Approaches Key Words And Concepts Flashcards
Stimulus
An event that causes a response
Response
An action made because a stimulus has been detected
Conditioned
Learned
Introspection
A research method involving observing ones own thought processes, often with the aid of metronome
Empiricism
A scientific approach to research, relying on gaining actual observations and evidence
Behavioural approach
Believes that all behaviour is learnt and that we are born with a blank slate
Social learning theory
Believes that behaviour is learnt from society/individuals. Imitation after modelling and mediational processes
Cognitive approach
Focused on how our mental processes affect behaviour, believe that thinking causes behaviour. Believes that the mind activity processes info from our senses (touch, taste)
Biological approach
Believes all our behaviour is rooted for our biological structure and that everything psychological has a biological basis, e.g. genes, brain structure and neurochemistry
Psychodynamic approach
Believes that behaviour is influenced by early childhood experiences particularly that behaviour is motivated by 2 instincts- sex and life
Humanistic approach
Approach that views mental health to be related to free will and self-determination
Classical conditioning
Behaviourist theory which says that humans and animals learn new behaviours by the process of association
Operant conditioning
A form of learning in which behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences. Possible consequences of behaviour include positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement and punishment
Extinction
When a conditioned pairing decays over time
Mediational processes
Cognitive factors that influence learning a behaviour and come between stimulus and response. For modelling to occur there must be attention, retention, motor reproduction, motivation
Attention
Noticing certain behaviours
Retention
Remembering the behaviour
Motor reproduction
Whether the behaviour is physically possible to carry out
Motivation
There has to be a reason to want to copy their behaviour
Vicarious reinforcement
Not directly experienced but occurs through observing someone else being reinforced for their behaviour
Positive reinforcement
A pleasant event that increases the likelihood of us carrying out a behaviour
Negative reinforcement
A negative event that increases the likelihood of us carrying it a behaviour - in order to avoid the unpleasant event
Self-efficacy
Your belief in order to carry out a behaviour
Schema
A mental shortcut of beliefs and expectations developed from experience
Computational model
Cognitive psychology uses conceptual models to explain how the mind works e.g. the multi store model and allows psychologists to predict when they do testing and experiments
Cognitive neuroscience
The scientific study of biological structures that underpin cognitive processes
Genotype
Particular set of genes that a person possesses
Phenotype
Characteristics of an individual determined by both genes and the environment
Concordance rates
A test of phenotypal similarity between individuals, based on genotypal similarity
Id
Primitive part of the personality that operates on the pleasure principle, demands instant gratification. We are born with this
Ego
Works on the reality principle. This aspect of the mind mediates between the id and superego
Superego
Internalised sense of right and wrong, based on the morality principle. Punishes the ego through guilt
Defence mechanism
Unconscious strategies such as repression, denial and displacement
Psychosexual stages
According to Freud, 5 developmental stages that all children pass through. At most stages there is a specific conflict, the outcome of which determines future development
Self-actualisation
The desire to grow psychologically and fulfil ones full potential - becoming what you are capable of
Psychoanalysis
A form of treatment developed from the psychodynamic approach
Unconditional positive regard
A technique used by humanistic therapists, whereby they respect the patients choices and right to self-determination
Client centred therapy
Humanistic approach to therapy - focus is on the patient, and a sense of warmth and understanding
Maslows hierarchy of needs
A 5-levelled hierarchical sequence in which basic needs (e.g. hunger) must be satisfied before higher psychological needs e.g. self actualisation can be achieved
Congruence
When your ideal self matches up to your real self
