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Psychology - Paper 2 > Approaches To Psychology > Flashcards

Approaches To Psychology Flashcards

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1
Q

What theory did Wundt develop?

A

Introspection.

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2
Q

When did Wundt develop his theory?

A

1879.

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3
Q

What is introspection?

A

First attempt to systematically study the mind by breaking up conscious awareness into basic structures of thoughts, images and sensations.

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4
Q

What else did Wundt establish?

A

The first psychology lab =

  • to describe the nature of human consciousness in a carefully controlled and scientific environment.
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5
Q

Did Wundt use standardised procedures?

A

Yes,

allowed his procedures to be replicated - thoughts, etc were recorded.

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6
Q

Evaluate Wundt’s introspection?

A

:) Methods are scientific.

:( Aspects of research aren’t scientific.

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7
Q

How are Wundt’s methods scientific?

A
  • He recorded introspections in a controlled lab.

- He standardised his procedures.

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8
Q

How come some aspects of Wundt’s research weren’t scientific?

A
  • Relied on participants to self-report mental process (private).
  • Data is subjective.
  • Really hard to report thoughts.
  • Couldn’t produce general laws as participants wouldn’t have the same thoughts every time.
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9
Q

Describe the emergence of psychology as a science?

A

1) . 1900s = Watson (1913) said introspection was subjective.
2) . 1930s = intro of behaviourism (B.F. Skinner 1953).
3) . 1950s = intro of cognitive approach (study of mental processes).
4) . 1990s = into of biological approach (used brain scanning technology).

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10
Q

Evaluate the emergence of psychology as a science?

A

1) . Research can be claimed as scientific.

2) . Not all approaches use objective methods.

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11
Q

How come research in psychology can claim to be scientific?

A
  • Learning, biological and cognitive approach all rely on scientific methods (labs).
  • Psychology has the same aims as natural sciences.
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12
Q

Which approaches don’t use objective methods?

A

1). Humanistic =

anti-scientific and doesn’t aim to create general laws (idiothetic).

2). Psychodynamic =

uses case studies which are biased as they are based on interviews and aren’t representative.

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13
Q

How do behaviourists oppose introspection?

A

They are only concerned with studying behaviour that can be observed and measured.

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14
Q

What type of studies do behaviourists rely on?

A

Lab =

  • tried to maintain more control and objectivity.
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15
Q

Who are the main behaviourists?

A

1) . Pavlov (dogs).

2) . Skinner (box).

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16
Q

What did Pavlov research?

A
  • Classical conditioning = learning by association.
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17
Q

How does Pavlov demonstrate his research?

A

On dogs (salivating) =

  • UCS = food.
  • UCR = salivation.
  • NS = bell.
  • Bell and food occur at same time (NS + UCS).
  • CS = bell.
  • CR = salivation
  • Bell is now paired with food, so dog salivates.
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18
Q

What did Skinner research?

A
  • Operant conditioning = learning by reinforcement.
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19
Q

How does Skinner demonstrate his research?

A

Rats and pigeons in cages.

  • Rat activates lever = receives pellet (received reward in intervals to avoid boredom).
  • Also pressed lever to avoid electric shock.
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20
Q

What are the different types of reinforcement?

A
  • Positive (rewarded) = behaviour is repeated.
  • Negative = in order to avoid something unpleasant (behaviour is repeated).
  • Punishment = behaviour isn’t repeated.
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21
Q

What approach is the opposite of the behavioural approach?

A

Biological = nature.

Behaviourists = nurture (environment).

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22
Q

Evaluate the behaviourist approach?

A

:) Gave psychology scientific credibility =

measured behaviour in controlled labs - objective.

:) Real-life application =

token economy system (rewarding desirable behaviour in prisons and wards).

:( Mechanistic view =

animals/people seen as passive responders to environment.

:( Environmental determinism =

sees all behaviour as determined by past experience (Skinner suggests free will is an illusion).

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23
Q

Who developed the SLT?

A

Bandura.

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24
Q

What does the SLT focus on?

A

Direct learning = occurs through experience (behavioural).

Indirect learning = through observation and imitation of others’ behaviour.

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25
Q

What is vicarious reinforcement?

A

Behaviour and consequences are observed =

  • if positively reinforced, they are more likely to imitate than punishment.
26
Q

What are the mediational process in learning?

A

1) . Attention = whether behaviour is noticed. (learning).
2) . Retention = whether behaviour is remembered. (learning).
3) . Motor reproduction = being able to do it. (performance).
4) . Motivation = the will to perform the behaviour. (performance).

27
Q

What characteristics are needed for imitation of role models to most likely occur?

A

Similarity, the observer needs to be able to identify with them.

28
Q

What study did Bandura conduct to support his theory?

A

Bobo doll.

29
Q

What was Bandura’s procedures?

A

1) . Children observed an adult =
- be aggressive to bobo doll.
- be non-aggressive to bobo doll.
2) . Children observed an adult =
- rewarded.
- punished.
- neither rewarded nor punished.

30
Q

What did Bandura find?

A

1) . Aggressive = child was aggressive to bobo doll.

2) . Rewarded = much more aggressive themselves.

31
Q

What is Bandura’s conclusions?

A

Children are more likely to be aggressive if they observe a role model, and if they are rewarded (vicarious reinforcment).

32
Q

What are the evaluations of the SLT?

A

:) Emphasises cognitive factors in behaviour =

recognises mediational processes of storing behaviour.

:( Relies too heavily on evidence form lab studies =

bobo dolls are supposed to be hit.

:( Underestimates biological factors =

ignores influence of hormones (testosterone) in aggression.

:) Less deterministic than behavioural approach =

he discusses reciprocal determinism –> we influence our environment by the behaviours we perform.

33
Q

What does the cognitive approach study?

