Approaches in Psychology Flashcards
1
Q
Introspection
A
The examination or observation of one’s own mental and emotional processes
2
Q
Behaviourism
A
Stresses the importance of studying observable behaviours and ignores the mental processes invoved in different tasks
3
Q
Falsifiability
A
Mentality that a hypothesis can be proved wrong
4
Q
Objective
A
Work ust not be affected by the interests of that of the researcher for PPTs
5
Q
Repliciability
A
Experiment can be replicated easily
6
Q
Empirical
A
Based on observation or experience
7
Q
Behaviourist Approach (Assumptions)
A
-behaviour is learned through direct experience
-all animals and humans are conditioned to behave the way they do
8
Q
Behaviourist Approach (Classical Conditioning)
A
A learning process that occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired; a response that is at first elicited by the second stimulus is eventually elicited by the first stimulus alone
9
Q
Behaviourist Approach (Operant Conditioning)
A
The learning of voluntary behavior through the effects of pleasant and unpleasant consequences to responses
10
Q
Neutral Stimulus
A
An event that does not produce a response
11
Q
Unconditioned Stimulus
A
An event that produces an innate response
12
Q
Unconditioned Response
A
An innate, reflex behaviour that is produced when exposed to an unconditioned response
13
Q
Conditioned Stimulus
A
An event that produces a learned response
14
Q
Conditioned Response
A
A learned behaviour that is produced when exposed to a conditioned stimulus
15
Q
Which study links to classical conditioning?
A
Pavlov’s dog
16
Q
Timing
A
If NS cannot be used to predict UCS, then conditioning dos not occur
17
Q
Stimulus Generalisation
A
Once an animal has been conditioned, they will respond to other stimuli similar to the CS
18
Q
Extinction
A
The CR does not become permanently established as a response.
19
Q
Spontaneous Recovery
A
Following extinction, if the CS and UCS are paired together again, the link can be made much quicker.
20
Q
What can prevent extinction from occurring?
A
Negative Reinforcement
21
Q
Positive Reinforcement
A
Rewarding a desired behaviour by adding a positive stimulus
22
Q
Negative Reinforcement
A
Remove something unpleasant to enforce the desired behaviour
23
Q
Positive Punishment
A
Behaviour followed by an unpleasant consequence
24
Q
Negative Punishment
A
Removing a pleasant stimulus to decrease behaviour
25
Which study links to operant conditioning?
Skinner's Box
26
Advantage of Behaviourist Approach (SC)
Scientific Credibility
-highly controlled lab study = objective and replicable
-gives psychology more scientific credibility
CP- unethical as unnatural and stressful environment for animals
27
Advantage of Behaviourist Approach (RLA)
Real Life Application
-eg, token economy systems in prison
-rewarding positive behaviours
-treatment of phobias use classical conditioning
28
Disadvantage of Behaviourist Approach (MV)
Mechanistic View
-Animals seen as passive responders
-SLT and cognitive view behaviour as conscious and active mental processes between stimulus and response
29
Disadvantage of Behaviourist Approach (ED)
Environmentally Determinisitic
-all behaviours are determined by reinforcement history
-ignores free will (Skinner says free will is an illusion)
30
Social Learning Theory (Assumptions)
Behaviour is learned through experience, through observation and imitation of others
31
Social Learning Theory (Vicarious Reinforcement)
Copying a behaviour after observing someone be rewarded for the same behaviour
32
Social Learning Theory (Mediational Processes)
Mental Factors/processes in learning
-Attention
-Retention
-Reproduction
-Motivation
33
Attention
The extent to which we notice certain behavaiours
34
Retention
How well a behvaiour is remembered
35
Reproduction
The ability of the observer to perform the behaviour
36
Motivation
The will to perform the behaviour, often determined by whether the behaviour was rewarded or punished
37
Social Learning Theory (Identification)
More likely to imitate with role models who they identifiy with (modelling)
38
Bandura's Bobo Doll Study
When children watched an adult play aggressively, they are also more likely to play aggressively
39
Advantage of Social Learning Theory (CE)
Comprehensive Explanation
