approaches knowledge gaps

Question 1

behaviorist approach AO1 points (5)

Answer 1

1. focus on observable measurable bahviour
2. controlled lab studies used
3. classical conditioning
4. operant conditioning
5. punishment + positive and negative reinforcement

Question 2

which type of behaviour does the behaviourist approach study ? (1)

Answer 2

observable behaviour only

Question 3

describe the research done by Pavlov (3)

Answer 3

before classical conditioning:
food (UCS) = salivation (UCR)
bell (NS) = no response

during:
food (UCS) + bell (NS) = salivation (UCR)

After
bell (CS) = salivation (CR)

Question 4

what is the main principle of operant conditioning ? (1)

Answer 4

behaviour is maintained by it’s concequences

Question 5

state and explain the 3 types of concequences to behavior (3)

Answer 5

1. positive reinforcement - recieving a reward when specific behavior is done, encourages behavior to be repeated
2. negative reinforcement - avoiding something unpleasent when behaviour is performed, encourages behaviour to be repeated
3. punishment - unpleasent concequence of behaviour, decreases likelihood of behavior being repeated

Question 6

which studies are usually conducted by behaviourists ? (1)

Answer 6

Lab studies

Question 7

social learning theory AO1 points

Answer 7

1. how learning occurs
2. vicarious reinforcement
3. role mediational processes in learning
4. identification
5. bandura’s bobo doll study

Question 8

what are the main assumptions of the social learning theory (3)

Answer 8

• learning occurs indirectly through observation and imitation of other’s behaviour
• vicarious reinforcement: behaviour that is seen to be rewarded is more likely to be copied
• identification: we are more likely to observe behaviour of model we identify with, attractive, high status + similar to observer

Question 9

describe Bandura and Walters Bobo Doll study (3)

Answer 9

procedure:
children saw adult behaving aggressively towards Bobo doll or non aggressively towards Bobo doll
they also saw adult being punished, rewarded or no consequence

findings:
children who saw aggression rewarded were much more aggressive themselves

conclusion:
if a models violent behaviour is rewarded it is more likely to be imitated

Question 10

describe Bandura’s bobo doll study (3)

Answer 10

procedure:
children saw adult behaving aggressively towards Bobo doll or non aggressively towards Bobo doll

findings:
children who had seen aggressive behaviour were much more aggressive with their own bobo doll

conclusion:
children are more likely to imitate violent behaviour if they observe these in an adult role model

Question 11

what are the 4 meditational processes in learning (SLT) (4)

Answer 11

1. attention - if behaviour is noticed or not
2. retention - where behaviour is remembered
3. motor reproduction - being able to do it
4. motivation - the will to perform the behaviour

Question 12

what are the three evaluation points for the social learning theory (3)

Answer 12

✅ takes into account meditational (cognitive) processes as well as behavioural view point - complete comprehensive explanation

❌ conclusions from lab studies - demand characteristics - the point of a bobo doll is to hit them - children could have acted how they thought they were expected to

❌ makes too little reference to biological factors - research has shown mirror neurones controls observational learning - allows us to empathise w and imitate others

Question 13

what are the 3 evaluation points for the behaviourist approach (3)

Answer 13

❌ skinners rats - unethical - crampe, underweight to be hungry, electric shocks

✅ development of systematic desensitisation - counterconditioning - aim to associate phobic stem (CS) w relaxation (new CR)

✅ uses well controlled lab studies + observable behaviour measured - scientific credibility

Question 14

cognitive approach AO1 points

Answer 14

1. mental processes should be studied
2. inferences
3. schemas
4. theoretical models
5. computer models
6. emergence of cognitive neruoscience

Question 15

what is the main assumption of the cognitive approach ? (1)

Answer 15

mental processes should be studied

Question 16

inferences (3)

Answer 16

• mental processes can’t be observed directly
• so they are indirectly studied by making inferences (assumptions)
• assumptions on what is going on inside peoples heads based on their behaviour

Question 17

schema’s (3)