A

Mental processes.

34
Q

Which approach does the cognitive approach oppose?

A

Behaviourist, studies internal forces (memory, etc), instead of external forces.

35
Q

What is the role of inferences in studying cognitive processes?

A

Mental processes are private and cannot be observed, so cognitive psychologists study them by making assumptions.

36
Q

What are the examples of the theoretical models cognitive psychologists use?

A

1) . MSM.

2) . WMM.

37
Q

What are schemas?

A

Packages of information developed through experience =

  • act as a mental framework for interpreting the world.
38
Q

What is an example of a schema?

A

Learning to ride a bike =

  • It’s hard at first, but once learned, you won’t forget how to ride a bike.
39
Q

What happens to schemas as we get older?

A

They get more detailed and sophisticated.

40
Q

How do cognitive psychologists use computer models to describe mental processes?

A

They describe the ‘input’, ‘process’, ‘storage’ and ‘output’ of information.

  • Computer programmes imitate the human mind.
  • e.g. Stimuli (focus), process memory, then express response.
41
Q

Explain the emergence of neuroscience?

A
  • Study on the influence of brain structure on mental processes.
  • Uses biological structures (hormones), to explain the affect on behaviour (low serotonin = depression).
  • Use brain scans - e.g. Tulving et al. (Semantic/episodic memory in opposite sides of prefrontal cortex).
42
Q

What are the evaluations of the cognitive approach?

A

:) Scientific, objective methods =

Rigorous lab studies to infer cognitive processes.

:( Machine reductionism =

Ignores emotions by making comparisons to computers.

:( Lacks external validity =

Only able to make inferences on observable behaviour - too theoretical.

:) Dominant approach in psychology =

Significant for the development of AI.

:( Less deterministic than other approaches =

We are free to think before responding, but cognitive system can only operate within certain limits.

43
Q

What does the biological approach focus on?

A

Biological structures and processes that influence behaviour =

  • such as; genes, hormones, neurochemistry and the nervous system.
44
Q

How does the biological approach oppose the cognitive approach?

A
  • Biological = mind lives inside the brain (thoughts, feelings and behaviour have a physical basis).
  • Cognitive = the mind and brain are separate.
45
Q

What do biological psychologists say about the hereditary basis of behaviour?

A

Behaviour is inherited like physical characteristics =

  • 5HT1-D beta (gene) = implicated in OCD.
46
Q

Give an example of neurochemistry implicating behaviour?

A

Low levels of serotonin in OCD.

47
Q

What type of studies are used to investigate the genetic basis of behaviour?

A

Twin studies =

  • Concordance rates are calculated.
48
Q

What are concordance rates?

A

The extent to which twins share the same characteristics.

49
Q

Give an example of twin studies supporting the genetic basis of behaviour?

A

Nestadt et al. (2010) - OCD =

  • MZ = 68%.
  • DZ = 31%

Higher concordance rates amongst MZ shows genetic basis.

50
Q

What is a genotype?

A

Actual genetic make-up.

51
Q

What is a phenotype?

A

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

52
Q

What influences the expression of the genotype (phenotype)?

A

Environmental factors.

53
Q

How does Darwin’s theory of evolution support the biological approach to genes?

A

Genes that enhance survival and reproduction are passed on.

  • these genes are adaptive and give the offspring an advantage.
54
Q

What are the evaluations of the biological approach?

A

:) Scientific methods =

Make use of brain scans and drug trials to measure biological processes.

:) Real-life application =

Led to the development of drugs to treat mental illnesses.

:( Deterministic =

See behaviour governed by internal forces, with no control.

:( Difficulty separating nature and nurture =

Family members share genes, but they also share the environment which could influence behaviour as much as genes.

55
Q

Who developed the psychodynamic approach?

A

Freud.

56
Q

What does Freud suggest the mind is made up of?

A
  • Conscious =

What we are aware of.

  • Pre(sub)-conscious =

Memories and thoughts we aren’t aware of, but can be accessed.

  • Unconscious =

What we are unaware of, this influences our behaviour.

57
Q

What is the tripartite structure of our personality, according to Freud?

A
  • Id =

Pleasure principles - demands immediate gratification.

  • Ego =

Reality principle - mediator between Id and Superego.

  • Superego =

Moral principle - punishes the ego through guilt.

58
Q

What are the defence mechanisms used by the ego?

A

1). Repression =

Forcing distressing memories out of conscious mind.

2). Denial =

Refusing to acknowledge reality.

3). Displacement =

Transferring feeling to a substitute target.

59
Q

What are the 5 psychosexual stages?

A

1). Oral (0-1 years) =

Pleasure focus = mouth.

2). Anal (1-3 years) =

Pleasure focus = anus (faeces).

3). Phallic (3-5 years) =

Pleasure focus = genitals.

4). Latency =

Earlier conflicts are repressed.

5). Genital (puberty) =

Sexual desires become conscious.

60
Q

What happens if a problem during a psychosexual stage is unresolved?

A

Fixation on the stage =

  • where the child becomes ‘stuck’ and carries the behaviour associated with the stage throughout adult life.
61
Q

What is the Oedipus complex?

A
  • happens in phallic stage (of boys).
  • incestuous feelings towards mother.
  • hatred towards father.
  • boys repress feelings (castration anxiety), and take on gender role of father (identify).
62
Q

What are the evaluations of the psychodynamic approach?

A

:) Explanatory power =

Has been used to explain behaviours andt the influence of childhood on adult personalities.

:) Practical application =

Psychoanalysis - used to access the unconscious through dreams.

:( Relies on case studies =

Can’t be generalised, but allow good detail.

:( Untestable concepts =

Isn’t falsifiable, cant test the Oedipus complex or any unconscious theories.

Psychology - Paper 2 (3 decks)

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