-mediational processes -> recognising cognitie processes
-less reductionist than behaviourism
40
Advantage of Social Learning Theory (RLA)
Real Life Application
-explains culturual diffferences
-different cultures cause different role models in real life and in media
-cultural norms and transmitted through societies
41
Disadvantage of Social Learning Theory (LS)
Over-reliance on lab studies
-Bandura's lab study was with a two-way mirror -DC- children played in a way they believed was expected
-Does not show behaviour in everyday life
42
Disadvantage of Social Learning Theory (BF)
Underestimate biological factors
-reciprocal determinism
-Bandura's study -> boys were more aggressive than girls
-hormonal factors = testosterone ignored
-biology not accounted for
43
Cognitive Approach (Assumptions)
Internal mental processes can be studied scientifically, cannot be observed so cognitive psychologists make inferences
44
Cognitive Approach (Role of Schema)
Mental framework of beliefs and expectations that influence cognitive processing, prevent stimuli from being overwhelming but can distort our sensory interpretations
45
Cognitive Approach (Models)
Information processing approach
Mind is likened to a computer model and applied to artifical intelligence
46
Cognitive Approach (cognitive neuroscience)
The scientific study of those biological structures that underpin cognitive processes
47
Inference
The process whereby cognitive pschologists draw conclusions about the way mental processes operate on the basis of observed behaviour
48
Advantage of Cognitive Approach (SM)
Scientific & Objective Methods
-highly controlled lab experiments = reliable, objective data
-biology & cognitive psychology increases scientific credibility
49
Advantage of Cognitive Approach (RWA)
Real World Application
-large contribution to developments of AI
-may revolutionise future technology
50
Disadvantage of Cognitive Approach (MR)
Machine Reductionism
-computer analogy
-ignores human emotion
CP- Soft Determinism
-interactionist as we are free to think before responding to stimuli
51
Disadvantage of Cognitive Approach (EV)
May lack external validity
-inferences can be abstract as we cannot see internal mental processes
52
Biological Approach (Assumptions)
Everything psychological is first biological, behaviour is based on biological structures, mind livs in the brain so all thoughts & feelings have a physical basis
53
Biological Approach (Neurochemical basis of behaviour)
Thought and behaviour depends on chemicals (neurotransmitters, seratonin, etc
54
Biological Approach (Genetic basis of behaviour)
Twin Studies, concordance rates between MZ and DZ twins shows the genetic basis of psychological characteristics
55
Biological Approach (Genotype and phenotype)
Genes v expression of genes (nature v nurture)
56
Biological Approach (Evolution and behaviour)
Natural selection of genes based on survival value and reproductive success
57
Genes
Make up of DNA
58
Genotype
Genetic makeup
59
Phenotype
The way genes are expressed, influenced by the environment
60
Seratonin role
Inhibits aggressive responses to emotional stimulus
61
Dopamine role
Regulates mood and attention -> linked to schizophrenia
62
Evolutution
The changes in inherited characteristics in a biological population over successive generations
63
Advantage of the biological approach (SM)
Scientific Methods
-FMRI's, EEG's, family and twin studies, drug trials
-advanced technology = easy to accurately measure biological neural processes with no bias
-based on reliable data
64
Advantage of the Biological Approach (RLA)
Real Life Application
-led to the development of psychoactive drugs e.g. antidepressants
-revolutionised treatment, allowing sufferers to improve their quality of life
65
Disadvantages of the Biological Approach (D)
Biologically Deterministic
-human behaviour governed by internal biological processes
-implications on legal system as criminals with a 'criminal gene' may not be morally responsible
66
Disadvantages of the Biological Approach (NvN)
Cannot separate Nature and Nurture
-twins and family members all have the same genes
-but confounding variables of similar environmental conditions
-data could support the idea of nurture
-DZ twins often have higher concordance rates than siblings = nurture
