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Psychology - Core studies > Areas, Debates And Perspectives > Flashcards

Areas, Debates And Perspectives Flashcards

1
Q

Reductionism holism

A

Do psychologists use controlled experiments in which variables are isolated and tested one at a time or as the result of many different factors interacting with each other so models need to be developed to capture all the different factors and how they interact

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2
Q

Individual situational

A

Whether behaviour is caused by factors internal to an individual or because of circumstances in which they find themselves

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3
Q

Nature nurture

A

Whether the ways in which we behave are the result of genes or environment

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4
Q

Psychology as a science

A

Whether conducting scientific research is the best way to find out about human behaviour

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5
Q

Conducting socially sensitive research

A

Research is socially sensitive if it has negative implications
Should psychologists stop investigating these topics or whether doing so is the only way to find out the truth

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6
Q

Ethical considerations

A

Whether guidelines prevent worthwhile research from taking place and whether it is possible that the benefits outweigh problems with how ppts are treated

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7
Q

Usefulness of research

A

Useful if it has practical applications which improve peoples lives
Whether it needs to be useful in the practical sense or if it is okay to be intrinsically useful - methodology may increase or decrease usefulness

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8
Q

Methodological issues

A 
Research method
Data
Ethical guidelines
Validity 
Reliability 
Sample 
Ethnocentrism
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9
Q

Research method

A

Which method has been used and what are the strengths and weaknesses

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10
Q

Data

A

What data has been gathered and what are the strengths and weaknesses

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11
Q

Ethical guidelines

A

Have the guidelines been met?

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12
Q

Validity

A 
Internal 
Ecological 
Population 
Social desirability bias
Demand characteristics
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13
Q

Reliability

A

Refers to consistency of results

Is the sample large enough to see a consistent effect?

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14
Q

Sample

A

Population validity?
Can it be generalised?
Sampling method?

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15
Q

Ethnocentrism

A

Extent to which findings apply to people from varying cultures

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16
Q

The behaviourist perspective - key features

A

Psychology should be seen as a science and should be studied in a scientific way
The only subject matter should be behaviours which can be observed and measured
The major influence on human behaviour is learning from the environment
There is little difference between the learning that takes place in animals and humans

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17
Q

How does behaviourism believe we are born?

A

As blank slates

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18
Q

Who was behaviourism launched by?

A

John Watson in 1913

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19
Q

What are the 3 processes in which learning takes place?

A

Classical conditioning
Operant conditioning
Social learning theory

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20
Q

Classical conditioning

A

Learning through association

Pavlovs dogs

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21
Q

Operant conditioning

A

Learning as a result of rewards and punishments

Skinners rat

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22
Q

Social learning theory

A

Learning through observing and copying others

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23
Q

Strengths of the behaviourist perspective

A

Highlights the role of nurture in learning showing the importance of environment
Can be useful - practical applications - suggests ways in which phobias can be unlearned
Focusses on studying observable behaviour in controlled lab settings - scientific

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24
Q

Weaknesses of the behaviourist perspective

A

Ignores the influence of nature on behaviour
The lessons it teachers us can be hard to apply - how can we control what our children are exposed to?
Lacks ecological validity - doesn’t show real life behaviours

