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Psychology Revision > Approaches (Paper 2) > Flashcards

Approaches (Paper 2) Flashcards

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1
Q

Wilhelm Wundt 1879

A

Wundt opened the first psychology lab in Germany and as a result psychology became a distinct discipline.

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2
Q

Introspection

A

Introspection is used in society to look into peoples minds and thoughts and feelings. This helps someone like a therapist to look into a patients mental state. It could be done through a interview but the drawback of introspection is that people may answer with socially desirable answers.

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3
Q

JB Watson 1915

A

He founded the behaviourist approach

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4
Q

Behaviourist approach

A

The behaviourist approach focuses on how behaviour is a product of our learning, experience and environment. We are born as ‘blank states’ and all we can do is learn. He disregarded things like introspection as if cannot be observed whereas behaviour can be observed.

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5
Q

Classical conditioning

A

This is learning by association and refers to the conditioning of reflexes and involves associating a new stimulus with an innate bodily reflex. Classical conditioning involves pairing a response naturally caused by one stimulus with another, previously neutral stimulus.

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6
Q

Pavlov’s dogs

A

Food: unconditioned stimulus (UCS)
Salivation: unconditioned Response (UCR)
Dog naturally salivates at food Bell: Neutral stimulus (NS)
Bell: Neutral stimulus (NS)
Food: unconditioned stimulus (UCS)
Salivation: unconditioned Response (UCR)
Bell: Conditioned stimulus (CS)
Salivation: Conditioned response (CR)

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7
Q

Operant conditioning

A

Operant conditioning is concerned with the use of consequences, such as gaining rewards or receiving punishments, in order to modify and shape behaviour. Skinner, like Pavlov, tested this learning process on animals

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8
Q

Skinners Box

A

A hungry rat was placed in a Skinner box. The box contained a lever in the side and as the rat moved about the box it would accidentally knock the lever. Immediately it did so a food pellet would drop into a container next to the lever. The rats quickly learned to go straight to the lever after a few times of being put in the box.

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9
Q

Strengths of behaviourism

A

-Very scientific with its experimental methodology -Theories are testable and supported by rigorous experimental research
-Replicable
-Behaviourist explanations can be applied to the real world to explain everyday behaviour such as phobias and has produced many practical applications such as treatments which have been found to be effective. For example systematic desensitisation which is based on classical conditioning is effective in the treatment of phobias.

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10
Q

Limitations of behaviourism

A

-Ethical issues: not all research meets ethical guidelines
-Deterministic: It is deterministic as it sees all behaviours determined by previous conditioning and does not recognise free will
-Much data has been obtained from species such as rats, dogs and pigeons but the relevance of these findings to human behaviour is dubious

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11
Q

Cognitive approach

A

-Uses experimental research methods to study IMP such as attention, memory and decision making
-Assumes mind actively processes information from our senses
-Between stimulus and response there is a series of complex processes which can be studied scientifically

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12
Q

Schema

A

Schemas are the mental representation of experience and knowledge and understanding. They help us make predictions on what will happen based on passed experiences.

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13
Q

Theoretical and computer models

A

Theoretical models are diagrams which represent the steps involved In internal mental processes e.g. the information processing model. Computer models are software simulations of internal mental processes that are created in collaboration with computer scientists.

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14
Q

Biological approach

A

The biological approach attempts to explain behaviour in terms of different biological processes such as genes, hormones and neurotransmitters. According to this approach the brain and mind are identical and brain physiology and biochemical imbalances affect behaviour. They also believe behaviour can be inherited.

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15
Q

Genes

A

They make up chromosomes and consists of DNA. Genes are inherited and this is linked to behaviour and psychology as metal disorders can be inherited.

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16
Q

Biological structure

A

An arrangement or organisation of parts to form and organ or living thing

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17
Q

Neurochemistry

A

Relates to chemicals in the brain that regulate psychological functioning

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18
Q

Genotype

A

Actual genetic make up of a person

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19
Q

Phenotype

A

The way genes are expressed through physical, behavioural and psychological characteristics

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20
Q

Strengths of biological approach

A

-It is a scientific approach. This suggests that we can find cause and effect of biology on behaviour.
-Use of scientific method is highly controlled increasing reliability and validity of findings.
-Impact of biology on behaviour can lead to treatment e.g. drugs to counteract neurotransmitter imbalance e.g. SSRIs to treat OCD and depression.
-Scientific measurements are objective as it can be performed by machines which have no vested interest in the outcome e.g. PET scans, EEGs etc. Use of complex machinery allows accurate and precise measurements

