Approaches

Question 1

What is the Behaviourist approach views on development?

Answer 1

The processes that underpin learning are continuous, occurring at any age

Question 2

What is the Behaviourist approach views on the nature vs nurture debate?

Answer 2

Babies are a ‘blank slate at birth’. All behaviour comes about through learned associations and reinforcement.

Question 3

What is the Behaviourist approach views on reductionism?

Answer 3

Reduces complex learning into stimulus-response units for ease of testing in a controlled lab environment

Question 4

What is the Behaviourist approach views on determinism?

Answer 4

All behaviour is environmentally determined by external forces that we cannot control

Question 5

What are the Behaviourist approach explanations and treatment of abnormal/atypical behaviour?

Answer 5

Abnormalities arise from maladaptive or faulty learning. Behavioural therapies take a symptom based approach to the unlearning of behaviour (eg systematic desensitisation or token economy)

Question 6

What is the Social Learning approach views on development?

Answer 6

The processes that underpin learning are continuous, occurring at any age

Question 7

What is the Social Learning approach views on the nature vs nurture debate?

Answer 7

Babies are a ‘blank slate at birth’. All behaviour comes about through learned associations and reinforcement. And through observation and imitation of an idols behaviour.

Question 8

What is the Social Learning approach views on reductionism?

Answer 8

Recognises how cognitive factors interact with the external environment

Question 9

What is the Social Learning approach views on determinism?

Answer 9

We are influenced by our environment and also expect some influence upon it (reciprocal determinism)

Question 10

What is the Social Learning approach explanations and treatment of abnormal/atypical behaviour?

Answer 10

Principles such as modelling have been used to explain the development of aggressive behaviour.

Question 11

What is the Cognitive approach views on development?

Answer 11

Stage theories of child development particularly particularly the idea of concept formation (schema) as a child gets older

Question 12

What is the Cognitive approach views on nature vs nurture?

Answer 12

Recognises that many of our information-processing abilities are innate, but are constantly refined by experience

Question 13

What is the Cognitive approach views on reductionism?

Answer 13

Machine reductionism

use of own information processing abilities are innate but are constantly refined by experience

Question 14

What is the Cognitive approach views on determinism?

Answer 14

Suggests we are the ‘choosers’ of our own behaviour but only within the limit of what we know (soft determinism)

Question 15

What is the Cognitive approach views on explanation and treatment of abnormality/atypical behaviour?

Answer 15

Led to cognitive therapies such as CBT in the treatment of depression, which aims to eradicate faulty thinking

Question 16

What is the Biological approach views on development?

Answer 16

Genetically determined maturation changes (puberty) influence behaviour e.g cognitive/intellectual development

Question 17

What is the Biological approach views on the nature vs nurture debate?

Answer 17

‘Anatomy is destiny’ behaviour stems from the genetic blueprint we inherit from our parents

Question 18

What is the Biological approach views on reductionism?

Answer 18

Reduces and explains human behaviour at the level of genes or neurones

Question 19

What is the Biological approach views on determinism?

Answer 19

A form of genetic determinism, much of our behaviours are directed by innate influences

Question 20

What is the Biological approach views on explanations and treatments of abnormal/atypical behaviour

Answer 20

Psychoactive drugs that regulate chemical imbalances in the brain have revolutionised the treatment of mental disorders

Question 21

What is the Psychodynamic approach views on development?

Answer 21

The most coherent theory of development, tying concepts and processes to age-related stages

Question 22

What is the Psychodynamic approach views on the nature vs nurture debate?

Answer 22

suggests that most of our behaviour is driven by biological drives and instincts but also sees the child’s relationship with its parents as crucial.

Question 23

What is the Psychodynamic approach views on reductionism?

Answer 23

Reduces behaviour to the influence of biological drives and instincts, although also sees personality as a dynamic holistic interaction

Question 24

What is the Psychodynamic approach views on determinism?

Answer 24

Unconscious forces drive our behaviour (psychic determinism) and these are rationalised by our conscious minds

Question 25

What is the Psychodynamic approach views on explanations and treatments of abnormal/atypical behaviour

Answer 25

Anxiety disorders emerge from unconscious conflicts and overuse of defence mechanisms. Psychoanalysis aims to put people in touch with their unconscious thoughts

Question 26

What is the Humanistic approach views on development?

Answer 26

The development of the self is ongoing throughout life

Question 27

What is the Humanistic approach views on the nature vs nurture debate?

Answer 27

Regards patients friends and wider society as having a critical impact on the persons self-concept.

Question 28

What is the Humanistic approach views on reductionism?

Answer 28

Anti-reductionist based on holistic investigation of all aspects of the individual

Question 29

What is the Humanistic approach views on determinism?

Answer 29

Human beings have free will and are active agents who determine their own development

Question 30

What is the Humanistic approach views on explanations and treatments of abnormal/atypical behaviour

Answer 30

Humanistic theory or counselling is based on the idea that reducing incongruence will stimulate personal growth