Comparison of approaches

Question 1

Is the behaviourist approach scientific?

Answer 1

Highly scientific
Focuses on observable stimuli and response
Examples: Pavlovs and skinner
Large samples and controlled
Precise replication of findings

Question 2

is the social learning theory scientific?

Answer 2

Not fully scientific
Experimental methods to investigate things like modelling, vicarious reinforcement.
Internal mental process so not directly observable only inferred from behaviour
Inferences could be mistaken, reducing scientific credibility.

Question 3

Is the cognitive approach scientific?

Answer 3

Not fully scientific
Controlled experiments to support things like the working memory model.
Models represent the internal mental processes cannot be directly observed only inferred.

Question 4

Is the biological approach scientific?

Answer 4

Highly scientific
Directly observable physical processes eg. brain activity
Uses objective measurable devises eg. fMRI scanning, blood testing, DNA sequences
Large scale placebo controlled trials (used to test drugs)
Focuses on observable measurements.

Question 5

Is psychodynamic approach scientific?

Answer 5

Not scientific
Frued based his research on case studies
Introspection to report on their internal state of mind
Potential bias in researcher interpretation
Concepts like super ego are operationally defined

Question 6

Is humanistic approach scientific?

Answer 6

Not scientific
Human behaviour is too complex to be reduced to simple variables that can be measured scientifically.
Reject cause and effect relationships
Lacks empirical evidence to support claims.

Question 7

Is the behaviourist approach deterministic?

Answer 7

Hard environmental determinism
Behaviour is result of creatures interactions with environment.
Behaviour in the past that was found rewarding is more likely to be repeated
Free will has no role in this approach

Question 8

Is the social learning theory deterministic?

Answer 8

Environmental determinism
Bandura argues reciprocal determinism
Behaviour is caused by environment
Behaviour determines environment

Question 9

Is the cognitive approach deterministic?

Answer 9

Soft determinism
Casual factors affect behaviour
We learn from schemas through experience, they act as automatic templates for behaviour
Conscious effort (free will) is maladaptive internal mental process and can be modified.

Question 10

Is the biological approach deterministic?

Answer 10

Biological determinism
Entirely caused by our physical nature
Eg. hormones, genes, brains, neurotransmitters
Behaviour eg. aggression and mental health disorders are explained due to imbalance of neurotransmitters due to inheritance of dysfunctional genes.

Question 11

Is the psychodynamic approach deterministic?

Answer 11

Psychic determinism
Unconscious thoughts drive and repressed memories that shape out conscious behaviour
Unconscious forces are formed in childhood and influence adult behaviour throughout life.

Question 12

Is the humanistic approach deterministic?

Answer 12

Free will
Humans have agency
We can make our own decisions free from restriction
We have moral responsibility for these choices

Question 13

Is the behaviourist approach nature or nurture?

Answer 13

Nurture and some nature
They argue the most important is nurture as factors are environmental
Rewarding experiences cause behaviour to be repeated
We do have things like innate reflex actions which are nature
Eg. dogs don’t have to be trained to drool when present good.

Question 14

Is the social learning theory nature or nurture?

Answer 14

Nurture
Direct stimulus response mechanisms of behaviours and social experiences
Eg. observing models and vicarious reinforcement

Question 15

Is the cognitive approach nature or nurture?

Answer 15

Nature and nurture
Internal mental processes run on physical, biological hardware of the brain (nature)
Their explanation of mental processes eg. schemes are through experiences in the world (nurture)

Question 16

Is the biological approach nature or nurture?

Answer 16

Nature
Influences on behaviour are hereditary
Inheritance of DNA which code for biological processes
For example neurotransmitters in the brain, imbalances in the system leading to behaviour like aggression and mental health conditions

Question 17

Is the psychodynamic approach nature or nurture?

Answer 17

Nature and nurture
Psychosexual stages are biological processes that children experience (nature)
Experiences the children have while going through these behaviours shape the personality thy have as an adult.

Question 18

Is the humanistic approach nature or nurture?

Answer 18

Holistic
Nature and nurture
They argue ay valid explanation of behaviour has to include a wide range of factors and how those factors interact
These factors include the influence of genes
Including all environmental factors influence from direct experiences to the wider culture

Question 19

is the behaviourist approach reductionist?

Answer 19

Highly reductionist
Explains behaviour due to a chain of simple stimulus response links

Question 20

is the social learning theory reductionist?

Answer 20

Lass reductionist
Explains behaviour through stimulus response links
Also include the role of internal mental processes
Eg. meditational process of attention, retention, reproduction and motivation.

Question 21

Is the cognitive approach reductionist??

Answer 21

Machine reductionist
The computer analogy is an over simplistic view
Ignores emotions and irrationality of humans
Ignores computers memory is flawless and human memory is reconstructive

Question 22

Is the biological approach reductionist?

Answer 22

Highly reductionist
Explains behaviour as a chemical process
Oversimplifies complex and highly personal experience of emotion.
Ignores cognitive and cultural factors

Question 23

Is the psychodynamic approach reductionist?

Answer 23

Not reductionist
Includes range of factors
eg. biological changes and how unconscious mind interacts with conscious mind

Question 24

Is the humanist approach reductionist?

Answer 24

Holistic
Not reductionist
they argue against any reductionist explanation
Only valid explanation is holistic

Question 25

What psychological treatments do behaviourists use?

Answer 25

Flooding and somatic desensitisation
Treatment of phobias
Therapies that use exposure to phobic object in attempt to counter-condition phobias
In attempt to replace fear association with calm

Question 26

What psychological treatments do social learning theorists use?

Answer 26

Modelling
To alter maladaptive behaviour
Meaningful role models display appropriate behaviour

Question 27

What psychological treatments do cognitivists use?

Answer 27

Cognitive behavioural therapy
Cognitively reconstructs irrational thoughts
For example negative schemas about themselves, world or future
They do reality testing irrational thoughts by acting as a scientist and the therapist disputing irrational thoughts

Question 28

What psychological treatments do biologists use?

Answer 28

Brain surgery and dug therapy
Influence the biological processes
Drug therapy alters activity of neurotransmitters
For example SSRis slow reuptake of serotonin into synaptic terminal

Question 29

What psychological treatments do psychodynamist use?

Answer 29

Psychotherapy
Introspection to focus on past experiences
Therapist then explore how unconscious thoughts and feelings may negatively impact current behaviour and relationships

Question 30

What psychological treatments do humanists use?

Answer 30

Client centred therapy
Focus on clients capacity for growth
Therapists do not direct but assist the client in understanding and producing solutions
Therapists provide unconditional positive regard, accepting clients for who they are.