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21
Q

Weaknesses of biological approach

A
  • It is a deterministic approach as it believes that we are determined by our physiological, genetic or evolutionary make-up. Therefore stating that there is no free will.
  • This approach is reductionist by stating that all human behaviour can be explained through a single biological process
  • We are therefore not unique as individuals. It is also dehumanising to present humans as ‘biological machines’.
  • Dangers of looking for a biological cause of all behaviour led to problems e.g. searching for the ‘criminal gene’.
  • Biological approach ignores the role of the environment etc. it should be used in combination which is known as the biosocial approach.
  • It is very difficult to separate the effects of nature (genes) from nurture (the environment)
  • Laboratory experiments can lack ecological validity
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22
Q

Social Learning Theory (SLT)

A

Albert Bandura proposed social learning theory as a development of the behaviourist approach. He argued that classical and operant conditioning could not account for all human learning. He believed that there are important mental processes that lie between the stimulus and response proposed by the behaviourist approach

23
Q

Bobo doll experiment

A

Sample: 36 boys and 36 girls from the Stanford University Nursery School aged between 3 to 6 years old.
It was a lab. Experiment. The children in the first 2 condition watched a model.
Three conditions:
• Aggressive model shown to 24 children:
• Non-aggressive model shown to 24
children
• No model shown (control condition) - 24
children

24
Q

Bobo doll results

A
  • Children who observed the aggressive model acted more aggressively towards the bobo doll then the group who observed the non-aggressive model or control groups.
  • Boys imitated more physically aggressive acts than girls.
  • Boys were more likely to imitate same-sex models than girls.
25
Q

Psychodynamic approach

A

-One of the earliest approaches in psychology, originated 19th century
-The main figure in psychodynamic is Sigmund Freud
-Highlights importance of early childhood experiences
-States that events in our childhood have a great influence on our adult lives, shaping our personality
-Events that occur in childhood can remain in the unconscious (we’re unaware), and cause problems in adulthood

26
Q

Unconscious

A

-Information we cannot access as well as primitive and natural behaviour
-Also contains threatening and disturbing memories that have been repressed, or locked away and forgotten
-During childhood we acquire so many memories however we cannot recall most of these memories
-The deep dark memories can affect our future without us realising

27
Q

Role of the unconscious

A

-Much of our behaviour is driven by unconscious motives
-The unconscious is the driving/motivating force behind out behaviour/personality
-Mental disorders arise from repressed, unresolved conflicts originating from childhood
-The unconscious protects the conscious self from anxiety/fear/trauma/conflict

28
Q

Defence mechanisms used by unconscious to reduce anxiety

A

-Repression, Denial, Displacement
-Conflict experiencing during the development through the psychosexual stages
-Psychological problems can be treated by accessing the unconscious mind through psychoanalysis/therapy

29
Q

Denial

A

-This happens when a person refuses to accept that an event has happened. E.G. when someone’s wife dies after a long happy marriage, the husband may act as though their wife is still alive
-This is not a CONSCIOUS process, the person will not realise they are ‘in denial’. Denial can protect a person from anxiety

30
Q

Displacement

A

-When an unacceptable drive such as hatred to your mother is displaced to a more acceptable target such as your sister
-Taking your anger out by kicking the door when you’re really upset with your friend

31
Q

Repression

A

-When our thoughts are kept in the unconscious mind and are not allowed into the conscious mind
-It is as if they are forgotten, it is not done consciously
-They can emerge as symptoms of anxiety

32
Q

Evaluation of defence mechanism

A

-Lack of testability, defence mechanisms are unconscious processes that cannot be studied directly
-Defence mechanism can only be inferred from behaviour or from reported thoughts or experiences
-Use of evidence to support existence- case studies of people who are unable to recall upsetting events

33
Q

Freud’s stages of psychosexual development

A
  1. Oral stage
  2. Anal stage
  3. Phallic stage
  4. Latency stage
  5. Genital stage
34
Q

Childhood experience

A

-Freud suggested that our childhood experience shapes our adult behaviour
-He suggested that we go through stages of psychosexual development: the child goes through a series of stages
-If the child is deprived or over satisfied at a particular stage then they may become fixated and this will have effects on their adult behaviour

35
Q
  1. Oral stage
A

-Birth to 18 months old
-The mouth is the focus of pleasure
-A newborn will have instant pleasure from the mouth from feeding and sucking their thumb
-The ID is in control
-Fixation occurs at this stage if a child is weaned too soon or is not weaned soon enough

