approaches in psychology Flashcards
when was the first psychology lab opened
1879
who opened the psychology lab
Wilhelm Wundt
what did Wilhelm Wundt establish
-structuralism
-introspection
-scientfic method
what is structuralism
breaking down behaviours into their basic elements
what is introspection
pts are asked to reflect on their own cognitive process and describe them
research support for introspection
- Griffiths (1994)
- csikzentmilyi and hunter (2003)
how to tell if something is scientific
Control
Hypothesis and testing
Objectivity
Predictability
Replicability
what are the four goals of psychology
- description
- explanation
- prediction
- change
strength of introspection
used in the modern day and has research support
weakness of introspection
subjective data and opposing support
what was Wundt’s assumptions on the scientific approach
- all behaviour is determined
- we can predict how human beings can behave in different conditions
strengths of the scientific approach
new knowledge acquired, valid and reliable.
weaknesses of the scientific approach
creates artificial behaviour and is unobservable.
who was the behaviourist approach founded by
J.B Watson 1915
assumptions of the behaviourist approach
-when we are born our mind is a blank slate
-behaviour is learnt from interactions with the environment
-we are a product of our learning, experience and environment
what is classical conditioning
a type of learning where an involuntary reflex Is associated with a new stimulus
what did Pavlov study
salvation in dogs
what was the unconditioned stimulus in Pavlovs study
food
what was the unconditioned response in Pavlovs study
salvation
what was the neutral stimulus in pavlovs study
a bell
what was the conditioned response in pavlovs study
salvation
what was the name of Watson and Rayner’s study
little Albert
what was the unconditioned stimulus in Watson and Rayners study
a loud noise
what was the conditioned response in Watson and Rayners study
little Albert crying
what was the neutral stimulus in Watson and Rayners study
white rat
what was concluded from Watson and Rayners study
can explain why people have phobias and that they are learnt through classical conditioning.
what are the weaknesses of Watson and Rayners study
unethical- causing psychological damage to a child
what is operant conditioning
indirectly occuring, watching someone elses behvaiour and watching them recieve a reward or punishment for their actions.
if someone recieves a reward for their behaviour what is more likely to happen
behaviour is more likely to occur
if someone recieves a punishment for their behaviour what is more likely to happen
behaviour is less likely to happen
what are the types of reinforcement
-positive
-negative
-punishment
what did skinner claim
all behaviour is learnt from a result of consequences in our environment
what type of conditioning did skinner use in his study
operant conditioning
what was the proceedure of skinners study
a rat was placed inside ‘skinners box’ and learnt itself to press a button for food.
what are the strengths of skinners study
replicable
strong counter-arguments
real-life applications
quantitative data
what are the strenths of the behvaiourist approach
scientific
testable and supported
establish cause and effect and objective
what are the weaknesses of skinners study
lack of ecological validity
lack of qualitative data
not generalisable
what are the weaknesses of the behaviourist approach
ignores important mental processes in learning
reductionist
what are the assumptions of the social learning theory
behaviour is learnt through experience
learning occurs through observation and imitation of the role models
what are the two types of models in the SLT
live and symbolic
what is the live model
people present in our environment
what is the symbolic model
people present in the media
what is imitation
copying behaviour of others that we see as a role model.
what is identification
something about the role model we identify with
what is vicarious reinforcement
learning about consequences of behaviours from others and adjust your own behaviour
What three conditions were in banduras bobo doll experiment
- Watched an adult beat the doll
- Watched the adult play and be non-aggressive
- Had no adult role model to watch
What were the findings of banduras experiment
Children were more likely to act aggressive in the first condition and vise versa for the second condition
What is the mediational process
Observational learning uses cognitive data and occurs between stimulus and response
What is needed for modelling to occur
Attention
Retention
Motor reproduction
Motivation
What are the strengths of the social learning theory
Lab experiments
Explains complex behaviours
What are the weaknesses of the social learning theory
Artificial experiments
Individual differences not accounted for
Ignores the role of biology
What are the assumptions of the cognitive approach
Information received from our senses is processed which directs the way we behave
What is a schema
A cognitive framework that helps us learn organise and interpret information based on past experiences
What is a computer model
Compute analogy focuses on how the brain inputs, stores and Retrieves information like a computer
What is a theoretical model
Used to explain in observable processes in a concrete testable way
What mental processes does a theoretical model show
Multi-store memory
Working memory
How is cognitive neuroscience used in psychology
FMRI and PET scans are used to show the influence of brain structures on mental processes
What are the strengths of the cognitive approach
Lab experiments
Real-life application
Weaknesses of the cognitive approach
Low ecological validity
Machine reductionism
Low internal validity
Doesn’t consider human emotion
What are the assumptions of the biological approach
Must look at biological processes and structures to understand human behaviour
What is a genotype
Recessive or dominant genes which is written in the DNA
What is a real phenotype
The way the genetic code is expressed through physical, behavioural characteristics
What can genes be influenced by
Nature and nurture
What are monozygotic eggs
Same genes and have a higher rate of concordance
What are dizygotic eggs
Twins that share 50% of genes and have characteristics influenced by genetic factors
How many eggs are involved in monozygotic twins
1
How many eggs are involved to n dizygotic twins
2
What is evolution is psychology
Understanding human behaviour as the result of psychological adaptation and natural selection
Strengths of the biological approach
Real-life application
Scientific methods
Clear predictions about behaviour
Weaknesses of the biological approach
Deterministic view of behaviour
Not ethical to study twins
Approach is reductionist
