings and objectivity and replication.
Real life application- principles of conditioning have been applied it s range of things e.g operant cond token economies in psychiatric wards
Mechanistic view of behaviour - viewed as passive responders to the environment with no insight into their behaviour. Rejected all cognitive processiong but humans have a higher level of mental functioning than animals
Social learning theory approach assumptions
Learn through observation and imitation of others within a social context. Learning occurs directly through classical and operant but also indirectly.
What’s vicarious reinforcement
Indirect learning, observes behaviour of others. Learner may imitate this behaviour if it’s reinforced positively. If negative avoid imitating. Observes consequence of behaviour
What are the mediational processes
Attention- the extent to which we notice behaviour
Retention- how well the behaviour is remembered
Motor reproduction- the ability to perform the behaviour
Motivation- the will to perform the behaviour in
What’s identification
More likely to imitate someone they identify with called role models. Process is modelling. Don’t have to be in presence links to important media figures
What factors affect a role model
Familiarity
Similarity
Power
Status
What’s the social learning theory research
Bandura bobo doll
Kids watched 5 min film of adult being aggressive to doll. 3 groups, group 2 watched adult punished one praised 3 didn’t watch a second film. Watched to see what kid did with the doll after.
Group 1 aggressive to doll
Group 2 least aggressive
Group 3 in between
Learned through vicarious reinforcement
Evaluating bandura reasearxh
Child was heard saying they did it because they thought they had to
Gender differences
Mediated cognitive processes aren’t tested
Practical applications- use theoretical situations to manipulate behaviour
Lab setting led to demand characteristics
Evaluation of SLT
Importance of cognitive factors in learning - provides a more comprehensive explanantion of human learning by recognising role of mediational processes
Assumptions of cognitive approach
Internal mental processes can and should be scientifically studied. Investigated areas abandoned by behaviourists such as memory perception and thinking. Study them indirectly by making inferences about what is going on inside people’s minds on basis of their behaviours
Theoretical and computer models in cognitive approach
One way to study is internal processes isnuse of theoretical models. Information processing approach says info flows through cognitive system in a sequence of stages including input, storage and retrieval. Computer models similarity in way its processes
Role of schema in cognitive approach
Packages of ideas and information that come with stimuli. Babies born with motor Sheba. Adults more devolved schema that allows info processed quickly but may distort our interpretations.
Explain the emergence of cognitive neuroscience
Influence of brain structures on mental processes
Brain imaging techniques allow us to look at what parts of brain are involved in which mental processes
Evaluation of cognitive approach
Credible scientific basis from controlled and rigorous methods. Cognitive neuroscience uses biology
Machine reductionism- ignored influence of human emotion and motivation
Application- lacks ecological validity and too abstract and theoretical in nature to use
Assumptions of biological approach
Everything psychological is first biological. Look at genes neurochemistry and nervous system
Evaluation of biological approach is
Based on reliable data- precise and highly scientific methods ( family and twin studies, drug trials, fMRIs)
Real life application- development of psychoactive drugs that treat serious mental illnesses
Evolutionary explanation for behaviour criticised as culture, reproduction and survival are ignored but are huge factors