Answer 17

• package of info and assumptions developed through experience
• act as mental frameworkfor incoming info
• babies are born w simple motor schemas for innate behaviours eg grasping, sucking

Question 18

Theoretical models to explain mental processes (1)

Answer 18

information processing approach suggests info flows through a sequence of stages that include input, storage and retrieveal as in multi store model

Question 19

computer models to explain mental processes (3)

Answer 19

• in both computers and the brain info in input, this info is processed and stored to create an output
• input (senses) and output (behaviour) can be directly observed in humans
• but processing can’t so we make inferences based on the observed input and output

Question 20

the emergence of cognitive neuroscience (4)

Answer 20

• the scientific study of the influence of brain structure on mental processing
• due to advances in brain scanning technology scientists have been able to describe neurological basis of mental processing eg fMRI, PEt scans etc…
• eg episodic and semantic memories linked to opposite sides of prefrontal cortex
• impared parahippocampal gyrus linked with OCD

Question 21

what are the 3 evaluation points for the cognitive approach (3)

Answer 21

✅ scientific + controlled + objective methods used - lab studies + cognitive neuroscience brain scans

❌ machine reductionism - computer model analogy criticised - emotion and motivation have shown to infuence accuracy on recall - reduces validity of approach

✅ real world application - impaired left prefrontal cortex + parahippocampal gyrus linked with OCD - can develop specific treatments

Question 22

biological approach AO1 points (6)

Answer 22

1. all psychological behavior has a biological basis - caused by genes + neurochemistry
2. neurochemical basis of behavior
3. genetic basis of behavior - twin studies
4. concordance rates
5. genotype and phenotype
6. using the theory of evolution to explain behavior

Question 23

what is the main assumption of the biological approach (2)

Answer 23

• everything psychological is at first biological
• behavior has a genetic basis and neurochemical basis

Question 24

neurochemical basis of behavior (3)

Answer 24

• neurochemistry: action of chemicals eg neurotransmitters in the brain
• imbalance of neurotransmitters may cause mental disorders
• eg low lvls of serotonin = OCD

Question 25

genetic basis of behavior - twin studies (3)

Answer 25

• twin studies use to investigate genetic basis of behavior
• work out concordance rates between twins
• higher concordance rates between MZ twins than DZ twins shows behavior has a genetic basis

Question 26

concordance rates (1)

Answer 26

• extent to which twins share same characteristics

Question 27

genotype and phenotype (4)

Answer 27

• genotype: genetic makeup
• phenotype: how the genes are expressses through physical, behavioural and psychological characteristics
• phenotype affected by genes and env
• shows that human behavior caused by interaction between nature and nurture

Question 28

theory of evolution to explain behavior (5)

Answer 28

• Darwin - proposed theory of natural selection
• any genetically determined behavior which increases chances of survival + reproduction passed on to offspring
• frequency of that characteristic increases over future generations
• genes that are passed on = adaptive genes
• give selective advantage

Question 29

what are the 3 evaluation points for the biological approach (3)

Answer 29

✅ real world application - understanding neurochemical basis of behavior - treatment development - eg understand low lvls of serotonin linked w depression + OCD - SSRI’s developed + prescribed

✅ uses scientific + objective + controlled methods - scanning techniques to study genetic + neurochemical basis of behavior - no bias

❌ biological explanations are determinist - human behavior governed by internal genetic factors which we have no control over

Question 30

humanistic approach AO1 points (5)

Answer 30

1. main assumptions
2. Maslows heirarchy of needs / theory
3. rogers theory - self and ideal self
4. Rogers theory - conditions of worth
5. Roger’s client centred therapy

Question 31

HUMANISTiC: main assumption (3)

Answer 31

• humans as having free will
• believe that to explain behavior we should focus with subjective experience rather than general laws
• person centred approach

Question 32

Maslows heirarchy of needs / theory (4)

Answer 32

level 1:pysiological needs - food, sleep
level 2: safety - shelter
level 3: Love and belonging
level 4: self esteem
level 5: cognitive needs (later added)
level 6: aesthetic needs (later added)
level 7: self actualisation

