approaches AO3

Question 1

AO3 for social learning theory

Answer 1

+ uses scientific methods (uses scientific enquiry to investigae human behaviour as it was done in a controlled environment with empirical and objective techniques such as Bandura’s bobo doll technique that had high control over EVs
+ practical applications (the principles of the theory have led to government regulation and laws on the advertisement of cigarettes)
- alternative explanation is the biological explanation (Banudra’s bobo doll research had the consistent finding that boys were more aggressive than girls regardless of the situation. This could be explained through hormones)

Question 2

AO3 for behviourism

Answer 2

+ practical applications (the principles of the theory have led to the treatment of systematic desensitisation)
+ uses scientific methods (controlled environment and the empirical and objective technique such as measuring the amount of saliva the dog produced for Pavlov)
- environmental determinism (behaviour is only controlled by external factors and ignores free will)
- environmental reductionism (as it limits complex human behaviour down to simple, basic units and ignores social and cultural factors)

Question 3

AO3 for psychodynamic

Answer 3

1. practical applications - had led to the treatment of psychoanalysis which is used to treat abnormalities in the real world by identifying and resolving unconscious conflicts
2. psychic deterministic - says beh is due to unconscious motives and ignores external influences e.g. oral fixations resulting behaviour such as smoking - neglects free will - isn’t appropriate
3. not scientific - doesn’t use scientific enquiry to investigate human behaviour- as it does not use objective/empirical research to determine behaviour and you cannot observe the unconscious - decreases internal validity

Question 4

AO3 for humanistic

Answer 4

1. free will - argues that people have complete free will to choose how they behave and can reject any internal/external influences e.g. a persons choices in life affect whether they self-actualise or not - more positive approach
2. bound by cultural relativism - western ideas that people aim to self-actualize and become the best version of themselves - not able to generalise to non-western cultures where people aim to do what is best for a group and not individual needs
3. practical applications - PCT - counselling techniques - achieve congruence and self-actualise through empathy and unconditional positive regard

Question 5

AO3 for cognative

Answer 5

1. scientific - uses scientific enquiry to investigate human behaviour - obj and empiri techniques such as lab experiments and brain scans to investigate internal mental processes - have high EVs - establish cause and effect
2. soft determinism - says that internal factors cause behaviour (internal mental processing) but individuals have some choice over their beh - individuals feel more in control and can alter any faulty thought processes
3. practical applications - CBT - can be used to treat disorders - e.g. depression by disputing irrational thoughts and negative schemas - positive effect on the economy

Question 6

Ao3 for biological

Answer 6

1. biologically deterministic - says that behavior is due to internal factors and ignores all other factors - e.g it is neurotransmitters and genes that inevitably cause behaviour - e.g. inheritance of PCM1 gene leading to Schizophrenia - neglects free will - isn’t appropriate
2. practical applications - imbalance of neurotransmitters has led to the development of SSRI’s to treat OCD - effective in treating individuals and blocking the reuptake of serotonin
3. scientific - uses obj and empiri techniques such as brain scans and PET scanners e.g. to locate different areas of the LTM in the brain - increases internal validity