Approaches (& AS Biopsychology) Flashcards
Where was the first psychology lab?
In Leipzig
Whose was the first psychology lab?
Wundt
What did Wundt’s lab introduce?
Structuralism
Whose idea was introspection?
Wundt
What is introspection?
The first systematic experimental attempt to study the mind by breaking up conscious awareness into basic structures of thoughts, images and sensations
What are psychologies early philosophical roots?
Descartes- Cartesian dualism
Locke- empiricism (behaviourist approach)
Darwin- evolution
What did Watson say about introspection?
Rejects it
Didn’t like how it produced subjective data
What is the behaviourist approach?
All behaviour is learning through association or reinforcement.
List the two assumptions of the behaviourist approach
Observable
Basic processes the same in all species
What did Pavlov do?
Classical conditioning
(Pavlovs dogs)
Briefly explain classical conditioning
Association of NA with UCS to produce new CS and CR
What did skinner do?
Operant conditioning:
Reinforcement and punishment
(Skinner box)
Explain positive reinforcement
Receiving a reward when a certain behaviour is performed
Explain what negative reinforcement is
Occurs when an animal (or human) avoids something unpleasant
Eg. Handing in an essay on time to avoid punishment for being late
Explain what punishment is
An unpleasant consequence of a behaviour
What increases the likelihood of a behaviour being repeated?
Positive and negative reinforcement
What decreased the likelihood of a behaviour being repeated?
Punishment
Does the behaviourist approach have a scientific credibility?
Yes-
the behaviourist approach helped create psychology as a science due to its objectivity and replication
From the behaviourist approach are humans mechanistic?
Apparently so:
Dosent take mental events into account whereas other approaches do
Does the behaviourist approach have a real life application?
Yes:
Token economy used in prisons
Treating phobias
Describe social learning theory?
All behaviour is learned from observing other people in social context
List the two assumptions of the behaviourist approach
Observable
Basic processes same in all species
What is vicarious reinforcement?
Reinforcement which is not directly experiences but occurs through observing someone else being reinforced for a behaviour that may be imitated by an observer
(BOBO doll)
What is mediational processes?
Cognitive factors that influence learning
List the four mediational processes
Attention, retention, motivation, reproduction
Define identification
When an observer associates themselves with a role model and wants to be like the role model. They are more likely to imitate role models they identify with.
List an Advantage of social learning theory
It is a more comprehensive explanation of learning
List two Disadvantage of social learning theory
Underestimates the influence of biology, eg. Hormonal factors
Lab study= low validity & demand characteristics
What is the cognitive approach?
The study of internal mental processes
What is the assumption of the cognitive approach?
Internal mental processes can be studied through inference
What is schema?
A mental framework of beliefs and expectations that influence cognitive processing. They are developed from experience.
What do cognitive psychologists use to understand internal mental processes?
Theoretical and computer models
How does schema affect the cognitive approach?
As beliefs and expectations effect thoughts and behaviours (innate of learnt)
Mental short cut, leads to perceptual errors.
How are theoretical and computer models used to study internal mental processes?
Mind is likened to a computer and applied to artificial intelligence
Define cognitive neuroscience
The scientific study of biological structures that underpin cognitive processes
How does cognitive neuroscience aid the study of internal mental processes?
Brain imaging (PET, MRI, etc)
Helped us understand different biological structures link to mental states
Advantage of research into the cognitive approach?
Scientific and objective
Lab experiments produce reliable data
Disadvantage of using computer models to study the mind?
Machine reductionism- ignores the influence of emotion eg. Anxiety
Disadvantage of the cognitive approach?
Abstract and overly theoretical- lack external validity
Define the biological approach
Everything psychological is at first biological
What is the assumption of the biological approach?
Biological processes: genes, neurochemistry, and the nervous system
What is a genotype?
Particular set of genes that a person possesses
What is a phenotype?