67
Psychodynaimic Approach (Role of the unconscious)
Makes up most of our mind that has significant influences on behaviour and personality
68
Psychodynaimic Approach (Structure of Personality)
-the Id
-the Ego
-the Superego
69
Psychodynaimic Approach (Psychodynamic Stages)
-oral
-anal
-phallic
-latency
-genital
70
Psychodynaimic Approach
(Defence Mechanisms)
-denial
-repression
-displacement
71
Id
Unconscious drives and instincts - pleasure principle - present at birth
72
Ego
Mediates personality - reality principle - approximately age 2 - employs defence mechanisms
73
Superego
Creates moral standards and guilt - develops at the end of phallic stage (5)
74
Oral Stage
- 0-1 years
- focus of pleasure is the mouth - desiring mother's breast
- oral fixation
- smoking, nailbiting, sarcasm or over-critical
75
Anal Stage
- 1-3 years
- focus of pleasure is the anus - pleasure witholding or expelling faeces
- anal retentive - perfectionist/obsessive
- anal expulsive - thoughtless/reckless
76
Phallic Stage
- 3-6
- focus of pleasure is the genital area
- oedipus or electra complex
- phallic personality - narcissistic, reckless, possobly homosexual
77
Latency Stage
- 6-12
- Earlier conflicts are repressed
78
Genital Stage
- puberty onwards
- sexual desires become conscious
- primary source of pleasure is persuit of heterosexual relationships
- if not met, difficulty forming heterosexual relationships
79
Repression
Forcing a distressing memory out of the conscious mind
80
Denial
Refusing to acknowledge some aspect of reality
81
Displacement
Transferring feelings from true source of distessing emotion onto a substitute target
82
Advantage of the Psychodynamic Approach (EP)
Explanatory Power
-dominant force in psychology for the first half of the century
-explains phenomena
-connects childhood experiences to later development
-suggests positive impact on psychology
83
Advantage of the Psychodynamic Approach (PA)
Practical Application
-new therapy = psychoanalysis
-techniques to access unconscious
CP - claimed as inappropriate for those with severe mental health disorders e.g. schizophrenia
84
Disadvantage of Psychodynamic Approach (UT)
Untestable Concepts
-cannot be falsified
-not open to empirical testing
-unconscious cannot be tested so is a pseudoscience --> bad reputation for psychology
85
Disadvantage of Psychodynamic Approach (CS)
Case Studies
-cannot create universal claims from small, abnormal sample
-highly subjective interpretations
-lacks scientific credibility
86
Humanistic Approach (Free will)
People are active agents who are self-determining
87
Humanistic Approach (Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs)
A five levelled hierarchacal sequence in which basic physiological needs must be satisfied before psychological needs can be achieved.
-physiological
-safety
-love/belonging
-self-esteem
-self-actualisation
88
Humanistic Approach (Self-actualisation)
The desire to grow psychologically and fulfill one's potential - becoming what you are fully capable of
89
Humanistic Approach (The self, congruence, and conditions of worth)
-Self - the ideas and values that characterise ones self and includes perception and valuing what you do
-Congruence - when the self-concept and ideal self are seen to broadly accord or match
-Conditions of Worth - parent limits their love for their child
90
Advantage of Humanistic Approach (NR)
Not Reductionist
-humanism avoids holism so whole person is considered
-increases validity by considering meaningful behaviour in real-life contexts
91
Advantage of Humanistic Approach (PA)
Positive Approach
-promoting positive image of the human condition
-refreshing and optimistic alternative
-sees people in control
92
Disadvantage of Humanistic Approach (LA)
Limited Application
-limited impact in psychology as a whole
-not evidence-based, abstract concepts
93
Disadvantage of Humanistic Approach (CB)
Cultural Bias
-freedom, autonomy and growth is more associated to individualistic cultures
-collectivist groups may not identify with humanistic values
-product of individualist culture context
94
What does client-centred therapy involve?
Issues explained by negative self esteem and lack of unconditional positive regard in childhood so therapist provides this
