approaches -ao1 complete Flashcards
Introspection
People trained to systematically analyse one’s own conscious experience. Experiences are analysed in terms of their component parts (or structures), thoughts, images and sensations. Developed by Wundt.
Structuralism
Attempting to isolate the structure of consciousness.
Behavioural approach
Believes that all behaviour is learnt and that we are born as a blank slate. Only concerned with observable behaviour that can be measured (not internal processes).
Classical conditioning
This is a behaviourist theory which says that humans and animals learn new behaviours by the process of association.
Association
When two stimuli are paired together at the same time, they become linked
Stimulus
Something in the environment that may or may not result in a response
Response
A reaction to stimuli
Generalisation
When a similar stimulus to the learnt stimulus elicits the same response (e.g. bitten by an Alsatian now afraid of all dogs).
Extinction
When a conditioned pairing decays over time. Conditioned stimuli aren’t permanent unless they are occasionally paired with the UCS.
Neutral stimulus (NS)
Something in the environment that elicits no innate response, e.g. ring of a bell
Unconditioned stimulus (UCS)
Something in the environment that elicits a response that does not need to be learnt, e.g. food
Unconditioned response (UCR)
An innate reaction to an unconditioned stimulus, e.g. salivation when encountering food
Conditioned stimulus (CS)
Something in the environment that elicits a response that needs to be learnt
Conditioned response (CR)
A reaction to a conditioned stimulus
Operant conditioning
A form of learning in which behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences. Possible consequences of behaviour include positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement and punishment.
Positive reinforcement
A pleasant consequence to a behaviour that increases the likelihood of repeating that behaviour
Negative reinforcement
Any behaviour that leads to an escape from an unpleasant situation will increase the likelihood of repeating that behaviour.
Punishment
A negative consequence to a behaviour that decreases the likelihood of repeating that behaviour.
Social Learning Theory
Behaviour is learned through observation and imitation of role models within a social context.
Identification
When a model is high status, likeable, attractive and similar to a person (e.g. age and gender) the model is more likely to be imitated.
Modelling
Demonstrating the behaviour to be copied
Mediational processes
Cognitive factors (thoughts) that come between stimulus and response and determine the likelihood that observed behaviours will be repeated. These include attention, retention, motor reproduction, motivation.
Attention
Focusing on a behaviour - watching it closely.
Retention
Coding the behaviour seen into the observers memory, e.g. is it easy to remember?
Motor reproduction/Self-efficacy
The belief that the behaviour observed can be imitated
Motivation
Believing the benefits of performing a behaviour outweigh any costs.
Vicarious reinforcement
The observed consequences of behaviour for someone else determine the likelihood that it will be repeated, e.g. witnessing someone being praised for behaviour increases the chance the observer imitates it.
Cognitive Approach
Focuses on how our internal mental processes are responsible for our behaviour. The approach believes we can and should study internal mental processes scientifically.
Inferences
Making assumptions made about internal mental processes which can’t be observed. These assumptions use and go beyond the behaviour seen within research.
Schema
Packages of information / units of knowledge developed through experience. They provide a mental framework for us to interpret information. They become more detailed and sophisticated as we age (assimilation & accommodation).
Computer analogy
Processing of information in humans is similar (analogous) to the way a computer works, concepts from computing such as coding, retrieval and storage can be used to explain internal mental processes.
Theoretical model
Diagrams / pictorial representations used to explain how the mind works (e.g. the multi store model of memory is a diagram of stores), which allow psychologists to construct hypotheses
Cognitive neuroscience
Brain scans used to scientifically study of the influence of brain structures on cognitive processes, e.g. fMRIs show a link for lateral frontal lobes and OCD.
Biological Approach
Everything psychological has a biological basis, such as genes, brain structure and neurochemistry. The mind and body are one and the same - the mind lives in the brain, therefore all thoughts have a physical basis.