Approaches in Psychology

Question 1

Who is William Wundt?

Answer 1

The first person to call himself a psychologist.
Opened first research lab in Lezpig, Germany
Named “father of psychology”
Created technique ‘introspection’

Question 2

What is introspection?

Answer 2

Latin for ‘looking into’
Research method
Used to investigate the human mind
Wundt presented participants with controlled stimuli and asked to give descriptions of what they were experiencing

Question 3

Define objective
(Scientific method principle)

Answer 3

Researchers do not let idea of what the think might happen or want to happen affect the collection of their data

Question 4

Define subjective
(Scientific method principle)

Answer 4

Research is carried out in an orderly way. Measurement and recording of data is carried out in an accuracy way. Other factors that could influence results are considered.

Question 5

Define replicable
(Scientific method principle)

Answer 5

Research can be repeated and observations that were made can be repeated to see if the same is found again

Question 6

Core principles of the scientific approach

Answer 6

• all behaviour is seen as being caused (determined)
• assumption of predictability

Question 7

What is empiricism

Answer 7

The belief that all knowledge is derived from observation and experience

Question 8

What did Wundt aim to research?

Answer 8

The structure of the human mind

Question 9

Define structuralism

Answer 9

Breaking down behaviours into more basic elements

Question 10

Describe the psychodynamic approach

Answer 10

Developed by Sigmund Freud
Name derived from the idea that the mind could a influenced by powerful unconscious forces
Freud developed his theories after working with mentally ill patients

Question 11

3 basic assumptions when looking at human behaviour

Answer 11

• behaviour is influenced by unconscious forces
• importance of early childhood experience
• a focus on the whole person

Question 12

Freud theory of the mind

Answer 12

Compared to an iceberg:
- childhood memories pushed down into unconscious mind
- material of unconscious could leak into dreams
- hidden desires (unconscious)
Dreams need to be examined to learn hidden meaning

Question 13

What is free association?

Answer 13

Freud believed unconscious could be accessed using free assosciation.
It is a process in therapy where patients speak freely and say the first thing that comes to their head
Looked for associations and believed it links to unconscious material
Reveal the unconscious

Question 14

What does the human personality consist of?

Answer 14

Id, ego and superego

Question 15

Define the Id

Answer 15

INSTINCTS
‘pleasure principle’
present from birth
seek satisfaction at any cost
not capable of logical nor moral thinking

Question 16

Define the Ego

Answer 16

REALITY
develops at approximately 2yrs old
‘reality principle’
meets the demands of the ideal in a way that is socially acceptable
conscious part of our personality

Question 17

Define the Superego

Answer 17

MORALITY
Emerges at around 5yrs old (phallic stage)
‘morality principle’
steering behaviour with a sense of what is right or wrong, generating a sense of pride or guilt

Question 18

What would having if a person had a strong id that overpowers the ego?

Answer 18

Psychopathic behaviour

Question 19

What would happen if a person had a strong superego?

Answer 19

Neurotic disorders such as OCD, panic disorders, phobias, anxiety

Question 20

What would a well-adjusted person develop?

Answer 20

A strong ego so he or she can cope with internal, unconscious conflict through the use of ego defends mechanisms

Question 21

Define repression

Answer 21

Pushing memories deep into the unconscious so they appear forgotten.
(e.g. unable to recall a traumatic experience)

Question 22

Define denial

Answer 22

Refusing or rejecting reality
(e.g deny being rude to someone despite evidence)

Question 23

Define displacement

Answer 23

Feelings are redirected to alternative safer places.
(e.g. slam door rather than take it out on the person causing you frustration)

Question 24

Acronym for psychosexual stages

Answer 24

Old Age Pensioners Love Guinness

Question 25

When is the oral stage?

Answer 25

0-1 years

Question 26

When is the anal stage?

Answer 26

1-3 years

Question 27

When is the phallic stage?

Answer 27

3-5 years

Question 28

When is the latency stage?

Answer 28

5-12 years

Question 29

When is the genital stage?

Answer 29

12+ years

Question 30

What main concepts are the two behaviourist approaches?

Answer 30

Classical and operant conditioning

Question 31

What’s the main concepts of the social learning theory?

Answer 31

Imitation, identification, modelling, vicarious reinforcement and the role of mediational processes

Question 32

What is classical conditioning?

Answer 32

When a personal makes an association between a stimulus and a response

Question 33

Example of classical conditioning

Answer 33

Pavlov’s Dogs.
dogs drool to food
ring bell no drool
ring bell and show food dogs drool
ring bell and dogs drool

Question 34

Define the process of classical conditioning

Answer 34

Unconditioned stimulus > unconditioned response
Neutral stimulus > no conditioned response
UCS + NS > unconditioned response
Conditioned stimulus > conditioned response

Question 35

How can timing affect classical conditioning?

Answer 35

If the NS occurs too late, or too far away from the UCS conditioning doesn’t take place. As an association can’t take place

Question 36

How can extinction affect classical conditioning?

Answer 36

CR is not a permanent response. After a time of the CS is not presented with the UCS will lose ability to be associated.