approches Flashcards
Who was Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920)?
The first person to call himself a psychologist, believing all aspects of nature including the human mind, could be studied scientificically.
Biological approach
Views huamsn as biological organisms and so provides biological explanations for all aspects of psychological functioning
What is our environment NOT important in determining?
How are genes are made
Gene
A part of the chromosmes of an organisms that carries information in the form of DNA
Genotype
The genetic makeup of an individuals. A collection of inherited genetic material that is passed from generation to generation
Natural selection
The process by which inherited characteristics that enhance an individuals reproductive success as passed on to the next generation.
Neurochemistry
The study of chemical and neural processes associated with the nervous system
Phenotype
The characteristics that are displayed on an individual - A consequence of interaction of the genotype with the enviroment
What is introspection? (AO1 Knowledge and understanding)
The process by which a person gains knowledge of there mental and emotional states.
What is the scientific method?
Refers to the use of investigative methods that are objective, systematic and replicable.
What is Empriricism?
The belief that all knowledge is deprived from sensory experience.
What do Empiricits believe?
They believe that knowlege comes from oerservation and experience alone.
What was a limititaton about Wundt’s apporach? (AO3 Evalutation)
- Behaviourists stated that his approach was unreliable as it relied primarly on ‘nonobservable’ responses. - Introspection was not particulary accurate as Nisbett and Wilson (1977) found that participants were remarkably unaware of factors that had influenced their choice of a consumer item. The problem is particularly acute in the study of implicit attitudes i.e. attitudes that are unknown to us
What are the the strengths of the scientific approach to psychology?
- It’s reliance on objective and systematic methods of the observations, knowledge aquire using the scientific method is more than just passive acceptance of facts. - The scientific method rely on a belief in determinism it was possible for them to establish causes of behaviour through methods that were both emprica and replicable. - The scientific method is self-corrective as if theories no longer fit facts they can be refined or abandoned meaning that scientific knowledge is self-corrective.
What is a limitation of reductionalism?
Is that humans and their environments are so complex that the reductionist explanation falls short of giving the whole explanation of the behaviour.
What is a strength of reductionalism?
It can give a greater understanding of something by revealing evidence for a cause of behaviour.
What is Reductionalism?
An approach that reduces a complex phenomenon such as human behaviour to the simplest explanation possible.
What are the problems associated with introspection?
- There was very little agreement between individuals - The data is unreliable - The process is subjective.
What is Structuralism?
The attempt to understand the strucuture and characteristics of the mind.
What were Wundt’s goals of psychology?
To identify components of consciousness. - To identify how those components combined to result in our conscious experience
What are the the strengths of the scientific approach to psychology?
- It’s reliance on objective and systematic methods of the observations, knowledge aquire using the scientific method is more than just passive acceptance of facts. - The scientific method rely on a belief in determinism it was possible for them to establish causes of behaviour through methods that were both emprica and replicable. - The scientific method is self-corrective as if theories no longer fit facts they can be refined or abandoned meaning that scientific knowledge is self-corrective.
What are limitations of the scientific approach to psychology? (AO3 Evalutation)
- By concenration on objectivity and control in observations, scientific psychologists create contrived situations which tell us little on how people act in natural enviroments. - Subject matter of psychology is unobservable, therefore cannot be measured in any degree of accuracy. - Not all psychologists share the same view that all human behaviour can be explored by the use of scientific methods. If human behaviour is not subject to the laws and regularites implied by scientific methods, then predictions become impossible and these methods inappropriated.
What were Wundt’s goals of psychology?
- To identify components of consciousness. - To identify how those components combined to result in our conscious experience
What are the 5 approaches that explain behaviours ?
THE LEARNING APPROACH
COGNITIVE APPROACH
PSYCHOANALYTIC APPROACH
BIOLOGICAL APPROACH
HUMANISTIC APPROACH
How does NEUROCHEMISTRY affect behaviour ?
levels of neurotransmitters affect mood and behaviour
What is the FIRST ASSUMPTION that behaviourists believe ?
- psychology should be seen as a science - supported by evidence - objective and controlled observations
What is the SECOND ASSUMPTION that behaviourists believe ?
- psychologists should study OBSERVABLE BEHAVIOURS
What is the THIRD ASSUMPTION that behaviourists believe ?
- no FREE WILL - ENVIRONMENT determines BEHAVIOUR
What is the FOURTH ASSUMPTION that behaviourists believe ?
- when we are BORN our mind is TABULA RASA (blank slate)
What is the FIFTH ASSUMPTION that behaviourists believe ?
- little difference in the learning between ANIMALS and HUMANS - study animals generlaise to humans
What is CLASSICAL CONDITIONING ?
- learning through association - two stimuli (UCS) + (NS) - repeatedly paired
What does the COGNITIVE APPROACH argue ?
internal mental processes should be observed
What involvement do schema’s have on behaviour ?
contribute to how we perceive and have opinions on the world
Who researched the schema theory ?
Bugelski and Alampay
How did BUGELSKI and ALAMPAY study the schema theory ?
Group A - animals - activate animal schema - last image - animal related Group B - human - activate human schema - last image - human related
What are THEORETICAL MODELS ?
- one way to study INTERNAL PROCESSES - information processing approach - information flows through cognitive system
What are COMPUTER MODELS ?
