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Psychology > Approaches Part 2 > Flashcards

Approaches Part 2 Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the biological approach?

A

The biological approach views humans as biological organisms so provides biological explanations for psychological functioning

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2
Q

What are genes and how do they relate to psychology (The Biological Approach)

A

Genes are the passing of characteristics from one generation to the next, therefore the offspring are genetically similar to their parents in terms of psychological characteristics

  • genes carry specific instructions for their characteristics
  • depends on the genes interaction with other genes
  • can be influenced by the environment this is called the nature-nurture debate
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3
Q

Genotype and Phenotype (The Biological Approach)

A

Genotype- this is the genetic code that is written in the DNA of an individuals cells
Phenotype - the physical characteristic that appears from the genes inherited

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4
Q

The basis of genetic behaviour and why are all psychologically different (The Biological Approach)

A
  • Each individual possess a unique combination of genetic instructions therefore we differ from each other as no two individuals share the same combination of alleles
  • the more the trait is influenced by genetic factors the greater its heritability
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5
Q

What are the systems that make up the nervous system(The Biological Approach)

A
  • Central Nervous system (CNS)

- Peripheral Nervous system (PNS)

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6
Q

What does the nervous system do?(The Biological Approach)

A

The nervous system carries messages from one part of the body to another using individual nerve cells known as neurons
- Neurons transmit nerve impulses in the form of electrical signalling

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7
Q

What is the largest part of the brain? (The Biological Approach)

A

Cerebrum

  • this makes up about 85% of the total mass of the brain, the outer surface of the cerebrum is called the cerebral cortex which is responsible for may high order thinking, such as though and language
  • divided into two halves known as hemispheres with each hemisphere divided into four different parts
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8
Q

What happens when a nerve impulse reaches the end of a neuron (The Biological Approach)

A

a chemical called a neurotransmitter is released

- travels from one neuron to the next across a junction called the synapse

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9
Q

Name some different types of neurotransmitters (The Biological Approach)

A
  • Neurotransmitters that trigger the nerve impulses in the receiving neuron and stimulate the brain into action are called excitatory neurotransmitters - Dopamine
  • Neurotransmitters that inhibit nerve impulses in order to calm the brain and balance mood are called inhibitory neurotransmitters - Serotonin
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10
Q

What did Crokett et al 2008 find? (The Biological Approach)

A

He found that people with low serotonin levels display increased levels of aggression

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11
Q

What are Hormones? (The Biological Approach)

A

Hormones are chemicals that are produced by the endocrine glands such as the pituitary gland which make up the endocrine system

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12
Q

Describe how Hormones work in the body? (The Biological Approach)

A

Hormones are secreted directly into the bloodstream by the endocrine glands where they travel to their target cells and exert their influence by stimulating receptors on the surface of or inside there cells

  • causes a physiological reaction in the cell
  • Carré et al 2006 - studied a Canadian Hockey team over the course of a season, found evidence of a surge in testosterone wherever the team played in the home stadium
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13
Q

How does natural selection and evolution fit with the biological approach (The Biological Approach)

A
  • Natural selection - individuals differ from each other in terms of their physical attributes and their behaviour, the individuals who are best adapted survive and pass on their characteristic to their offspring
  • behaviours are passed on from individual to offspring
  • Buss 1989 - studied 37 different cultures found universal similarities in human mate preferences, woman desired men with resources, whereas men desired young physically attractive women
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14
Q

Evaluation of the Biological Approach Strengths: The importance of the scientific method

A
  • uses the scientific method particularly the experimental method as its main method of investigation
  • take place in high controlled environments therefore this adds validity to the experiment as findings can be reproduced
  • get the same results replicated
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15
Q

Evaluation of the Biological Approach Strengths: Applications of the biological approach

A
  • provides clear predictions about effects of neurotransmitters and the behaviour of people
  • e.g. neurotransmitter imbalance into the cause of depression this develops drug treatments - improved their conditions
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16
Q

Evaluation of the Biological Approach Limitations: The biological approach is reductionist

A
  • reductionism is the belief that complex human behaviour can be explained by breaking it down into the smallest components such as the action of genes and neurotransmitters
  • cannot fully understand a behaviour without taking into account other factors that influence it
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17
Q

Evaluation of the Biological Approach Limitations: Problems for evolutionary explanations of behaviour

A
  • must human behaviours can be explained through genetic and cultural roots, evolutionary behaviour is complicated by this
  • purely has cultural origins
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18
Q

