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A Level Psychology > Approaches Booklet 2 > Flashcards

Approaches Booklet 2 Flashcards

1
Q

what are the assumptions of the biological approach

A

-there is a direct correlation between brain activity and cognition
-biochemical imbalances can affect behaviour
-brain physiology can affect behaviour
-behaviour can be inherited as it is determined by genes

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2
Q

how would charles darwin explain human behaviour

A

-natural selection
-characteristics that are not suited to a species’ environment will die out as it struggles to survive
-with time it will evolve over generations so only adaptive characteristics remain in future offspring

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3
Q

how can twins be used to suggest behaviour is genetic

A

-twin studies determine likelihood that certain traits have a genetic basis by comparing the concordance rates between pairs of twins
-using mz and dz pairs to determine the influence of genetics

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4
Q

what are concordance rates

A

-the extent to which both twins share the same characteristic

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5
Q

describe mz pairs of twins

A

-monozygotic
-both inherit 100% similar genes
-always of the same sex

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6
Q

describe dz pairs of twins

A

-dizygotic
-both inherit approximately 50% similar genes
-same or different sex

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7
Q

define the biological approach

A

-a perspective that emphasises the importance of physical processes in the body such as genetic inheritance and neural function

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8
Q

define genes

A

-they make up chromosomes and consist of dna which codes the physical features of an organism and psychological features
-genes are transmitted from parents to offspring

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9
Q

define biological structure

A

-an arrangement or organisation of parts to form an organ, system or living thing

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10
Q

define neurochemistry

A

-relating to chemicals in the brain that regulate psychological functioning

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11
Q

define genotype

A

-the particular set of genes that a person possesses

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12
Q

define phenotype

A

-the characteristics of an individual determined by both genes and the environment

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13
Q

define evolution

A

-the changes in inherited characteristics in a biological population over successive generations

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14
Q

what is the difference between genotype and phenotype

A

-genotype is the actual genetic makeup
-but the expression of genotype (phenotype) is influenced by environmental factors

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15
Q

how do the structures of the brain influence our behaviour

A

-interactions between regions of the brain help to control different functions, which biological psychologists assume to be significant in determining our actions

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16
Q

examples of brain structures influencing behaviour

A

-hippocampus - episodic memory recall
-broca’s area - speech production

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17
Q

how can neurochemistry affect behaviour

A

-neurochemical imbalances in the brain are often associated with abnormal behaviour
-evidence suggests imbalances of dopamine are associated with mood disorders such as depression

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18
Q

describe adrenaline

A

-fight or flight
-produced in stressful situations
-increases heart rate and blood flow
-leading to physical boost and heightened awareness

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19
Q

describe noradrenaline

A

-concentration
-affects attention and responding actions in the brain
-controls blood vessels, increasing blood flow

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20
Q

describe dopamine

A

-pleasure
-feelings of pleasure, addiction, movement and motivatiom
-people repeat behaviours that lead to dopamine release

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21
Q

describe serotonin

A

-mood
-contributes to wellbeing and happiness
-helps sleep cycle and digestive system regulation
-affected by exercise and light exposure

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22
Q

AO3 points about the biological approach

A

-reductionist
-uses scientific methods
-real life application

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23
Q

explain limitation of biological approach being reductionist

A

-attempts to reduce all aspects of human behaviour down to one level of explanation
-human behaviour is reduced down to physical processes such as activity of neurotransmitters
-so it underestimates the role of our environment in behaviour

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24
Q

counter to the biological approach being reductionist being a limitation

A

-can be a strength because isolating by one factor allows researchers to investigate that factor scientifically

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25
Q

explain strength of biological approach having scientific methods

A

-precise methods
-scanning techniques including fMRIs, EEGs
-family and twin studies
-drug trials
-biologival and neural processes can be accurately measured without bias making the biological approach based on reliable data

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26
Q

explain strength of biological approach having real life application

A

-understanding of biochemical processes in the brain has led to development of psychoactive drugs that treat mental illnesses
-although not effective for all, revolutionary for many
-sufferers can manage their condition and live a relatively normal life

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27
Q

counter to real life application being a strength of the biological approach

A

-drugs can only be used to treat the symptoms of mental illneses rather than the cause
-so they should be used alongside other treatments

28
Q

assumptions of the psychodynamic approach

A

-unconscious activity is the key determinant of how we behave
-we possess innate drives that energize our minds to motivate behaviour as we develop through our lives
-our personality, the psyche, is comprised of the Id, ego and superego
-childhood experiences have significant importance in determining our personalities when we reach adulthood

29
Q

describe the id

A

-pleasure principle
-drives us to satisfy selfish urges
-exists from birth
-fights with the superego
-entirely unconscious

30
Q

describe the ego

A

-reality principle
-acts rationally, balancing the id and superego
-develops ages 2-4

31
Q

describe the superego

A

-moral principle
-acts as our conscience
-child internalises morals of society
-fights with id with feelings of guilt
-develops ages 4-5

32
Q

define the psychodynamic approach

A

-a perspective that describes the different forces, most of which are unconscious, that operate on the mind and direct human behaviour and experience

33
Q

define the unconscious

A

-the part of the mind that we are unaware of but which continues to direct much of our behaviour

34
Q

define defence mechanisms

A

-unconscious strategies that the ego uses to manage the conflict between the id and the superego

35
Q

define the psychosexual stages

A

-five developmental stages that all children pas through
-at each stage there is a different conflict, the outcome of which determines future development

