Approaches In Psychology Flashcards
Classical Conditioning?
- Learning by Association
- Neutral stimulus (NS) is constantly paired with Uncondtioned Stimulus (UCS) so the NS eventually becomes a Conditioned Stimulus (CS)
Stimulus Generalisation?
- When a Conditioned Response happens when Similar Stimuli are presented.
- (e.g Little Albert had the same response towards White Rats as a Santa Mask).
Operant Conditioning?
- Learning by Trial and Error
- (Reinforcement & Punishment)
Who demonstrated Operant Conditioning & how?
- Skinner
- Rats learned by trial and error that pushing a lever got them a food pellet (Positive Reinforcement)
- Rats learned that pushing a lever would stop the floor of the cage being electrocuted for 30 seconds (Negative Reinforcement)
Types of Reinforcement + definitions?
- Positive Reinforcement = Adding a Desirable stimulus to Increase Behaviour.
- Negative Reinforcement = Removing an Unpleasant stimulus to Increase Behaviour.
Types of Punishment + definitions?
- Positive Punishment = Adding an Unpleasant stimulus to Decrease Behaviour
- Negative Punishment = Removing a Desirable stimulus to Decrease Behaviour.
What is Extinction?
- The Idea that stopping Reinforcement will result in the Desirable Behaviour Stopping over time.
What Debates does the Behaviourist Approach side with?
- Determinism (Environmentally Deterministic)
- Nurture
- Reductionism (Environmentally Reductionist)
- Nomothetic
What are the 2 Learning Approaches?
- Behaviourist Approach
- Social Learning Theory
What Is Introspection?
- The self-examination of one’s own internal mental processes.
What does the SLT agree with and disagree with from the Behaviourist approach?
- Agrees that Behaviour is learnt from experience/environment
- Disagrees with the Behaviourist approach’s Idea to ignore Internal Mental Processes.
What are the steps to learning according to the Social Learning Theory?
- Imitiation
- Modelling
- Identification
- Mediational Processes
What is Imitation (SLT) ?
- Imitation is the idea that individuals observe others behaviour.
- If the behaviour they observe is rewarded, they are more likely to reproduce the behaviour (Vicarious Reinforcement)
- If the behaviour they observe is punsished, they are more likely to not replicate that behaviour (Vicarious Punishment)
What is Modelling (SLT) ?
- Modelling is the idea that others act as Blueprints for our behaviour.
- Can be real people or from TV show
What is Identification (SLT) ?
- Identification is the idea that Models with characteristics we relate to (e.g age, gender) we are more likely to Imitate.
What are the 4 Mediational Processes (SLT) ?
- Attention = We notice the behaviour.
- Retention = We remember the behaviour.
- Reproduction = Whether we are able to perform the behaviour.
- Motivation = Whether the rewards for performing the behaviour outweigh the costs.
Outline Bandura’s Bobo Doll Experiment.
- 72 3-5 year olds
- Children matched before experiment on levels of Aggression (matched pairs)
- Control group watched video of Adults acting non-aggressively towards Bobo Doll
- Experimental group watched video of Adults acting Aggressively towards Bobo Doll
- Children from both groups were let in to a room with a Bobo Doll individually
- Control group children acted Non-aggressively towards Bobo Doll
- Experimental group acted Aggressively towards Bobo Doll
- Imitation was even stronger if Adult was the same gender as the Child (Indentification)
What does the Cognitive Approach suggest about Behaviour?
- Behaviour is a result of Conscious and Unconscious thoughts.
What are Internal Mental Processes?
Internal Mental Processes are a series of Stages of Mental Information Processing.
What is the Computer Model?
- A model created by the Cognitive Approach which suggests the brain & mind work like a Computer.
- The brain is the CPU (hardware) and the mind acts as Software that runs on the CPU.
- The brain also has inputs (senses) and outputs (behaviour) like a Computer.
What are Schemas?
- Schemas are Cognitive Mental Frameworks of how we believe objects/people work.
Role of Schema?
- Schema reduce large amounts of Stimuli into less Overhwelming information by making Assumptions which require less thinking power.
How are Schemas formed?
- Schemas are formed as a result of prior experience.
What are Inferences (Cognitive Approach) ?
- Inferences refer to when researchers go beyond observable behaviour to make assumptions on how underlying Mental Processes could have contributed to the behaviour produced.
Emergence of Cognitive Neuroscience?
- Refers to the development of new Brain-Scanning techniques (e.g FMRI) which have allowed scientists to make direct links to thought processes and Brain activity.
