areas Flashcards
cognitive area assumptions?
behaviour is explained in terms of mental processes (memory, attention, perception, language, reasoning and thought)
mind is like computer, inputting, storing and retrieving information
cognitive area methodology?
favours highly scientific procedures
cannot be studied directly, often relies on self report to see what Ps can or can’t do
cognitive area strengths?
highly scientific, allowing cause and effect to be determined
useful with everyday applications
cognitive area weaknesses?
computer analogy is reductionist, brain more complex
controlled experiments mean ecological validity and generalisability low
self report risks demand characteristics
quantitative data lacks deeper understanding of processes
research to illustrate the cognitive area?
loftus & palmer: cognitive process of memory, false memories
grant et al: cognitive process of memory, context dependant memory
moray: cognitive process of attention, selective attention
simons & chabris: cognitive process of attention, inattentional blindness
developmental area assumptions?
there are systematic changes in an individual’s behaviour from birth to death
behavioural development is the result of an interaction between nature and nurture (inheritance and experience)
developmental area methodology?
uses a range of methods, from case studies to controlled lab experiments
developmental area strengths?
useful applications
wide range of methods allow for understanding through qualitative and quantitative data
addresses nature/nurture debate
developmental area weaknesses?
narrow focus, dominated by children
ethical concerns about studying children
practical issues surrounding using children, difficult subjects, adults interpreting children’s behaviour is problematic
research to illustrate the developmental area?
bandura et al: external influences, transmission of aggression, influence of environment/role model on a child’s behaviour
chaney et al: external influences, funhaler, illustrating how children learn
kohlberg: moral development, stages of moral development, how children develop over time through stages of morality
lee et al: moral development, truth/lie-telling, changes in moral development in children depending on age and culture
social area assumptions?
all behaviour occurs in a social context even when nobody else is present
society and other people are a huge influence on people’s behaviour
social area methodology?
dominated by field experiments
self report to measure attitudes towards social issues
lab experiments have problems with generalisability
social area strengths?
relevant, allowing understanding of real life issues
useful, with practical applications
popularized psychology in the public eye
ecological validity due to field experiments
social area weaknesses?
ethical issues in research and findings
field experiments lack control
ethnocentric and may not be generalisable
validity may not stand the test of time
research to illustrate the social area?
milgram: authority, obedience, extent to which a social situation can affect someone’s behaviour
bocchiaro et al: authority, disobedience and whistleblowing, confirming that the influence of someone else will lead to more obedience than they’d predict
piliavin et al: in need, subway samaritan, impact of other people on helping behaviour
levine et al: in need, cross-cultural altruism, correlated variables were social and so was situation