36
Q

what are the 5 psychosexual stages

A

-oral
-anal
-phallic
-latency
-genital

37
Q

describe the oral stage

A

-age 0-1
-focus is the mouth- sucking, biting, chewing
-development is weaning off breastfeeding
-fixation becomes smoking, overeating

38
Q

describe the anal stage

A

-age 1-3
-focus is the anus- bowel and bladder elimination
-development is toilet training
-fixation becomes orderliness, messiness

39
Q

describe the phallic stage

A

-age 3-5
-focus is the genitals- coping with incestuous sexual feelings
-development is resolving oedipus and electra complex
-fixation becomes deviancy, sexual dysfunction

40
Q

describe the latency stage

A

-age 6-12
-no focus as dormant sexual feeling
-development is developing defense mechanisms
-no fixation

41
Q

describe the genital stage

A

-age 12/puberty/adulthood
-focus is genitals - maturation of sexual interest
-development is reaching full sexual maturity
-if all stages are successfully completed, the person would be sexually mature and mentally healthy

42
Q

what are the defence mechanisms

A

-repression
-denial
-displacement

43
Q

describe repression

A

-forcing a distressing memory out of the conscious mind

44
Q

describe denial

A

-refusing to acknowledge some aspect of reality

45
Q

describe displacement

A

-transferring feelings from the true source of distressing emotion onto a substitute target

46
Q

AO3 points about the psychodynamic approach

A

-used in modern day psychiatry
-evidence of case studies is difficult to generalise
-many ideas are non falsifiable

47
Q

explain modern day psychiatry using freudian psychoanalytic techniques

A

-free association and dream analysis are still used in therapeutic contexts
-lasting impact in application

48
Q

counter to psychodynamic approach being used in modern day psychiatry

A

-some practicioners prefer evidence based approaches
-suggesting integration between psychodynamic methods + modern scientific frameworks

49
Q

explain in the psychodynamic approach why case study evidence is difficult to generalise

A

-findings of individual case studies may not be representative of larger populations
-challenging to draw broad conclusions from psychodynamic research
-undermining application of the approach in diverse contexts and populations

50
Q

explain in the psychodynamic approach why many of freud’s ideas are considered to be non falsifiable

A

-unconscious mind cannot be directly observed or tested to it is difficult to validate scientifically
-karl popper’s critique that a theory must be falsifiable to be considered scientific
-which diminishes credibility of freud’s theories in the scientific community limiting acceptance and application

51
Q

assumptions in the humanistic approach

A

-existential assumption that people have free will
-people are basically good and have an innate need to make themselves and the world better
-people are motivated to self actualise
-the subjective, conscious experience of the individual is most important

52
Q

list maslows hierarchy of needs in order from bottom to top

A

-physiological
-safety
-love/belonging
-esteem
-self actualisation

53
Q

describe congruence

A

-the individuals concept of self being broadly equivalent to their ideal self
-meaning personal growth can be achieved

54
Q

how do we set our conditions of worth

A

-people believe they will only be loved or valued if they meet certain conditions of worth
-people set their ideal self based on conditions of worth

55
Q

explain the influence of the humanistic approach on counselling psychology

A

-carl rogers put forward client centered therapy
-using unconditional positive regard
-to focus on the positive aspects of the person
-increase self worth
-reduce incongruence

56
Q

AO3 points on the humanistic approach

A

-not reductionist
-limited application
-untestable concepts
-cultural bias

57
Q

explain the humanistic approach not being reductionist

A

-humanists reject breaking up behaviour and experience into smaller components
-advocate holism
-rather than eg the cognitive approach using machine reductionism
-so has more validity than its alternatives as it considers meaningful human behaviour within its real life context

58
Q

explain the humanistic approach having limited application

A

-although rogerian therapy has revolutionised counselling techniques and maslows HON explains motivation in the workplace, the approach has limited impact
-it lacks a sound evidence base and is not a comprehensive theory
-so it is less beneficial in the discipline of psychology

59
Q

explain the humanistic approach involving untestable concepts

A

-lots of aspects are vague, abstract and difficult to test
-concepts are useful therapeutic tools, but hard to access in experimental conditions
-so does not have empirical evidence to support its claims

60
Q

counter to the humanistic approach involving untestable concepts

A

-rogers developed the q sort technique as an objective measure of progress in therapy

61
Q

explain the humanistic approach having cultural bias

A

-the ideas of freedom, autonomy and personal growth are associated with individualist cultures in the western world
-collectivist cultures such as India emphasise the needs of the group, community and interdependence, which don’t identify easily with the values of humanistic psychology
-so the approach cannot travel well and is a product of the cultural context it was developed in

62
Q

comparison features of the biological approach

A

-biological determinism
-nature
-biological reductionism
-nomothetic
-scientific
-real world application

63
Q

comparison features of the behaviourist approach

A

-environmental determinism
-nurture
-environmental reductionism
-nomothetic
-scientific
-real world application

64
Q

comparison features of social learning theory

A

-soft determinism
-nurture
-shares elements of the behaviourist and cognitive approach in terms of reductionism
-nomothetic
-mostly scientific
-real world application

65
Q

comparison features of the cognitive approach

A

-soft determinism
-nature+nurture
-environmental reductionism
-nomothetic
-mostly scientific
-real world application

66
Q

comparison features of the psychodynamic approach

A

-psychic determinism
-mostly nature
-reductionism+holism
-idiographic + nomothetic
-not scientific
-real world application

67
Q

comparison features of the humanistic approach

A

-free will
-mostly nurture
-holism
-idiographic
-not scientific
-real world application

A Level Psychology (9 decks)

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