• each lower level needs to be met in order to move up the heirarchy and self actualise
• self actualisation: achieveing our full potential and becoming our best self
• we have an innate tendancy to self actualise

Question 33

Roger’s theory: self and ideal self

Answer 33

• added to maslows theory
• for personal growth to occur the self must be congruent (in line) with the ideal self
• if gap between self and ideal self is too large person will experience incongruence and self actualisation isnt possible

self: who you are now
ideal self: who you aspire to be in the future

Question 34

Rogers theory: conditions of worth (4)

Answer 34

• parents who impose conditions of worth
• lack of positive unconditional regard from parents
• parent who sets boundaries on their love
• prevents personal growth - causes psychological problems

Question 35

Roger’s client centred therapy (3)

Answer 35

therapisy provides patient with:
- unconditional positive regard
- empathy
- genuiness

find out what patient’s self and ideal self are and identify any conditions of worth placed on patient

aim: increase feelings of self worth and reduce incongruence between self and ideal self

Question 36

what are the evaluation points for the humanistic approach (3)

Answer 36

✅ holistic - doesnt break up behavior into smaller components - consider the whole person to explain behavior - more valid than other approaches - not reductionist

❌ unfalsifyable - self, actual self, congruence, incongruence - cant be observed or empirically tested, can be self reported but that is subjective - pseudoscience

✅ positive approach - based on free will - people are in control of their lives and have power to change - freud saw humans as prisoners od their past

Question 37

psychodynamic approach AO1 points

Answer 37

1. mind as an iceberg
2. tripartite structure of personality
3. psychosexual stages
4. oedipus complex
5. defence mechanisms

Question 38

structure of the mind according to sigmund freud (3)

Answer 38

• concious - what we are aware of (iceberg tip)
• preconcious - thoughts we may become aware of through dreams and slips of tongue
• unconcious - store of memories we will never know that influence our behavior eg traumatic mems, biological drives

Question 39

Tripartite structure of personality (3)

Answer 39

• Id - innate, works on pleasure principle, demands instant gradification, selfish
• Ego - works on reality principle, mediator between Id and superego
• superego - works on morality principle, wants to do right thing, developed at age 5, based on learning what is right and wrong

Question 40

psychosexual stages (8)

Answer 40

1. Oral (0.1 yr) - pleasure focus = mouth, object of desire = mothers breasts
2. Anal (1-3 yrs) - pleasure focus = anus, child gains pleasure by holding and eliminating faeces
3. Phallic (3-6 yrs) - pleasure focus = genital area
4. Latency - earlier conflicts are repressed
5. Genital (puberty) - sexual desires become concious

• each stage marked by a conflict that must be resolved before moving onto next one
• any unresolved conflict leads to fixation where child become stuck and carries behaviors associated w that stage through to adult life
• unresolved conflicts = over or under indulgence eg sucking too much or too little in oral stage

Question 41

oedipus complex (3)

Answer 41

• psychosexual conflict at phallic stage
• boys develop incestous feelings towards mother and murderous hatred towards father
• boys repress feelings for mother and identify w father taking on his gender role + moral values

Question 42

defence mechanisms (4)

Answer 42

• unconcious strategy used by Ego to reduce anxiety
• displacement: direct emotion away from true source to a neutral source
• repression: forcing distressing memory into unconcious mind
• denial: refusing to acknowledge reality

Question 43

evaluation points for the psychodynamic approach (3)

Answer 43

✅ introduced psychotherapy- psychoanalysis helps access uncocnious mind of client through hypnosis so unresolved conflicts can be resolved - less ppl miss work - boost economy

❌ based on unflasifyable concepts - imposible to observe or test unconcious mind, no one knows i unconcious concenpts eg Id, Superego, defence mechanisms, conflicts at psychosexual stages are actually present or taking place - cant be empirically tested- lacks** scientific credibility** - pseudoscience

✅ interactionist approach - sheds light on both nature + nurture side of debate - nature = innate Id, nurture = superego developed through what we learn - gives a more complete explanation that other approaches eg biological which focuses on 1 aspect only