Approaches past paper mistakes ALL Flashcards
What does the thyroid gland do?
secretes thyroxine/increases metabolic rates and affects growth
Pavlov discussion?
scientific methods led to raised status for psychology but also meant that non-observable behaviour could not be studied in this way
therapeutic techniques in SD and flooding and aversion therapy have been successful in eliminating maladaptive behaviours in real life
neglect of the whole person – especially in treatment strategies of aversion therapy/SD/flooding
use of the Little Albert case
issue of environmental determinism and lack of focus on free will
comparison with other approaches such as SLT.
(difficulties involved in extrapolation from animal research to human behaviours)
Good things about schemas?
schema help us predict what will happen in our world based on our experiences
schema enable us to process vast amounts of information rapidly
schema prevent us from becoming overwhelmed by environmental stimuli.
Explain the function of the endocrine system
to regulate cell or organ activity within the body and control vital physiological processes in the body
to release hormones/chemical messengers from glands into the bloodstream which then bind with specific receptors in order to regulate the activity of cells or organs in the body
examples of specific hormones to illustrate effects such as adrenaline and fight or flight response
reference to how imbalance in hormones might lead to dysfunction for example, high levels of cortisol causing Cushing’s disease.
The company paid the rugby player a lot of money to be in the advert.
Use your knowledge of social learning theory to explain why the company wanted to
use a famous rugby player in the advert.
[2 marks]
people are more likely to identify with high status/highly attractive/celebrity role models
sales should increase/people are more likely to imitate the rugby player.
Outline Wundt’s theory of introspection
introspection is a systematic analysis of one’s own conscious experience
experiences are analysed in terms of their component parts/reference to ‘structuralism’
these parts are elements like sensation, emotional reactions etc
people were trained to do this analysis to make the data objective rather than subjective
people were presented with standardised sensory events like a ticking metronome and asked to report
their reactions.
Describe the somatic nervous system?
transmits sensory information from the body/sense receptors to the brain/central nervous system
transmits information from the brain (via the spinal cord) to muscles/effectors to produce (voluntary)
movements
the somatic nervous system integrates the brain with the outside world
some movements are involuntary such as in the reflex arc.
Limitations of the cognitive approach?
reliance on inference which is not objective
machine reductionism of computer modelling
use of scientific methods: limitations of these
use of case studies: limitations of these.
Describe the role of defence mechanisms according to the psychodynamic approach.
- help the ego manage the conflict between the id and the superego
- provide compromise solutions (usually unconscious) to deal with unresolvable conflict
- provide a strategy to reduce anxiety (which weakens the ego’s influence)
- use of examples, eg through the use of denial/displacement/repression, to describe the role of
defence mechanisms
Strengths psychodynamic?
The psychodynamic approach has been successful in treating mental health issues through psychotherapy. This approach can help individuals gain insight into their own behavior and work through emotional conflicts that may be causing them distress.
The psychodynamic approach provides explanatory power to many psychological topics, such as the development of personality, the role of early childhood experiences in shaping behavior, and the impact of unconscious processes on behavior.
The approach emphasizes the importance of early experiences and their influence on later development. This can help individuals understand the root causes of their behavior and work through emotional conflicts that may have originated in childhood.
The psychodynamic approach highlights the importance of the therapeutic relationship in promoting change. The emphasis on empathy, understanding, and the creation of a safe space can help individuals feel supported as they work through emotional issues.
The psychodynamic approach is holistic and recognizes the interconnectedness of mental, emotional, and physical health. This approach considers the whole person, rather than just specific symptoms.
Limitations of psychodynamic?
The testing of unconscious concepts is unfalsifiable. The unconscious mind cannot be directly observed or measured, making it difficult to test the validity of psychodynamic ideas.
The psychodynamic approach lacks scientific rigor. Many of the concepts and theories of the approach are based on case studies of a small number of individuals, which limits their generalizability to the wider population.
The approach can be socially sensitive, as it may blame mental health issues on factors such as early childhood experiences and family dynamics, which can be stigmatizing and blame-inducing.
The subjectivity of the approach means that unconscious thoughts can only be inferred from behavior or reported thoughts and experiences, which can limit the accuracy of assessments.
The use of evidence to support or contradict the psychodynamic approach can be contentious, as studies into the effectiveness of psychotherapy can be difficult to design and interpret. Additionally, the approach may be criticized for not being able to integrate the growing field of neuroscience.
Evaluate operant
Operant conditioning is a psychological approach that focuses on the relationship between behavior and its consequences. Here are some evaluations of operant conditioning:
Issue of determinism/free will:
One potential limitation of operant conditioning is its emphasis on determinism, which suggests that behavior is shaped entirely by environmental factors and is not influenced by free will. This approach implies that individuals have no control over their behavior, which may be a controversial view for some.
Support for the effectiveness of operant conditioning:
There is a wealth of research supporting the effectiveness of operant conditioning in shaping behavior. For example, Skinner’s research demonstrated how animals could be trained to perform certain behaviors through reinforcement and punishment. Additionally, operant conditioning has been successfully applied in real-life situations, such as Tranquility Bay, where troubled youths were shaped to behave in more socially acceptable ways through the use of positive reinforcement. Token economy systems have also been used in prisons and psychiatric wards to reinforce positive behaviors and reduce negative behaviors. Operant conditioning has also been shown to be effective in treating phobias.
Counterarguments presented to suggest limitations of using operant conditioning:
One limitation of operant conditioning is that support from Skinner’s/animals research cannot necessarily be generalized to humans. Humans are more complex and have a greater range of behaviors and motivations than animals, which may affect the effectiveness of operant conditioning. Additionally, some argue that operant conditioning does not take into account the role of internal processes, such as thoughts and emotions, in shaping behavior.
Comparison of approaches:
When comparing operant conditioning to other approaches, such as Social Learning Theory (SLT) or the cognitive approach, it can be argued that operant conditioning is effective in shaping behavior, but it may not be the most comprehensive approach to understanding human behavior. SLT emphasizes the role of observation and imitation in shaping behavior, while the cognitive approach focuses on how mental processes influence behavior. These approaches may provide a more holistic understanding of behavior.
Issue of reductionism:
Finally, one criticism of operant conditioning is that it can be reductionistic in its approach, as it reduces behavior to simple cause-and-effect relationships. This may not capture the complexity of human behavior, which is influenced by a range of factors beyond simple reinforcement and punishment.
What is meant by the term ecological validity?
- the extent to which behaviours observed and recorded in a study reflect the behaviours that
actually occur in the real world.
Compare psychodynamic and humanistic approaches?
determinism – the humanistic approach assumes people have free choice over their behaviour,
whereas the psychodynamic approach assumes that behaviour is determined by unconscious factors (beyond conscious control)
nature/nurture – the humanistic approach assumes behaviour is affected by desire to self-actualise
(nature) and our experience can provide barriers to this through conditions of worth and varying
experience of conditional positive regard (nurture). Likewise, the psychodynamic approach assumes
behaviour is driven by unconscious forces, eg id/ego/superego dynamics (nature) but our coping
mechanisms such as defence mechanisms arise from experience (nurture)
methodology – both are much less scientific than other approaches (but the psychodynamic approach
assumes that some aspects of behaviour can be investigated scientifically)
therapy – Rogers believed that counselling (utilising unconditional positive regard) can be used to help
clients solve their problems, overcome conditions of worth and enable their potential for selfactualisation, whereas Freud believed that psychoanalysis can lead to improvements in clients
through psychotherapy
twin study
Gottesman
studied schizo in twins
concordance rate 48% in MZ
17% DZ
