Approaches (PAPER 2)

Question 1

(AO1) Who is considered the father of psychology?

Answer 1

Wilhelm Wundt – opened the first psychology lab in 1879.

Question 2

(AO1) What is introspection?

Answer 2

The process of examining your own thoughts and mental processes.

Question 3

(AO3) What was a limitation of Wundt’s method?

Answer 3

Subjective and unscientific — results can’t be replicated.

Question 4

(AO3) What approach replaced introspection?

Answer 4

The Behaviourist approach – more scientific and objective.

Question 5

(AO1) What are the two main types of learning in behaviourism?

Answer 5

Classical conditioning and operant conditioning.

Question 6

(AO1) What is classical conditioning?

Answer 6

Learning through association (Pavlov’s dogs: bell = food).

Question 7

(AO1) What is operant conditioning?

Answer 7

Learning through consequences — reinforcement and punishment (Skinner’s rats).

Question 8

(AO3) What is a strength of the behaviourist approach?

Answer 8

Uses controlled lab studies — high scientific credibility.

Question 9

(AO3) What is a limitation of the behaviourist approach?

Answer 9

Ignores mental processes and free will — environmental determinism.

Question 10

(AO1) Who developed SLT?

Answer 10

Albert Bandura.

Question 11

(AO1) What is vicarious reinforcement?

Answer 11

Learning by observing someone else being rewarded or punished.

Question 12

(AO1) What are the four mediational processes in SLT?

Answer 12

Attention, Retention, Motor reproduction, Motivation.

Question 13

(AO1) What was the Bobo Doll experiment?

Answer 13

Children who saw an adult act aggressively toward a doll were more likely to imitate the behaviour.

Question 14

(AO3) What is a strength of SLT?

Answer 14

Explains behaviour in a social context — accounts for cognitive factors.

Question 15

(AO3) What is a limitation of SLT?

Answer 15

Lab studies = demand characteristics (children may have imitated just because they thought they were supposed to).

Question 16

(AO1) What does the cognitive approach focus on?

Answer 16

Internal mental processes like perception, memory, and thinking.

Question 17

(AO1) What is the theoretical model used in cognitive psychology?

Answer 17

The information processing model — input → process → output.

Question 18

(AO1) What is a schema?

Answer 18

A mental framework based on prior experience that helps organise information.

Question 19

(AO3) What is a strength of the cognitive approach?

Answer 19

Based on scientific methods (e.g., brain scanning, controlled lab research).

Question 19

(AO3) What’s a limitation of the cognitive approach?

Answer 19

Often uses artificial tasks (e.g., memory tests) — low ecological validity.

Question 20

(AO3) What practical application has come from the cognitive approach?

Answer 20

Development of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT).

Question 21

(AO1) What are the key assumptions of the biological approach?

Answer 21

Behaviour is influenced by genes, neurochemistry, and the nervous system.

Question 22

(AO1) What is a genotype vs phenotype?

Answer 22

Genotype = genetic makeup; Phenotype = how genes are expressed in the environment.

Question 23

(AO1) What methods does the biological approach use?

Answer 23

Brain scans, twin studies, and genetic testing.

Question 24

(AO3) What is a strength of the biological approach?

Answer 24

Scientific and objective — uses reliable technology (e.g., fMRI).

Question 25

(AO3) What is a limitation of the biological approach?

Answer 25

Biological determinism — ignores the role of the environment.

Question 25

(AO1) What are defence mechanisms?

Answer 25

Unconscious strategies to reduce anxiety — e.g., repression, denial, displacement.

Question 25

(AO1) What are the three parts of the personality according to Freud?

Answer 25

Id (pleasure), Ego (reality), Superego (morality).

Question 26

(AO1) What are the 5 psychosexual stages?

Answer 26

Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latency, Genital.

Question 27

(AO3) What’s a strength of the psychodynamic approach?

Answer 27

First theory to consider the unconscious mind — led to psychoanalysis therapy.

Question 28

(AO3) What’s a major criticism of the psychodynamic approach?

Answer 28

Not falsifiable — difficult to test or measure scientifically.

Question 29

(AO1) What are the key features of the humanistic approach?

Answer 29

Free will, self-actualisation, personal growth

Question 30

(AO1) What is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs?

Answer 30

A 5-level model: physiological → safety → love/belonging → esteem → self-actualisation.

Question 31

(AO1) What did Carl Rogers propose?

Answer 31

People need unconditional positive regard and congruence between self-concept and ideal self for personal growth.

Question 32

(AO3) What’s a strength of the humanistic approach?

Answer 32

Emphasises individual choice and personal responsibility — more optimistic.

Question 33

(AO3) What is a limitation?

Answer 33

Lacks scientific basis — relies on subjective concepts

Question 34

(Comparison) Which approaches are deterministic?

Answer 34

Behaviourist, Biological, Psychodynamic — they suggest behaviour is determined by factors outside our control.

Question 35

(Comparison) Which approach is holistic?

Answer 35

Humanistic — looks at the whole person.

Question 36

(Comparison) Which approaches are most scientific?

Answer 36

Biological and Cognitive — use controlled, replicable methods.

Question 37

(Comparison) Which approaches recognise free will?

Answer 37

Humanistic (fully) and Cognitive (to some extent).

Question 38

(Comparison) How do SLT and Behaviourism differ?

Answer 38

SLT includes cognitive factors (mediation), behaviourism does not.