Approaches: Comparison Approaches Flashcards
Biological - Free will vs Determinism
Biological Determinism
Behaviour is controlled by internal biological factors (e.g genes, hormones, etc)
Biological - Nature vs Nuture
Nature
Behaviour is the result of innate biological factors
Biological - Reductionism vs Holism
Biological reductionism
Behaviour is broken down into biological structures and processes
Biological - Idiographic vs Nomothetic?
Nomothetic
Creates universal laws using human physiological explanations
Biological - scientific
Scientific
The biological approach promotes the empirical
scienitific method of investigation
Behaviorist - Free Will vs Determinism
Environmental determinism
Behaviour is controlled by stimulus-response
conditioning
Behaviourist - Nature vs Nurture?
Nurture
Humans are born as a blank slate (tabula rasa)
and behaviour is learned.
Behaviourist - Reductionism vs Holism?
Environmental reductionism
Behaviour is broken down into simple stimulus response associations
Behaviourist - Idiographic vs Nomothetic?
Nomothetic
Creates universal laws, as behaviour is a result of stimulus-response associations
Behaviourist - Scientific?
Scientific
The behavioural approach utilises scientific method of investigation and embraces animal research and laboratory studies.
Social Learning Theory - Free Will vs Determinism?
Determinism (soft)
Behaviour is controlled by environmental forces. However, humans have personal responsibilities and free choice.
Social Learning Theory - Nature vs Nurture?
Nurture
Behaviour is learnt via classical and operant
conditioning
Social Learning Theory - Reductionsim vs Holism?
partially reductionist
Shares elements from the behaviourist and cognitive approach
Social Learning Theory - Idiographic vs Nomothetic?
Nomothetic
Attempts to establish general laws of behvaiour
(such as vicarious reinforcement)
Social Learning Theory - Scientific
Mostly scientific
But takes account of mediational processes
Cognitive - Free Will vs Determinism?
Determinism (soft)
Behaviour is controlled by mediational processes however, humans can
choose what information they attend to.
Cognitive - Nature vs Nuture?
Nature & Nurture
Behaviour is the product of information processing and modified by experience
Cognitive - Reductionism vs Holism?
Environmental
Reductionism Behaviour is investigated
in terms of isolate variables (such as STM
and LTM)
Cognitive - Idiographic vs Nomothetic?
Nomothetic
Attempts to establish general laws of cognitive
processing but utilises an idiographic approach with case studies
Cognitive - Scientific
Mostly scientific
However, researchers are unable to directly observe cognitive processes
Psychodynamic - Free Will vs Determinism?
Psychic determinism
Behaviour is determined by unconscious drives
and early childhood experiences
Psychodynamic - Nature vs Nurture?
Mostly nature
Behaviour is the product of innate drives but shaped by early childhood experiences
Psychodynamic - Reductionism vs Holism?
Reductionism & Holism
Behaviour is reduced to innate drives whilst taking account of multiple aspects of human
behaviour
Psychodynamic - Idiographic vs Nomothetic?
Nomothetic & Idiographic
Attempts to establish general laws in relation to
innate drives, while considering unique
experiences during childhood
Psychodynamic - Scientific?
Not scientific
Examins many concepts and theories which cannot be empirically tested.
Relies on subjective interpretation.
Humanist - Free Will vs Determinism?
Free-will
Humans have control of their own environment
and are capable of change
Humanist - Nature vs Nurture?
Mostly nurture
Behaviour is shaped by the environment as
humans strive to achieve self-actualisation
Humanist - Reductionism vs Holism?
Holism
Focuses on understanding all aspects of human
experience
Humanist - Idiographic vs Nomothetic?
Idiographic
Focuses on the subjective human experience and makes no attempt to create general laws
Humanist - Scientific?
Not scientific
Rejects the scienitific method and is therefore
unable to provide empirical evidence
