Approaches - Paper 2 Flashcards
What is introspection?
The examination or observation of ones own mental and emotional processes
Who is Wundt?
Father of psychology
Aim was to examine the structure of the mind
What was Wundts approach?
Structuralism
What was Wundts technique?
Introspection
Break consciousness in thoughts, images and sensations
What were the 2 major assumptions that introspection were based on?
- All behaviour is seen as being caused by
- If behaviour determined, be possible to predict how human being would behave in different conditions
What were the 2 main weaknesses of Wundt’s technique
Unreliable - non observable response
Not accurate - lacks validity
What are the 4 goals of psychology?
Description
Explanation
Prediction
Change
What did Watson do?
Introspection, subjective
Behaviourist dominate
Cognitive studies mental processes
Scientifically
What is the strengths of origins of psychology
Aspects scientific
Contribution - set foundation
Modern research scientific
What are the weaknesses of origins of psychology
Aspects subjective
Can’t be applied to children or people with learning difficulties
The behaviourist approach focuses on…
Observable behaviour
Controlled lab studies
Processes that govern behaviour
What is classical conditioning
Learning though association
Explain Pavlov’s research
Conditioned dogs to salivate when a bell rings
NS + UCS. CS -> CR
What is operant conditioning
Learn through punishment
Outline Skinners research
Rat activate lever, rewarded with food
Desirable consequence = repetition
Avoid electric shock by not pushing button
What is positive reinforcement?
Receiving rewards
What is negative reinforcement
Avoiding something unpleasant
What is punishment
Unpleasant consequence of behaviour
Evaluate the behaviourist approach
+ uses well controlled research
+ real world application - token economy
- environmental determinism - ignore free will
- ethical issues - harm to animals
What is social learning theory
Learning that occurs indirectly
Experience, observation, imitation
What is vicarious reinforcement?
Learning related to consequences of behaviour
What is the mediational process
- Attention
- Retention
- Motor reproduction
- Motivation
ARMM
What is identification of role models
Role model similar and higher status
Someone looked up to
What did Bandura et al do?
Observe adult
Bobo doll experiment
Initiate acts if observed the same - more likely if rewarded
Evaluation of social learning theory
+ real world application
+ show some free will
- ignore biological factors
- lab studies
The cognitive approach
The scientific study of mental processes
Mental processes are private, cannot be observed and studies through inference
What is a schema?
Packages of information developed through experience.
Mental framework interpretation of incoming information
The information processing model
Flows through stages
Input, storage, retrieval
What is the computer model
Programmes imitate the human mind
What is cognitive neuroscience
Influence of the brain structure on mental processes
Brain scanning
Episodic and semantic memories
Evaluation of the cognitive approach
+ scientific and objective methods
+ application to everyday life
- abstract and theoretical
- machine reductionism
Psychodynamic approach - Freud
Mind made up of conscious, pre conscious and unconscious
Id - pleasure principle
Ego - reality principle
Superego - morality principle
Freuds stages of development
Oral - mouth (0-1)
Anal - anus (1-3)
Phallic - genital (3-6)
Latency - conflicts repressed
Genital - sexual desire (puberty)
What is the Oedipus complex?
Phallic stage
Feeling towards mother - hatred towards father
Repress and take on gender role
What are defence mechanisms?
Unconscious strategies, used by ego
Repression
Denial
Displacement
Evaluation of the psychodynamic approach
+ psychotherapy - access unconscious
+ explanatory power - childhood
- harmful therapy
- unfalsifiable
The biological approach
Look at biological structures and processes
Contrast cognitive approach
What is neurochemistry?
Action of chemicals
In balance neurotransmitters cause metal disorders
Underproduction serotonin = OCD
Psychological characteristics inherited - twin studies
What is the genotype
The genetic makeup of
What is the phenotype
Genetic expression - characteristics
Theory of evolution
Darwin, natural selection - survival and reproduction
Evaluation of the biological approach
+ real world application - drugs
+ scientific method - scanning
- drugs not always work
- deterministic
The humanistic approach
External and internal influences - free will
What did Maslow do?
Hierarchy of needs
Must complete all before self-actualisation (full potential)
Physiological needs
Safety needs
Esteem needs
Love and belonging
Self actualisation
What did Rogers find?
Personal growth
Individuals concept must be congruent with ideal self
Incongruence = no self actualisation
Worthlessness and low self esteem due to lack of unconditional positive regards from parents
What did Roger’s therapy include?
Roger client entered therapy - in conditional positive regards - increase self worth
What is the first assumption that behaviourist believe?
Psychology should be seen as a science
What is the second assumption that behaviourist believe?
Psychologists should study observable behaviours
What is the third assumption that behaviourist believe?
No free will
Environment determines behaviour
What is the fourth assumption that behaviourist believe?
When we are born out mind is a blank slate
What is the fifth assumption that behaviourist believe?
Little difference in the learning between animals and humans
What is the evaluation of the humanistic approach?
+ real world context
+ positive approach
- cultural bias
- limited application
What is the nervous system?
Specialised network of cells and our primary communication. Electrical
Endocrine based on hormones
What does the nervous system do?
- Collect, process and respond to environment
- Co ordinate organs and cells
What is the CNS
Brian and spinal cord
Brain is conscious awareness
Reflex actions
What is the peripheral NS
Transmits messages of neurons to the nervous system
Automatic - vital functions, breathing - sympathetic and parasympathetic
Somatic - muscle movement - info from sensory receptors
What is the endocrine system?
Vital functions through hormones
Glands produce hormones - pituitary brain
Hormones secreted in blood stream
Endocrine and autonomic work together - fight or flight
What is a sensory neuron?
PNS and CNS - long dendrites and short axon
What is a relay neuron?
Connect sensory to motor - short dendrites and short axon
97%
What are motor neurons?
CNS to effector - short dendrites and short axon
What are the features of neurons?
Cell body - nucleus - genetic
Dendrites - carry impulse towards cell
Myelin sheath - fatty layer
Gaps - nodes of ranvier
Terminal button - communicate with the next
What are the neurons charge?
Resting = negative
Activated = positive
Action potential - create electrical impulses
What is a synapse?
Chemically travel
Neurotransmitters from vesicles
Post synaptic receptor site
Chemical diffuse across
Perfect fir in postsynaptic
What is excitatory and inhibitory?
Adrenaline - excitatory - higher chance of fire
Serotonin - inhibitory - lower chance of fire
Dopamine - equally likely to be either
What is summation?
Threshold for action potential to be triggered