36
Q
  1. Analic stage
A

-2 to 3 years old when potty training is complete
-Focus of pleasure is the anus
-If this stage is fixated then it will lead to an anal character
-Fixation at this stage may lead to an obsession with hygiene and cleanliness and perhaps OCD

37
Q
  1. Phallic stage
A

-Occurs from the age of 4 to 5
-The focus of pleasure and sexual energy is the genitals
-Boys experience Oedipus complex
-Girls experiment Electra complex

38
Q
  1. The latency stage
A

-Age 6 to puberty
-Sexual urges sublimated into sports and other hobbies
-Focus on developing same sex friendships
-No requirements for successful completion

39
Q
  1. Genital stage
A

-Pubertu to adulthood
-Focus on genitals but not to same extent as phallic stage
-Task is to develop healthy adult relationships
-This should happen if earlier stages have been negotiated successfully

40
Q

Evaluation of psychodynamic approach

A

-Influenced other experiments/studies
-Unscientific as it can’t be tested
-Retrospective data- case studies
-Doesn’t consider adult experiences
-Blames parents
-Psychic determinism

41
Q

Humanistic approach

A

-Developed in America early 1950’s
-Termed ‘third force’ as it aimed to replace the main two approaches: behaviourism and psychodynamic
-Aimed to offer a less deterministic and artificial approach
-Humanistic theories are concerned with human experiences, uniqueness, meaning, freedom and choice

42
Q

Free will and holism

A

-Humanistic approach claims humans are self determining and have free will
-This does not mean humans are affected by internal and external factors but we have our own ability to determine our development
-Rejects scientific methods
-Person centred approach

43
Q

Methodology

A

Humanistic psychologists prefer qualitative methods:
1. Unstructured interviewing
2. Participant observation
3. Diaries, letters and biographical material
4. Rejecting scientific methods of experiments and making universal laws about people

44
Q

Abraham Maslow

A

-Believes humans are motivated by needs beyond those of basic biological survival
-Fundamental to human nature is the desire to grow and develop to achieve ‘self actualisation’
-Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

45
Q

Stage 1- Physiological needs

A

Air, water, food, drink, warmth, sleep

46
Q

Stage 2- Safety Needs

A

Protection, security, order, law, limits, stability

47
Q

Stage 3- Belonging and love needs

A

Family, affection, relationships, work groups

48
Q

Stage 4- Self esteem needs

A

Achievement, status, responsibility

49
Q

Stage 5- Self Actualisation

A

Personal growth, fulfilment
The final stage. Humanism believes people have the need of being motivated by the wish to grow and fulfil their potential.

50
Q

Tay and Diener (2011)

A

-Tested Maslows theory by analysing data of 60,865 participants from 123 counties
-Respondents answered about 6 needs that closely resemble Maslows model: basic needs (food, shelter) ; safety; social needs (love, support); respect; mastery; and autonomy
-The results of the study support the view that universal human needs appear to exist regardless of cultural differences. However, the order in of needs within the hierarchy was not correct.

51
Q

Carl Rogers (1902-1987)

A

-Carl Rogers was one of the pioneering founders of the humanistic approach
-He focuses on the concept of self and self acceptance
-He moved away from traditional psychoanalysis and developed person centred approach to therapy. It was client led
-He believed that Freud had dealt with the ‘sick half’ of psychology, so the humanistic approach concerned itself with explanations of healthy growth in individuals

52
Q

Strengths of humanistic approach

A

-It emphasises choice (free will and responsibility)- largely ignored by the other approaches
-It considers subjective conscious experience
-It values personal ideals and self fulfilment
-It has enabled psychologists to explore human existence with more sensitivity than the more scientific methods
-It has application to education e.g. motivating students to set their own realistic goals

53
Q

Limitations of humanistic approach

A

-This approaches has less impact on mainstream psychology than the other approaches
-The use of qualitative techniques has been questioned-lacks empirical evidence
-As the subject matter is individual experience it is not possible to formulate general laws of behaviour and as such is not a comprehensive theory but rather a loose set of abstract ideas
-Not all cultures share the assumption that individual achievement brings fulfilment
-The basis of therapy assumes a person’s problems are all about congruence/conditions of worth etc. but ignores biological explanations like role of serotonin in depression
-The needs can be hard to measure

Psychology Revision (12 decks)

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