Approaches

Question 1

Outline Biological approach

Answer 1

Assumptions: everything physical is first biological, so we must look at our biological structures to and processes such as:
Genes
Neurotransmitters
Seratonin
The endocrine system and hormones (Adrenalin)
To understand our behaviours.

The genetic basis of behaviour:
Study where behavioural characteristics such as intelligence and mental disorders are inherited the same way as physical characteristics. They use twins studies to determine the likelihood of a behaviour having a genetic basis by comparing concordance.
Higher concordance in MZ than DZ suggests genetic basis. Eg. SCHIZOPHRENIA

Genotype and Phenotype
Genotype: genetic makeup
Phenotype: they way these are expressed and influenced by environment. Eg. PKU a rate genetic disorder that can cause learning difficulties, can be prevented if child is placed in a strict diet.

Evolution and behaviour:
Genetically determined behaviour that enhances survival and reproduction while be naturally selected.
Eg. Social releases or phobias

Question 2

Evaluate Behavioural approach:

Answer 2

Scientific
Uses EEGs and fMRIs, family and twin studies. Eg. Aggression and the Ultimatum Game and MRI
Not open to bias high internal validity. Experimental reductionist

Real life application:
Lead to the development of psychoactive frugs that treat serious mental illness eg. Depression.
Improves quality of life and reduced absenteeism in the workplace.
Treatment fallacy: drugs treat symptoms and thus it’s assumed that the neurotransmitter causes the disorder.

Causal conclusions:
Neural correlates. Correlation not causation, lack of internal validity.

Biological determinist:
Behavioural is governed by internal factors over which we have no control. Negates responsibility included in the Rule of Law which states that we are legally and morally responsible for our actions.
Not recognised in the justice system

Nature and Nurture:
Nature and nurture are confounding variables and genetics may not only be cause for behaviours in twins and families.
Cannot explain why DZ twins have greater concordance than normal siblings, even though they both have 50% of the same genetic material. This is due to the fact that DZ are more likely to have similar variables.

Question 3

PKU:

Answer 3

Rare genetic disorder than can cause Severe learning difficulties in those who carry the PKU genotype. However, if detected early enough, the child can be placed on a restricted diet and will develop normally without any complications. This suggests the importance of both nature and nurture.

Question 4

Define introspection:

Answer 4

The first systematic experimental attempts to study the mind by breaking a conscious awareness into basic structures of thoughts, images and sensations.

Question 5

Wundt and introspection:

Answer 5

Wundt opened the first ever lab dedicated to psychological  study in Leipzig Germany, 1979.
Developed introspection (systematic experimental attempt to study the mind by breaking up conscious awareness into basic structures) 
Isolating the structure of consciousness in this way is called structuralism. 

Methods used (introspection) used controlled conditions. Standardised instructions and were replicated. 
Moved psychology away from its philosophical roots and made it a science.

Question 6

Behaviourist approach outline:

Answer 6

Behaviourist approach is only concerned with studying behaviour that can be observed and measured. It is not concerned with investigating mental processes of the mind. Watson rejected introspection as it was too vague and too difficult to measure.
Focused on labs and implemented more control and objectivity.
Two forms of learning: classical and operant.

Classical conditioning
Pavlovs dogs. Pavlov discovered that dogs could be conditioned to salivate to the sound of the bell if it was repeatedly presented at the same time as food.
The dogs learns to associate the sound of the bell (neutral stimulus) with food (unconditioned stimulus) and would produce the salivation (unconditioned response) every time they heard sound.

Operant conditioning:
Skinners research, humans learn through consequences.
Positive reinforcement is receiving a reward when a certain behaviour is performed. Eg. Sticker
Negative: Avoiding something unpleasant is negative reinforcement. Eg. avoiding littering so you’re not told off in school
Rats: pulled lever, food pellet. To avoid punishment of electric shock they would continue to pull lever.

Punishment: unpleasant consequence of behaviours eg. Being shouted at

Positive and negative increase likelihood of behaviours being repeated. Punishment decreases likelihood.

Question 7

Evaluate the behaviourist approach:

Answer 7

Scientific credibility:
Emphasis placed on methods such as replication and operationalisation. It was influential in the development of psychology as a science. This gives approach credibility and status.

Real life:
Real world applications:
Token economies in Sz
Systematic desensitisation (classical conditioning)
Better than talking therapies for patients who lack insight eg. Sz

Environmental determinism:
Ignores free will.
Skinner “free will is an illusion” all behaviour has been conditioned.

Lack of meaningful generalisations
We are more complex beings
Intricate social / cultural beings
Increased cerebral cortex makes us higher order than rats and pigeons and dogs.

Unethical?
Animal abuse exposed to stress, could impact behaviour. Does ends justify the mean

Question 8

Social learning theory AO1:

Answer 8

Agreed that it’s through learning, but through observation and imitation of others in society.

Vicarious reinforcement;
Indirect learning takes places when we observe and imitate behaviour that if rewarded. Observe the consequences of behaviour.

Meditational processes: 
Bridges learning theory (behaviourist) with cognitive. 
A ttention
R etention
R eproduction (motor)
M otivation

Identification:
Identify with role models