Approaches in Psychology Flashcards
What did Wundt do?
First lab dedicated to psychology (beginning of scientific psychology).
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.
How was introspection by Wundt done
Him and his coworkers recorded their experiences of various stimuli they were presented with, such as different objects or sounds and they would divide their observations into: thoughts, images and sensations.
What is structuralism- Wundt
The stimuli that Wundt and his co-workers experienced were all presented in the same order and same instructions were issued to all participants.
What is the behaviourist approach
A way of explaining behaviour in terms of what is observable and learning.
What approach believes in a ‘blank slate’
-Behaviourist approach
Babies are a blank slate at birth
What did John B.Watson say about introspection?
Introspection involved too many concepts and was too vague and difficult to measure.
(He believed in behaviourist approach)
What are the main forms of learning (Behaviourist approach)
- Classical conditioning
- Operant conditioning
Explain what is meant by classical conditioning- Pavlov
Pavlov
Learning through association.
Pavlovs dogs associated a response with a stimuli.
Explain what is meant by operant conditioning- Skinner
- Positive reinforcement ;praise/ got a pellet every time a lever was pulled
- Negative reinforcement ;scold/ unpleasant shocks to stop a certain behaviour
Learning approaches: The behaviourist approach- EVAL
- Behaviourist approach based on well-controlled research. Highly controlled lab setting. Easily break down into stimulus and response.
- May be too simplistic and ignores private mental processes
- Real-world application; token system
- Sees all behaviour as previously learned. However, some behaviour may be due to free will ir personal decision making processes
Who created the social learning theory
Bandura
What did Bandura agree on with the behaviourist approach and what did he disagree with?
-Behaviour is learned through experience
But also
-Imitation of others, directly and indirectly
What is vicarious reinforcement
Reinforcement which is not directly experiences but occurs through observing someone else being reinforced behaviour. Key factor is imitation.
What is the meditational processes
Cognitive factors that influence learning and come between stimulus and response.
The 4 mediational processes in learning (by Bandura)
- Attention (extent to which we notice certain behaviours)
- Retention (how well behaviour is remembered)
- Motor reproduction (ability of the observer to perform the behaviour)
- Motivation (the will to perform the behaviour)
Difference between attention, retention and motor reproduction,motivation
First two are about learning the behaviour
Other two are for the performance of the behaviour
What is identification
People (especially children) will imitate people of whom they identity with (their role model)
A person becomes a role model if they are seen as high status
Learning approaches: Social Learning Theory- EVAL
- Recognises the importance of cognitive factors, classical and operant do not offer an adequate account. More comprehensive explanation
- SLT has been criticised for making little reference to biological. Biological differences is only ability for learning.
- SLT studies only in lab studies, may be demand characteristics- such as for bobo dolls experiment
- SLT real-life, explains cultural differences in behaviour. Passed through societies- explains how children know gender roles
What was Bandura’s Bobo doll experiment
Saw videos of adults behaving aggressively towards a bobo doll
-Group 1: saw adults praised
-Group 2: saw adults scolded
First group showed less aggression to the other
What is the behaviourist approach briefly
Behaviour is learned through life
John B. Watson said that introspection was too vague.
What is the SLT briefly
Bandura behaviour is learned through direct and indirect reinforcement.
Operant classical conditioning, mediational process, vicarious reinforcement, identification
What is the cognitive approach briefly
How our mental processes affect behaviour. (e.g thoughts, behaviour, perception and retention)
- role of the schema
- theoretical and computer models
How can cognitive approach be observed
Indirectly. opposite to behaviourist approach, inferences must be made