Approaches Flashcards
What is the main assumption of Behaviourism?
Everyone is born as a blank slate and all behaviour is learnt through observing/interacting with their environment
What are the main assumptions of the biological approach?
All behaviour is driven by biological structures
All behaviour is innate
What are the features of Behaviourism?
Classical + Operant Conditioning
Positive + negative reinforcement
Punishment
What are the strengths of Behaviourism?
It is scientific- objective and can be replicated
Real Life Applications- token economy
What are the limitations of Behaviourism?
Lacks ecological validity Ethical Issues Demand characteristics Only studies observable behaviour Humans are complex- mechanistic view- more applicable to animals
What are the features of the biological approach?
CNS Genetics Cognitive Neuroscience Hormones Neurotransmitters Brain Structure Phenotype Genotype Evolution
What research methods are used in Behaviourism?
Pavlov's dogs Skinner's box Lab experiments Scientific focus Little Albert
What research methods are used in the biological approach?
Kray Twins (MZ) Twin Studies Adoption Studies Family Studies Phineas Gage (case study) MRI/CT Scans
What are the strengths of the biological approach?
Scientific- objective data
Real life applications
pairs well with other approaches- cognitive neuroscience
What are the limitations of the biological approach?
Can’t establish cause/effect relationship
Only focuses on observable concepts
Disregards environmental factors
What is the main assumption of the cognitive approach?
All behaviour is driven by internal mental processes
What are the features of the cognitive approach?
Computer Models
Schema
Theoretical models
What are the research methods used in the cognitive approach?
Scientific
Lab experiments
Cognitive neuroscience- MRI/CT/PET Scans
Godden + Baddeley
What are the strengths of the cognitive approach?
Scientific- objective
Most dominant
Real life Applications- OCD/CBT
Pairs well with other approaches- cognitive neuroscience
What are the limitations of the Cognitive approach?
Over-simplification- machine reductionism
Lacks ecological validity
Only focuses on internal mental processes- ignores before/after
What is the main assumption of social learning theory?
All behaviour is learnt through observing models
What are the features of social learning theory
Attention Retention Motor reproduction Motivation Models/ Role models Live/ symbolic models Imitation Identification Vicarious reinforcement
What are the research methods used in SLT?
Lab Experiments Mineka et al Charlton et al Bandura Akers
What are the strengths of SLT?
Scientific- objective
Real life applications- criminal behaviour
What are the limitations of SLT?
Demand characteristics
Lacks ecological validity
Underestimates biological factors
What are the main assumptions of humanism?
All humans are unique
All humans are inherently good
All humans are driven by free will
What are the features of humanism?
Self-actualisation
Hierarchy of needs
Congruence
Conditions of worth
What are the research methods used in humanism?
Client-centred therapy
Q-sort
Unconditioned positive regard
What are the strengths of humanism?
Real life applications- therapy
Effective in western society
What are the limitations of humanism?
Unscientific
Subjective
More applicable to individualistic cultures than elsewhere
Not objective/repeatable
What are the features of the psychodynamic approach?
Tripartite personality
Id, ego, superego
Defence mechanisms- repression, denial, displacement
Psychosexual stages- oral, anal, phallic, latent, genital
Fixation
Unconscious, pre-conscious, conscious
Oedipus + Electra complexes
What is the main assumption of the psychodynamic approach?
All behaviour is driven by the unconscious mind
What research methods are used in the psychodynamic approach?
Case Studies
Little Hans
Psychoanalysis
What are the strengths of the psychodynamic approach?
Unfalsifiable
Applications- psychoanalysis- schizophrenia
What are the limitations of the psychodynamic approach?
Unobservable/ not objective
Based on case studies- difficult to generalise
