Approaches - vocab

Question 1

science

Answer 1

A means of aquiring knowledge through systematic and objective investigation. The aim is to discover general laws.

Question 2

The unconscious

Answer 2

The part of the mind that consists of mental processes that are inaccessible to conciousness but still influence us.

Question 3

Id

Answer 3

Entirely unconcious, the id is made up of selfish agressive insticts that demand immediate gratification

Question 4

Ego

Answer 4

the ‘reality check’ that balances the conflicting demands of the id and teh super ego

Question 5

Superego

Answer 5

The moralistic part of our personality which represents the ideal self: how we ought to be

Question 6

defense mechanisms

Answer 6

unconscious stratagesd that the ego uses to manage the conflict between the id and the superego

Question 7

psychosexual stages

Answer 7

The 5 stages in child development comprising specific conflicts, the outcome of which determines future development.

Question 8

objective and empirical testing

Answer 8

objectivity = being uninfluenced by personal opinions or past erxperiences, being free from bias.
empiricism = a method of gaining knowledge which relies on direct observation or testing

Question 9

psychoanalysis

Answer 9

A form of psychotherapy, originally developed by (Signmund) Freud, that is intended to help patients become aware of long-repressed feelings and issues by using techniques such as free association and dream analysis.

Question 10

classical conditioning

Answer 10

Learning by association. Occurs when 2 stimuli are repeatedly paired together - an unconditioned (unlearned) stimulus (UCS) and a new neutral stimulus (NS). The neutral stimulus eventually produces the same response that was first produced by the unlearned stimulus alone

Question 11

operant conditioning

Answer 11

A form of learning in which behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences. Possible consequences of behaviour include positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement or punishment

Question 12

positive reinforcement

Answer 12

In operant conditioning, a stimulus that increases the probability that a behaviour will be repeated because it is pleasurable.

Question 13

negative reinforcement

Answer 13

In operant conditioning, a stimulus that increases the probability that a behaviour will be repeated because it leads to escape from an unpleasant situation and is experienced as rewarding

Question 14

punishment

Answer 14

Any procedure that decreases the likelihood that a behaviour will be repeated because the overall experience is unpleasant.

Question 15

free will

Answer 15

The notion that humans can make choices and are not determined by biological or external forces.

Question 16

self actualisation

Answer 16

The desire to grow psychologically and fufill one’s potential - becoming what you are capable of.

Question 17

hierarchy of needs

Answer 17

A 5-levelled hierarchal sequence in which basic needs (such as hunger) must be satisfied before higher psychological needs (such as esteem and self-actualisation) can be achieved.

Question 18

self

Answer 18

the ideas and values that characterise ‘I’ and ‘me’ and includes perception and valuing of ‘what i am’ and ‘what i can do’

Question 19

congruence

Answer 19

The aim of Rogerian therapy; when the self-concept and the ideal self are seen to broadly accord or match

Question 20

conditions of worth

Answer 20

When a parent places limits or boundaries on their love of their children; for instance ‘I will only love you if…’

Question 21

idiographic

(approach)

Answer 21

An approach to research that focuses more on the individual cases as a means of understanding behaviour, rather than aiming to fomulate general laws of behaviour

Question 22

nomothetic

(approach)

Answer 22

An approach to research that focuses more on general laws of behaviour rather that on the individual.

Question 23

unconditional positive regard

Answer 23

Providing affection and respect without any conditions attached

Question 24

holistic

definition for holism

Answer 24

An argument/ theory which propoeses that it only makes sense to study a whole system rather than its constituent parts

constituent parts = one of the parts of which a thing is made up

Question 25

reductionalist

definition for reductionism

Answer 25

The belief that human behaviour can be most effectively explained by breaking it down into constituent parts.

Question 26

internal mental processes

Answer 26

‘private’ operations of the mind such as perception and attention that mediate between stimulus and response.

Question 27

schema

Answer 27

A mental framework of beliefs and expectations that influence cognitive processing. They are developed from experience.

Question 28

inference

Answer 28

the process whereby cognitive psychologists draw conclusions about the way mental processes operate on the basis of observed behvaiour

Question 29

soft determinism

Answer 29

The concept that there are constraints on our behavior but within these limitations we are free to make choices

Question 30

imitation

Answer 30

copying the behaviour of others

Question 31

identification

Answer 31

when an observer associates themselves with a role model and wants to be like the role model

Question 32

vicarious reinforcement

Answer 32

reinforcement which is not directly experienced but occurs through observing someone else being reinforced for a behaviour. This is a key factor in imitation.

Question 33

modelling

Answer 33

from the observers’ perspective modelling is imitating the behaviour of a role model. From the role model’s perspective, modelling is the precise demonstration of a specific behaviour that may be imitated by an observer.

Question 34

mediational processes

Answer 34

Cognitive factors (eg. thinking) that influence learning and come between stimulus and response.

Question 35

genes

Answer 35

They make up chromosomes and consist of DNA which codes the physical features of an organism (such as eye colour, height) and psychological features (such as mental disorder, intelligents). Genes are transmitted from parent to offspring, ie inherited

Question 36

maladaptive

Answer 36

The extent to which a behaviour is not adaptive (badly adapted). Something that is adaptive increases an individual’s wellbeing and survival.

Question 37

concordance rates

Answer 37

A measure of similarity (usually expressed as a %) between two individuals or sets of individuals on a given trait.

Question 38

neurochemistry

Answer 38

relating to chemicals in the brain that regulate psychological functioning

Question 39

genotype

Answer 39

The particular set of genes that a person posesses

Question 40

phenotype

Answer 40

The characteristics of an individual determined by both genes and the enviroment.

Question 41

evolution

Answer 41

The process by which species change to adapt to their enviroment

Question 42

cognitive neuroscience

Answer 42

The scientific study of biological structures that underpin cognitive processes.

Question 43

introspection

Answer 43

studying and reporting thought processes