Further Evaluation of the Biological Approach: The dangers of genetic explanations

A
  • genetic basis for criminal behaviour has led to concerns how this information might be used
  • genetic screening could be used - this could lead to discrimination against others based on their genes and those who have a predisposition for crime
  • can be used to prevent mental disorders such as schizophrenia - gives them the chance to avoid environmental situations that may cause this
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19
Q

What is the cognitive approach

A

focuses on how people perceive, store, manipulate and interpret information. it studies processes such as perception, memory, thinking and problem solving. psychologists believe that it is necessary to look at internal mental processes in order to understand behaviour

20
Q

How do psychologists study are internal mental processes (The Cognitive Approach)

A

They realise that it cannot be studied directly but can be studied indirectly by using inferring this is what goes on as a result of measuring behaviour and allows psychologists to develop theories

21
Q

What is a schema (The Cognitive Approach)

A

a schema is a cognitive framework that helps organise and interprets information in the brain. they are based on expectations on how to behave in specific situations or in different roles

22
Q

What do schemas help us do? (The Cognitive Approach)

A

they are useful as they allow us to take shortcuts when interpreting huge amounts of information that we have to do daily, they also exclude information that does conform with our established beliefs
fill in gaps of absence of information and help us act accordingly

23
Q

What is the consequences of schemas?

A

We develop stereotypes of other things and people these are hard to disconfirm even when faced with new and conflicting information

24
Q

What is a theoretical model (The Cognitive Approach)

A

models such as multi-store model of memory or the working memory model are simplified representations based on current research evidence

  • represented by arrows and boxes that indicate cause and effect stages of mental processes
  • models such as the working memory model are often incomplete and informal therefore are frequently changed
  • Baddeley and Hitch in 1974 created a working memory model which consisted of three main sections and then in 2000 Baddeley added a 4th section
25
Q

What is a computer model (The Cognitive Approach)

A

using the computer as an analogy we can focus on the way in which sensory information is coded as it passes through a system - the information is inputted through the senses, encoded in the memory and then combined with previously stored information to complete a task
- the RAM is the long-term memory which corresponds to working memory - the RAM is cleared and resent when the task being carrier out is finished

26
Q

How has the emergence of cognitive neuroscience help study the brain and cognitive approach (The Cognitive Approach)

A

the use of PET and fMRI has help psychologists to understand how the brain supports different cognitive activities and emotions by showing what part of the brain become active in specific circumstances
- Burnett et al - found that when people felt guilt several brain regions are active including the medial prefrontal cortex - this is an area associated with social emotions

27
Q

Evaluation of the Cognitive Approach Strengths: The cognitive approach has applications

A
  • applied in many other areas of psychology
  • in social psychology it has help psychologists better understand how we from impressions of other people and the errors and biases that influence our interpretation of the causes of their behaviour
  • has shown how dysfunctional behaviour can be shown by faulty though processes
  • this has led to CBT treatment for OCD
28
Q

Evaluation of the Cognitive Approach Strengths: The cognitive approach is scientific

A
  • Uses the experimental method, this is good for developing research and evaluating evidence to reach conclusions about how the mind works
  • conclusions about how the mind works are based more on common sense and introspection which can give a misleading idea
29
Q

Evaluation of the Cognitive Approach Limitations: Limitations of computer models

A

uses cognitive models to explain human coding, terms such as encoding, retrieval and storage are borrowed from the computer field

  • however there is a difference between the type of information being processed that takes place in the human mind in comparison with a computer
  • computers do not make mistakes or ignore information whereas humans do
30
Q

Evaluation of the Cognitive Approach Limitations: Ignores motivations and emotion

A

it fails to tell us why certain thought processes happen, so the role of emotion and motivation is largely ignored

  • expected seeing that approaches which focus on emotional and motivational aspects largely ignore cognitive processes
  • over dependence of information processing analogies as motivation is irrelevant to a computer but not to a human
31
Q

Evaluation of the cognitive Approach: Studies may lack ecological validity

A
  • tend to use tasks that have little in common with everyday experiences - artificial memory tests - use these rather than try to understand how memory is used in every day life
  • therefore it lacks ecological validity
32
Q

What is the psychodynamic approach

A

This refers to any theory that emphasises change and development in the individual, the drive is a central concept in development. Change is very important in both of these

33
Q

The role of the unconscious (The Psychodynamic Approach)

