comparison of approaches Flashcards
what are comparison points between the approaches?
scientific methodology
determinism
nature/nurture
reductionism
psychological treatments
compare approaches - scientific methodology
BEHAVIOURISM: highly scientific - focus entirely on observable stimuli and response e.g. Pavlov and Skinner - use large samples and controlled conditions –> precise replication of findings
SLT: somewhat scientific - use experimental methods and large samples to investigate concepts like modelling, vicarious reinforcement, mediational processes BUT cannot be directly observed so inferences are made
COGNITIVE: somewhat scientific - use controlled experiments BUT internal mental processes cannot be directly observed so inferences are made
BIOLOGICAL: highly scientific - study directly observable physical processes e.g. brain activity using objective measuring devices e.g. fMRI and placebo-controlled trails are used to test drugs
PSYCHO: not scientific - theories based on case studies and introspection used to self-report and interpretation is used so may be biased and concepts e.g. id are not operationally defined
HUMANISTIC: rejected - behaviour is too complex to be reduced to simple variables that can be measured scientifically and reject cause-effect principle - lacks empirical evidence
compare approaches - determinism
BEHAVIOURISM: hard environmental determinists - behaviour is entirely result of interactions with environment - free will is an illusion
SLT: environmental deterministic and reciprocal deterministic - behaviour causes and determines environment
COGNITIVE: soft determinists - causal factors influence behaviour, schema learnt through experience BUT with conscious effect (free will), maladaptive automatic internal mental processes can be modified
BIO: biological determinist - behaviour is caused by physical nature e.g. hormones, genes, brain - mental health disorders are explained as due to imbalance of neurotransmitters due to inheritance of dysfunctional genes
PSYCHO: psychic determinism - unconscious thoughts, drives and repressed memories from childhood shape our conscious behaviours in adulthood
HUMAN: free will - humans are able to make our own decisions and have moral responsibility for choices
compare approaches - nature/nurture
BEHAVIOUR: nurture - environmental factors influence behaviour, rewards causes repetition BUT there is a role for innate reflex actions e.g. dog drooling at food
SLT: nurture - direct stimulus-response mechanisms, social experiences e.g. observing models, vicarious reinforcement
COGNITIVE: both - internal mental processes run on the physical and biological hardware of brain BUT argue schemas are formed through experiences
BIO: nature - behaviour is due to inheritance of DNA which codes for biological processes
PSYCHO: nature+nurture - psychosexual stages are a biological process during childhood which shape personality as adults
HUMAN: holistic (nature+nurture) - factors interact e.g. influence of genes and environmental influences
compare approaches - reductionism
BEHAVIOURISM: highly reductionist - complex behaviour is a stimulus-response chain
SLT: less reductionist - include role of internal mental processes
COGNITIVE: machine reductionist - computer analogy explains brain similar to CPU - over-simplistic view which ignores important roles like emotion in humans
BIO: highly reductionist - behaviour explained as a result of chemical processes - oversimplifies the complex and personal experience of emotion and ignore role of cognitive and cultural forces
PSYCHO: not reductionist - range of factors e.g. biological changes in childhood, experiences during psychosexual stages that shape unconscious mind, how unconscious mind interacts with conscious
HUMAN: not reductionist but holistic - range of factors are included e.g. biological factors, direct experience, education, culture
compare approaches - psychological treatments
BEHAVIOURISM: treatment of phobias - flooding, systematic desensitisation - exposure to phobia to counter condition phobia by replacing association of fear with calm
SLT: social learning therapy uses modelling to alter maladaptive behaviour - role models display suitable behaviour e.g. treating high levels of aggression
COGNITIVE: CBT reconstructs irrational thoughts e.g. negative schemas about self, world, future
BIO: drug therapies - influence biological processes - e.g. mental health conditions like depression use SSRIs to slow the reuptake of serotonin
PSYCHO: psychotherapy - uses introspection to focus on past experiences which is used to explore unconscious thoughts and feelings impacting behaviour and relationships
HUMAN: client-centered therapy - focuses on growth by understanding their experience and producing solutions - provides unconditional positive regard
