APPROACHES key knowledge

Question 1

Behaviourist approach assumptions

Answer 1

1. Human behaviour is learnt through experience
2. Humans are born ‘tabula rasa’ (John Watson)
3. Only observable behaviour can be studied scientifically
4. Its valid to study animals are they share the same principles of learning

Question 2

Social Learning Theory assumptions

Answer 2

1. Behaviour is learned from the environment through observational learning, which involves: modelling, imitation, identification and vicarious reinforcement.
2. The consequences of others behaviour is observed and guides futures behaviour (vicarious reinforcement)
3. Meditational (cognitive) processes occur between stimuli (the role model’s behaviour) and response (imitation) these include attention, retention (memory) motor reproduction and motivation.

Question 3

Psychodynamic approach assumptions

Answer 3

1. Freud suggested our behaviour and feelings are powerfully affected by unconscious motives
2. our behaviour and feelings as adults are rooted in our childhood experiences
3. Personality is composed of 3 parts: Id, ego and superego, which are constantly in conflict with one another
4. Personality develops in stages as innate drives are modified by different conflicts at different times in childhood during psychosexual development
5. Psychic-determinism: all behaviours have a cause/reason

Question 4

Humanistic approach assumptions

Answer 4

1. Humans have free will
2. All individuals are unique and have an innate (inborn) drive to achieve their maximum potential
3. A proper understanding of human behaviour can only be achieved by studding humans - not animals
4. Psychology should study the individual case (idiographic) rather than the average performance of groups (nomothetic)

Question 5

Behaviourist approach psychologists

Answer 5

Ivan Pavlov - CC
Watson and Rayner - CC
Skinner - OPC

Question 6

Social learning theory psychologists

Answer 6

Bandura et al - Bobo dolls

Question 7

Psychodynamic approach psychologists

Answer 7

Sigmund Freud

Question 8

Humanistic approach psychologists

Answer 8

Abraham Maslow

Carl Rogers

Question 9

Behaviourist approach keys concepts

Answer 9

• Classical Conditioning
• Operant condition (positive or negative reinforcement
• Punishment (positive or negative)

Question 10

Social Learning theory key concepts

Answer 10

Imitation

• Role Model
• Identification
• Modelling
• Mediational Processes (Attention, Retention, Motor reproduction, Motivation processes)
• Direct reinforcement
• Vicarious (indirect) Reinforcement

Question 11

Psychodynamic approach key concepts

Answer 11

• Defence mechanisms (Repression, denial, displacement)
• Role of the unconscious (split of the mind)
• Tripartie personality (id, ego, superego)
• Psychoanalysis
• Freuds psychosexual stages (oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital)
• Oedipus complex
• Electra complex
• Little Hans (case study)

Question 12

Humanistic approach key concepts

Answer 12

• Free will
• Hierarchy of needs (physiological needs, safety needs, love and belonging, self-esteem, self-actualisation)
• Ideal self vs self-concept (congruence)
• Unconditional positive self regard
• Conditions of worth
• Client centred therapy

Question 13

Application of issues + debates = Behaviourism

Answer 13

• Environmental determinism = behaviour is controlled by stimulus response conditioning
• Nurture = Humans are born tabula rasa, behaviour is learned
• Environmental reductionism = behaviour is broken down into stimulus response associations
• Nomothetic = creates universal laws as behaviour is the result of stimulus response associations

Question 14

Application of issues + debates = Social learning theory

Answer 14

• Soft determinism = Behaviour is controlled by environmental forces but humans have personal responsibility and free choice
• Nurture = Behaviour is learnt via observable behaviour (modelling, imitation). Idenfictication could arguably be nature as we often identify with same genders etc.
• Environmental reductionism = behaviour is broken down into stimulus response associations + mediational processes
• Nomothetic = attempts to establish general laws of behaviour (e.g. vicarious reinforcement)

Question 15

Application of issues + debates = Psychodynamic

Answer 15

• Psychic determinism = behaviour is determined by unconscious drives and early childhood experiences
• Mostly nature = Behaviour is the product of innate drives, BUT shaped by early childhood experiences
• Reductionism + Holism = Behaviour reduced to innate drives, whilst taking into account multiple aspects of human behaviour
• Nomothetic + Idiographic = Attempts to establish general laws of behaviour (psychosexual stages + tripartite personality), whilst also considering unique experience (early childhood experiences)

Question 16

Application of issues + debates = Humanistic

Answer 16

• Free Will = Humans control their own environment and are capable of change
• Mostly Nurture = Behaviour is shaped by environment as humans strive to achieve self-actualisation
• Holism = Focuses on understanding all aspects of Human experience and interaction
• Idiographic = Focuses on subjective human experience and doesn’t attempt to make general laws

Question 17

Behaviourism - scientific?

Answer 17

Scientific

The behaviourist approach utilities scientific methods of investigation (e.g. laboratory studies and animal research)

Question 18

Social Learning theory - scientific?

Answer 18

Mostly scientific

Utilises scientific methods but also takes into account mediational processes

Question 19

Psychodynamic approach - scientific?

Answer 19

Not scientific

Examines many concepts/theories which cannot be empirically tested. Relies on subjective interpretation

Question 20

Humanistic approach - scientific?

Answer 20

Not scientific

Rejects scientific methods and is therefore unable to provide empirical evidence