- comparing minds to computers
What is COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE ?
- how structures affect mental processes - Paul Broca = frontal lobe affects speech
Name 2 brain imaging techniques
fMRI and PET scans
What do brain imaging techniques do ?
identify activity in specific areas of the brain
What are the STRENGTHS of the cognitive approach ?
USES SCIENTIFIC & OBJECTIVE METHODS - reliable, objective methods - enables biological and cognitive approach to come together - credible basis USEFUL APPLICATIONS - explain dysfunctional behaviours - successful treatment
What is the WEAKNESSES of the cognitive approach ?
COUNTERARGUMENT - too abstract and theoretical - artificial stimuli = not represent everyday experiences COMPUTER MODELS - different programming between humans and computers
How does NEUROCHEMISTRY affect behaviour ?
levels of neurotransmitters affect mood and mood and behaviour
What would suggest that there is a genetic basis behind traits ?
if MONOZYGOTIC twins have a HIGHER concordance rate than DIZYGOTIC twins
How are twin studies used to determine the likelihood that certain traits have a genetic basis ?
- comparing concordance rates - concordance rate = extent that both twins share the same characteristics
What is GENOTYPE ?
GENETIC CODE - ‘written’ in the DNA
What is PHENOTYPE ?
BEHAVIOUR and PHYSICAL STRUCTURE - arising from INTERACTION between their GENOTYPE and ENVIRONMENT
What is EVOLUTION ?
change in INHERITED CHARACTERISTICS over SUCCESSIVE GENERATIONS
What is the mechanism behind biological evolution ?
natural selection
How does evolution affect behaviour ?
over successive generations - ADVANTAGEOUS BEHAVIOURS - passed on - widespread
What is ‘SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST’ ?
characteristics are inherited - compete for resources - those who survive reproduce - offspring have this good traits
What happened to PHINEAS GAGE ?
- metal bar through skull and brain - little intellectual impairment - personality change
What did the case study of Phineas Gage suggest ?
- damage to frontal lobes - this structure is involved in controlling behaviour
What is the DOPAMINE HYPOTHESIS ?
schizophrenia results from an EXCESS of DOPAMINE - causes FIRING RATE to increase - transmits TOO MANY MESSAGES - causes symptoms
What does a more recent assessment of the DOPAMINE HYPOTHESIS suggest ?
too many DOPAMINE RECEPTORS rather than too much dopamine
Why do HORMONES do ?
cause PHYSIOLOGICAL REACTION - alerting its activity
Who studied the effects of hormones ?
CARRE ET AL - Canadian ice hockey team
What did CARRE ET AL find ?
- surge in levels of TESTOSTERONE - home stadium - energised players - defending home territory
What are the STRENGTHS to the biological approach ?
SCIENTIFIC METHOD - objective measurement - easily replicated - credibility REAL-LIFE APPLICATIONS - development of psychoactive drugs - treat mental illness - gain relief
What are the LIMITATIONS of the biological approach ?
CANNOT ESTABLISH CAUSE AND EFFECT - never be completely sure that brain activity influences behaviour DETERMINISM - sees human behaviour as governed by INTERNAL BIOLOGICAL cases - have no control over
What is OPERANT CONDITIONING ?
how consequences influence behaviour
What is REINFORCEMENT ?
something in the environment that STRENGTHENS a behaviour making it more likely to occur
What is POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT ?
INCREASES the likelihood that the behaviour will be REPEATED - consequence is pleasant
Give an example of positive reinforcement
giving child praise for carrying out a good behaviour
What is NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT ?
INCREASES the likelihood that the behaviour will be repeated - removing something unpleasant
Give an example of negative reinforcement
giving a crying child sweets to take away the crying
What is PUNISHMENT ?
DECREASES the likelihood that the behaviour will be repeated - consequence is unpleasant
Give an example of punishment
giving a detention for not completing homework
What is POSITIVE PUNISHMENT ?
giving something unpleasant e.g. press-ups at badminton
What is NEGATIVE PUNISHMENT ?
removing something desirable e.g. being grounded
What are the STRENGTHS of operant conditioning ?
EMPIRICAL SUPPORT - Skinner - cause and effect
REAL-LIFE APPLICATIONS - token economy programmes - prisons - good behaviour is rewarded
What are the LIMITATIONS of operant conditioning ?
FREE WILL IN HUMANS COMPARED TO ANIMALS - cant relate Skinner’s research to humans however… - skinner argued free will is an illusion MECHANISTIC VIEW OF BEHAVIOUR - animals = passive responders - humans = active responders - learning theory may apply less to humans
What is the SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY ?
we learn indirectly by observing and imitating others
What is MODELLING ?
someone who is looked at ‘role model’ - can be live models or symbolic
What is IMITATION ?
copying of behaviour - determined by characteristics of models, ability to perform and consequences of behaviour
What is IDENTIFICATION ?
the extent that someone relates to a model
What is VICARIOUS REINFORCEMENT ?
learning by looking at the consequences of a behaviour
What is MOTOR REPRODUCTION ?
being physically capable / possible
What is the MEDITATION PROCESS ?
cognition involved prior to imitation - attention / retention / motor reproduction / motivation
What is ATTENTION ?
noticing the behaviour