- Providing Neuro-biological support to theories such as the WMM.
What does the Biological Approach suggest about Behaviour?
- The Biological Approach states that Behaviour is a result of physical processes in the body.
- Such as Neural Activity in the Brain and Hormonal factors.
- These processes are inherited genitally (evolutionary pressure).
How is the ‘Influence of Genes on Behaviour’ demonstrated?
- The Influence of Genes on Behaviour is demonstrated by Twin and Family studies.
- These studies have shown that the risk of disorders (e.g Depression, OCD) increase significantly the more closely related an individual is to a sufferer (i.e the more genes they share with the sufferer).
How does the structure of the Brain Influence behaviour (Biological Approach) ?
- Different areas in the brain are associated with different behaviours.
- Brain structure is partly inherited therefore behaviour is partly inherited too.
How does Neurochemistry influence behaviour (Biological Approach) ?
- Neurotransmitters such as Seretonin and dopamine can influence brain functioning.
- Hence Imbalances in Neurotransmitters can result in a change in brain activity and therefore behaviour.
What is Parsimony?
- Parsimony is the idea that complex phenomena should be explained in the simplest way possible.
- This idea came about by scientists.
Diathesis Stress Explanation?
- The Diathesis Stress Explanation suggests that Mental Disorders are as a result of a pre-existing vulnerability (Gene) paired with an environmental stressor (personal loss, drug use etc).
What is the Focus of the Psychodynamic Approach?
- The Psychodynamic Approach focuses on the role of Unconscious processes in shaping behaviour.
- These processes are thought to form during early childhood experiences.
What are the 3 aspects of the Mind (Psycodynamic Approach) ?
- Conscious
- Subconscious
- Unconscious
What is the Conscious aspect of the mind?
- The Conscious mind refers to what we are aware of.
What is the Subconscious aspect of the mind?
- The Subconscious mind refers to thoughts/memories that can be recalled, but are not currently in Conscious Awareness.
What does the Unconscious aspect of the mind contain?
- The Unconscious mind contains Socially unacceptable thoughts, traumatic events, painful emotions and so on.
Describe the Structure of Personality.
- The Structure of Personality consists of the ID, EGO and SUPEREGO.
- The ID (Pleasure principle) is present from birth, focuses on satisfying its own needs.
- The EGO (Reality principle) develops from 2 years, balances the ID and SUPEREGO with rational thoughts
- The SUPEREGO (Morality principle) develops from 3 to 5 years, focuses on obeying learnt rules of society and uses guilt.
What are the 3 Defence Mechanisms?
- Denial
- Repression
- Displacement
What is Denial?
- Denial is when an individual refuses to accept the reality of a situation.
What is Repression?
- Repression is where a memory (usually traumatic) is made inaccessible to Consciousness)
What is Displacement?
- Displacement is where emotions are moved from the source that caused them, to a more appropiate target.
What are the 5 Psychosexual stages in order (and when they occur) ?
- Oral (0-18 months)
- Anal (18 months - 3 years)
- Phallic (3-6 years)
- Latent (6 years - puberty)
- Genital (puberty - Adult)
What is the consequence of Fixation?
- Fixation at any stage can result in Adult Psychological Disorders.
What does the Humanistic Approach focus on + why was it developed?
- The Humanistic Approach focuses on Personal growth
- It was developed to create a more positive approach as the other approaches focus on negative aspects.
Is the Humanistic Approach Deterministic or Free will?
Free will
Self Actualisation?
- Self Actualisation refers to the point where an individual has reached their full potential.
What is Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in order? (starting from the bottom)
- Physical (survival) needs
- Safety
- Love and Belonging
- Self Esteem
- Self Actualisation
What does Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs suggest?
- Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs suggests Individuals must achieve more basic needs until they are able to Self Actualise.
Congruence? (Humanistic Approach)
- Congruence refers to how close an Individuals Self Image and Ideal Self are.
Incongruence? (Humanistic Approach)
- Incongruence refers to when an Individuals ‘Self Image’ and ‘Ideal Self’ are far apart.
Conditions of Worth?
- Conditions of Worth refers to the requirements an Individual feel they need to meet in order to be loved.
How does Client Centred Therapy work? (Humanistic Counselling)
- Therapist attempts to help the client achieve Congruence.
- Therapist gives Client Unconditional Positive Regard.
- The Client is considered the ‘expert’ responsible for resolving their problems.