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25
Who is associated with the psychodynamic perspective?
Freud
26
What does the psychodynamic perspective focus on?
Unconscious mind and past experiences
27
What does the psychodynamic perspective believe our mind operates on?
Conscious Pre conscious Unconscious
28
Conscious mind
What we are currently thinking about
29
Preconscious mind
Can be accessed by retrieving memories
30
Unconscious mind
Hidden from our awareness and can't be accessed
31
How is our unconscious revealed?
In our dreams and we have no control over it
32
Psychodynamic perspective - personality
ID Superego Ego
33
ID
Inherited components of personality
34
EGO
Decision making part | Considers rules in deciding how to behave
35
Superego
Controls the ID - rewards us if we behave well and punishes us if we behave bad
36
Strengths of the psychodynamic perspective
Offers an explanation for why people develop mental disorders Suggests way in which people with mental disorders can be treated Highlights importance of childhood Made the case study method popular
37
Weakness of the psychodynamic perspective
Very unscientific can't be proved right Case studies are very subjective and researcher bias may affect the results, only study one person so can't be generalised
38
Similarities between the behaviourist perspective and the psychodynamic perspective
Both believe in nurture Practical applications Both believe in determinism Both study human behaviour
39
Differences between the behaviourist perspective and the psychodynamic perspective
Research method in which they use (lab and case studies) The behaviour they study (observable and non observable) One uses experiments The use of evidence to support it The idea that it is scientific
40
Free will determinism
Whether we have control over how we behave or whether how we behave is out of our control
41
The social area
Understanding how thoughts, feelings and behaviours are influenced by the actual or imagined presence of others
42
What research method does the social area prefer?
Field (bickman) and lab experiments
43
Strengths of the social area
Research is usually high in EV Research can be useful having practical applications Research can help to improve our understanding of human behaviour and how it is affected by other people
44
Weaknesses of the social area
Findings may not be true of all times Findings may not be true of all places Socially sensitive research so can be hard to stay within the ethical guidelines
45
Responses to people in authority
People will be in positions of authority in their lives and they will also be in subordinate positions having to respond to authority over them. We usually agree with commands given which creates problems but if we disagree there are also problems. To what extent are people obedient and disobedient? Are there characteristics of people who are disobedient? In the death camps hitler needed to obey orders to kill people, how did this happen, how did the people respond to authority?
46
Cognitive area
Involved at looking at how info is processed | It covers a number of areas including memory perception language thinking and attention
47
Computer analogy (how the brain works)
Input - through one of the senses Processing - using currently installed software (previous experience/knowledge) Response
48
What research method does the cognitive area favour?
Laboratory experiments
49
Strengths of the cognitive area
Researcher can be useful having practical applications (leading questions) Favours scientific method so shows cause and effect Control means it is easier to test for reliability
50
Weaknesses of the cognitive area
Findings might not be true if the lack EV Limitations in the way that the data is gathered (self report) Lab experiments increase the chance of DC's which decreases the validity
51
Memory
The ability to retain info We use our memory all the time but we can't rely on it to be accurate as human info is different to a computer Memory can be changed as we alter things to make the event seem logical and we include things of what should have happened
52
Tulving
``` Suggested we have 2 types of memory Episodic memory (memory of episodes, events in our lives) Semantic memory (memory of facts, trees lose leaves in winter) ```
53
The developmental area
Believes our behaviour develops over time, a lot during childhood Doesn't focus on one particular explanation so methods used can vary No single explanation of behaviour - more focus on how it develops How much of behaviour are we born we and how much do we learn?
54
Strengths of the developmental area
Useful applications to childcare education etc Attempts to answer the nature/nurture debate Uses qualitative and quantitative methods Can study ppts over time which reduces ppt variables
55
Weaknesses of the developmental area
Research with children may raise ethical issues such as consent and protection Samples are often small and unrepresentative
56
External influences on children's behaviour
Physical emotion social language and cognitive development | Linked to behaviourist perspective
57
The biological area
Behaviour can be explained in terms of biology - assumes psychologists should study the brain and nervous system Psychology should be seen as a science, studied scientifically, measuring variables objectively
58
Neurons
``` Cells of the nervous system Carry messages from one part of the body to another. 3 types Sensory Motor Inter neurons ```
59
The brain
Where most of our neurons are Divide into 2 hemispheres Consists of the hindbrain , midbrain, and the forebrain
60
Methods of investigating brain function
MRI scans which show image of the brain
61
Strengths of the biological area
Favours scientific method so can see cause and effect which is useful Control means easier to test for reliability Understand how the brain works and how it impacts behaviour
62
Weaknesses of the biological area
Explanations based on just biology is too simple Way data is gathered is negative - self reports, DC's which affect validity Methods eg MRI scanners show us changes but not exactly what is happening
63
Regions of the brain
The two hemispheres are joined by the corpus callosum Left side - language Right side - artistic, creative
64
Lateralisation of function
One side has a different role from the other side
65
Corpus callosum
Helps the two sides to function properly
66
Surgical procedure to severe the corpus callosum
Commissurotomy

Psychology - Core studies (33 decks)

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