Approaches to Psychology Flashcards
Outline the work of Wilhelm Wundt.
Opened the first ever lab dedicated to psychological enquiry. Wanted describe the nature of consciousness. He and his co-workers recorded their conscious thoughts hoping to break them down into their constituent parts - Introspection.
Outline some strengths of Wundt’s work.
Used some scientific methods. High controlled conditions used the same stimulus every time. Used standardised instructions allowed procedures to be repeated. Marked the separation of modern psychology from its broader philosophical roots.
Describe the emergence of psychology as a science.
The scientific status of introspection was being questioned by behaviourists e.g. (Watson). Watson did not like that introspection produced subjective data. Cannot be used to develop general principles. Introspection also focusses on ‘private’ mental processes. Watson believed scientific psychology should study phenomena that can be observed and measured Birth of the behaviourist approach. Watson and Skinner brought the language, rigor and methods of the natural sciences into psychology. Used carefully controlled lab studies that would go on to dominate discipline many psychologists still rely on the experimental method.
Outline classical conditioning as an explanation for behaviour.
Learning by Association.
US→ UR
US + NS → UR
CS(NS) → CR
Outline operant conditioning as an explanation for behaviour.
Learning by reinforcement and punishment. Positive and negative reinforcement - Explain. Punishment - Explain. Reinforced behaviour is repeated and punished behaviour dies out.
Describe one study in which classical conditioning was investigated.
Pavlov’s Dog - to assess learning through association. Noticed dogs would salivate at food UR + US. Paired the food with a bell (NS) → Dog would salivate at the sound of the bell. Dog has learned to associate the bell with food and will salivating.
Describe one study in which operant conditioning was investigated.
Skinner’s rats - investigate the role of reinforcement on behaviour. Rats in a box would get a food pellet (reward) every time they press a lever and so would repeat the behaviour. In addition they would learn to repeat behaviours to avoid unpleasant stimuli. Rats learned through reinforcement to perform behaviours.
Outline some real world applications / support for behaviourism.
Token Economy systems in prisons and other institutions. Prisoners earn tokens (rewards) through desirable behaviour, which can go towards something bigger. Shows operant conditioning in action.
Behaviourism has been credited with increasing the scientific credibility of psychology. Explain this.
Uses the language of the natural sciences → focuses on measuring observable behaviour within controlled settings. Emphasises the importance of scientific processes - replicability & objectivity. Can be used to create general laws of behaviour.
Explain environmental determinism in relation to the behaviourist approach.
Behaviourism suggest that all of our behaviour comes as a response to interactions with the environment. Doesn’t take other influences into account - not everybody acts without thinking - there is proof that we can choose our actions. Limitation of the approach.
What does it mean that behaviourism has a mechanistic view of behaviour? Are there better ways of viewing behaviour?
Animals and humans are seen as passive (machine like) responders to the environment. No conscience or insight. Cognitive approach & Social learning theory - emphasis on mental processes. These allow us to decide how to respond to a stimulus, making us more active in our behaviour.
Outline the basic assumption of social learning theory. Illustrate your answer with an example of behaviour.
Behaviour is learned through observation and imitation. Vicarious reinforcement (indirect reinforcement of behaviour). Watching someone be a bully. Copying behaviour because of the social acceptance gained by the bully.
Use an example of behaviour to explain what social learning theorists mean by mediational processes in learning.
According to SLT, mediational processes are cognitive processes that allow us to choose whether or not to act out a behaviour. Attention, retention, motivation, motor reproduction. Seeing the bully’s behaviour; remembering it; seeing the positive outcome for the bully; being able to carry out the behaviour.
What do social learning theorists mean by the term identification? Illustrate your answer using an example.
People are most likely to imitate behaviour of people they identify with (role models). These are usually similar age, gender, charismatic, attractive etc. Little brother is going to imitate big brother.
Describe one study in which social learning theory was investigated.
Bandura’s Bobo doll study. Will children imitate violent behaviour? Children observed adults being violent towards a bobo doll. When put in the same position the children imitated the behaviour they saw. → Children imitate the violent behaviour carried out by a role model.