A
  • Sigmund Freud came up with it
  • this refers to the part of the mind that is inaccessible
  • used an iceberg metaphor
  • most of the mind is hidden and this is the unconscious part - this part of the mind controlled most of our everyday actions and behaviours
  • the unconscious mind revels itself in slips these are called Freudian slips
  • the mind prevents traumatic memories in the unconscious from reaching the conscious mind these could cause anxiety - so the mind uses defence mechanism to stop them from reaching the surface
34
Q

What are the parts belonging to the structure of the personality (The Psychodynamic Approach)

A

The id, The ego, The superego

35
Q

Describe the id (The Psychodynamic Approach)

A

the id operates in the unconscious

  • contains the libido - this is the biological energy created by the reproductive instinct
  • operates according to the pleasure principle - demands gratification immediately regardless of the circumstance
36
Q

Describe the ego (The Psychodynamic Approach)

A

The ego mediates between the impulsive demands of the id and the reality of the external world - reality principle

  • may delay gratifying the id until a more appropriate time
  • may compromise between the demands of the id and the moralistic demands of the superego
37
Q

Describe the superego (The Psychodynamic Approach)

A

divided into the conscience and the ego-ideal

  • the conscience is the internalisation of societal rules
  • determines which behaviours are permissible and causes feeling of guilt
  • ego-ideal is what the person strives towards and is determined by parental standards of good behaviours
38
Q

Name some examples of defence mechanisms (The Psychodynamic Approach)

A

Repression - refers to the unconscious blocking of unacceptable thoughts and impulses - they influence the behaviour without the individual being aware that they are influencing the behaviour
Denial - refusal to accept reality so as to avoid having to deal with any painful memories that are associated with that event
Displacement - involves the redirecting of thoughts and feelings usually in hostile situations where the person feels unable to express there feelings towards the person that it should be aimed at

39
Q

What are the psychosexual stages of development (The Psychodynamic Approach)

A 
oral (0-2 years)
Anal (2-3 years)
Phallic (3-6 years)
Latent ( 6-12 years)
Genital (12+)
40
Q

Describe the psychosexual stages of development (The Psychodynamic Approach)

A

Oral - the mouth is the focal point of sensation and this is how the child expresses sexual energy
Anal - the beginnings of the ego development the child becomes aware of the demands of reality and needing to conform to the demands of others - issue at this stage is toilet training
Phallic - sexual energy is focused on the genitals - major complex at this stage is the Oedipus complex the male unconsciously wishes to posses the mother and get rid of the father - boys experience castration anxiety and to resolve the problem the boys identify with the father
Latent - the child develops their mastery of the world around them - conflict and issues are repressed and the children cannot remember much of their early years
Genital - the culmination of psychosexual development and the fixing of sexual energy towards the genital this leads towards sexual intercourse and the beginnings of adult life

41
Q

Evaluation of The Psychodynamic Approach Strengths: Psychoanalysis: A pioneering approach

A
  • huge shift in psychological thinking
  • suggested new methodological procedures for gathering empirical evidence
  • based on observations of behaviour rather than relying on introspection
  • Freud and his followers were the first to demonstrate the potential of psychological rather than biological treatments
  • Matt et al’s 2009 - large scale review of psychotherapy studies concluding that psychoanalysis produced significant improvements in symptoms even years after
42
Q

Evaluation of The Psychodynamic Approach Strengths : Scientific support for the psychodynamic approach

A
  • has been tested and have been confirmed using scientific methodology
  • Fisher and Greenberg 1996 - summarised 2500 of these studies and concluded that experimental studies of psychoanalysis compare well to studies of other areas
  • found support for the existence of unconscious motivation in human behaviour and defence mechanisms
43
Q

Evaluation of The Psychodynamic Approach Limitations: Psychoanalysis is a gender bias approach

A

Freuds view of women and female sexuality were less well development than his view on males

  • ignorant towards it
  • Karen Horney broke away from Freudian theory to criticise his work on woman
  • he had many female patients
44
Q

Evaluation of The Psychodynamic Approach Limitations: Psychoanalysis is a cultural bias approach

A

Sue and Sue 2008 argued that psychoanalysis has little relevance for people from non-western cultures
- in china for example a depressed person with anxious thoughts avoids the thoughts rather than discussing them openly this contrasts with the idea of the western culture discussing thoughts openly in therapy

45
Q

Evaluation of The Psychodynamic Approach: A comprehensive theory

A
  • can be used to explain many other areas of psychology
  • Shakespeare has repressed hidden messages in his literature, by discovering these messages we are able to discover his thoughts and mind processes

Psychology (37 decks)

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