Approaches in Psychology Flashcards
What is introspection ?
it involves breaking up conscious awareness into basic structures of thoughts, images and sensations.
Describe how introspection is conducted ?
people were given stimuli in controlled conditions and asked to explain their own mental processes. Introspection is standardised to make it consistent and replicable
What was the Hunter and Csikszentmihalyi experiment ?
they studied happiness in teenagers using introspection. Participants were surprised by a bell which sounded at different times in the day. They were asked to record the intensity and quality of their inner mental processes. Their findings suggested that teenagers were generally unhappy, however were more positive and upbeat when focused on task.
Give me an evaluation of Wundt’s work ?
Strength: Wundt’s work was well controlled. All introspections were recorded in a lab, ensuring that extraneous variables were not a factor. In addition procedures and instructions were standardised so that all participants received the same information and were tested in the same way.
Weakness: Wundt relied on participants self-reporting their mental processes. However such data is subjective, as many can just hide some of their thoughts. Therefore it would be difficult to establish meaningful laws of behaviour. This shows how some of Wundt’s work is unreliable.
What is the behaviourist approach ?
this is studying behaviour which is visible. They believe that behaviour should be objective and measurable, and that research should identify cause and effect. They also encouraged lab experiments as it controls extraneous variables.
What does the term classical conditioning mean ?
this is learning through association
What does the term operant conditioning mean ?
this is where behaviour is shaped by environment and its consequences.
What was the Pavlov Study ?
The aim of the study was to see how learning can be achieved through association, through showing how dogs can be conditioned to salivate to the sound of the bell when food is presented to the them at the same time.
Essentially the method was that every time it was time for the dog to eat. Pavlov would ring a bell. Gradually overtime Pavlov’s dog associated the sound of the bell with the food and would salivate every time he heard the sound of the bell, even if food was not presented.
What was the Skinner study (1948) ?
The aim of the study was to investigate whether behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences. The procedure of the experiment was that it was conducted in rates which were placed in a designed cage known as the Skinner Box. Essentially every time the rat activated a lever within the box it was rewarded with a food pellet. The study showed that the rat would continue to hit the lever, in order for more food.
What is positive reinforcement ?
this is receiving a reward when a certain behaviour is performed. This increases the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated..
What is negative reinforcement ?
this is when an animal/human avoids something unpleasant. This increases likelihood of behaviour being repeated.
What does the term punishment mean ?
an unpleasant consequence of a behaviour. This decreases the chance of behaviour being repeated again.
Give me an evaluation for the behaviourist approach ?
Strength: based on well-controlled research
Behaviourists focused on the measurement of observable behaviour within highly controlled lab settings. By breaking it down into basic stimuli. This then therefore removes extraneous variables and allows for a cause and effect relationship to be established. This shows how behaviourist experiments have scientific credibility.
Strength: the behaviourist approach principles of conditioning has real world application.
For example operant conditioning is used in token economy systems which have been used successfully in institutions such as prisons. The way it works is that appropriate behaviour is rewarded with tokens that can be exchanged for privileges. This increases the value of the behaviourist approach because it has widespread application.
Limitation: a problem with the behaviourist approach is that it uses animals in research.
Skinner used rats which were chronically underfed and held in cramped conditions. Animal research cant generalise to humans. Therefore the use of animals has major ethical concerns and lack of usefulness.
What is the cognitive approach ?
this states how in order to understand behaviour we must study our internal mental processes.
What is our internal mental processes ?
these are private processes of the mind such as perception, attention and memory. These processes mediate between stimuli and our mediate to the stimuli.
What is a schema ?
It is a cognitive framework that helps us to organise and interpret information in the mind.
When might we need to adapt the schema ?
depending on the environment or situation
How can schema be useful ?
- helps us to make shortcuts when interpreting large amounts of information
- helps us to fill in gaps when we do not have complete information
What are the two models that helps psychologists understand our internal mental processes ?
theoretical and computer models. Theoretical models are more simplified and abstract. An example is the multi-store model. Computer models use computer analogies and terms for example input, storage and output to make computer programs. More concrete
What is cognitive neuroscience ?
the scientific study of biological structures that underpin cognitive processes
What is machine reductionism ?
this is the belief that human functions are the result of the units of activity in the information processing systems.
Give me an evaluation of the cognitive approach ?
Weakness:
the use of computer models to explain thought processes. This is referred to as machine reductionism, this is because it reduces complex human behaviour to computer operations. This is a problem because human information processing is influenced by emotions and motivation. Therefore, although there are many similarities between the human mind and the computer, using computer models provides limited explanation of processing and has limited validity.
Strength:
it uses objective and controlled scientific methods. Cognitive psychology has highly controlled methods of study so scientists can infer what cognitive processes are taking place. Such as the use of lab studies. Therefore this increases the validity of the cognitive approach and its ability to explain human behaviour.
Strength:
good practical application. Cognitive psychology has made an important contribution in the field of AI and the development of robots. Also has been applied into the treatment of depression and improved the reliability of eye witness testimony.
