Comparison of approaches (SARDN)

Question 1

Behaviourist

Answer 1

Scientific? -> yes, uses scientific methods

Application -> systematic desensitisation/flooding

Reductionism/holism -> experimental reductionism (focuses on stimulus response)

Deterministic/free will -> deterministic, behaviour is due to stimulus-response relationships

Nature vs nurture -> Nurture, ‘tabula rasa’ or blank slate at birth

Question 2

Social learning theory

Answer 2

Scientific? -> yes, scientific methods

Application -> criminal justice system

Reductionism/holism -> less reductionist than behavioural as considers cognitive factors

Deterministic/free will -> reciprocal determinism; believes behaviour is due to observation, but up to us when to produce said behaviour

Nature vs nurture -> Nurture, as we learn by observing others

Question 3

Cognitive

Answer 3

Scientific? -> yes, brain imaging and lab experiments

Application -> understanding of depression, CBT

Reductionism/holism -> Environmental reductionism - behaviour investigated in terms of isolated variables

Deterministic/free will -> Soft determinism, behaviour controlled by mediational processes, but humans can choose what information they attend to

Nature vs nurture -> Both, behaviour is a product of information processing modified by experience

Question 4

Biological

Answer 4

Scientific? -> yes, uses lab experiments

Application -> drug treatments, circadian rhythms

Reductionism/holism -> Biological reductionism - behaviour broken down into biological structures and processes

Deterministic/free will -> Behaviour controlled by internal biological factors (e.g. genes/hormones)

Nature vs nurture -> Behaviour is a result of innate biological factors

Question 5

Psychodynamic

Answer 5

Scientific? -> no, unfalsifiable ideas

Application -> psychoanalysis, pioneering form of therapy

Reductionism/holism -> reductionism; behaviour is reduced to innate drives

Deterministic/free will -> deterministic - behaviour determined by unconscious drives and early childhood experiences

Nature vs nurture -> mostly nature; behaviour is the product of innate drives, but shaped by early childhood experiences

Question 6

Humanistic

Answer 6

Scientific? -> No, rejects the scientific method so cannot provide empirical evidence

Application -> Counselling treatments (client-centred therapy)

Reductionism/holism -> holistic, focuses on understanding all aspects of human experience

Deterministic/free will -> believes in free will

Nature vs nurture -> mostly nurture; behaviour shaped by the environment, where humans strive to achieve self-actualisation