The characteristics of a individual determined by both genes and the environment
How are twin studies used to investigate the biological approach? (Explain some results)
Used to determine the likelihood that certain traits have a genetic basis by comparing concordance rates between pairs of twins.
Monozygotic (identical) = higher concordance on music ability
Dizygotic (non identical) = lower concordance on music ability
What does the interaction between phenotype and genotype show?
The interaction between nature (inherited factors) and nurture (environment)
How does evolution link to the biological approach?
Natural selection of genes based on survival value and ultimately reproductive success
Does the biological approach have a real life approach?
Yes in psychotherapeutic drugs (for depression etc)
Limitation of the biological approach?
Drugs may only be associated with symptom reduction not the causes. (Neurotransmitters)
Advantage of the biological approach?
Based on precise techniques and reliable data (twin studies etc)
What 2 nervous systems make up the human nervous system?
Peripheral NS & Central NS
What makes up the peripheral NS?
Autonomic NS & Somatic NS
What makes up the central NS?
Brain & Spinal Cord
What makes up Autonomic NS?
Sympathetic NS & Parasympathetic NS
What does the Peripheral NS do?
Sends info to the CNS from the outside world, and transmits messages from the CNS to muscles and glands in the body.
What does the Somatic NS do?
Transmits info from receptor cells in the sense organs to the CNS. It also receives information from the CNS that directs muscles to act.
What does the Autonomic NS do?
Transmits info to and from internal bodily organs. It is ‘autonomic’ as the system operates involuntarily (it is automatic). It has two main divisions: the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system.
How many hemispheres are there in the brain?
2
What makes up the endocrine system?
Glands and hormones
Which gland is the master gland?
The pituitary gland (in the brain)
How are hormones distributed?
In the bloodstrem
What is a gland?
An organ which synthesises substances such as hormones
What are hormones?
Chemical substances that circulate in the bloodstream and only affect target organs. They are produced in large quantities but disappear quickly. They have a very powerful effect.
What is adrenaline?
A hormone produced by the adrenal glands which is part of the human body’s immediate stress response system.
Adrenaline has a stimulating effect on the body eg. Heart rate
How does fight or flight work? (Explain the steps)
Stressor perceived
Hypothalamus triggers activity in sympathetic branch in ANS.
Stress hormone adrenaline is released from adrenal medulla (part of the adrenal gland) into the bloodstream.
This triggers physiological arousal needed for fight or flight response
(This all happens in an instant)
How does the body change from the fight or flight response back to normal.
Parasympathetic works in opposition to the sympathetic NS
(Rest and digest response)
List the three types of neuron?
Motor, sensory, and relay
What does a sensory neurone do?
Carry messages from the PNS to the CNS. They have long dendrites and short axons
What does a relay neurone do?
Connect sensory neurones to the motor or other relay neurones. They have short dendrites and short axons.
What do motor neurones do?
Connect CNS to effectors such as muscles and glands. They have short dendrites and long axons.
Who’s are axon divided?
By nodes of ranvier
What are axon covered in?
Myelin sheath
What does the cell body contain?
Nucleus
Where are the terminal buttons?
At the end of axon
How is action potential caused?
When a neurone is activated by a stimulus, inside of the cell becomes positively charged for a split second causing an action potential to occur.
What does an action potential cause?
An electrical impulse that travels down the axon towards the end of the neurone.
What is a neurotransmitter?
Brain chemicals releases from synaptic vesicles that relay signals across the synapse from one neurone to another.
What is excitation?
When a neurotransmitter, such as adrenaline, increases the positive charge of the post synaptic neurone. This increases the likelihood that the neurone will fire and pass on the electrical impulse.
What is inhibition?
When a neurotransmitter, such as serotonin, increases negative charge of the postsynaptic neurone will fire and pass on the electrical impulse.
What is the synapses role in synaptic transmission?
Terminal buttons at synapse, presynaptic vesicles release neurotransmitters
Explain summatation
If the net effect is excitatory neurone is more likely to fire
