Definitions Flashcards
Behaviourist approach
A learning approach that suggests all children are born as
“tabulae rasae” (blank slates), learning through their interactions with their
environment.
Biological approach:
A learning approach that views human behaviour as a result of
genetics and proposes that individual psychology stems from internal physiology.
Classical conditioning
A form of learning which occurs by associating natuurally
occurring instinct with new stimuli, thus creating a “conditioned” response.
Cognitive approach
A learning approach which likens the human mind to a
computer, with internal mental processes turning an input to an output. This approach
suggests studying these internal processes by inference is the key to understanding
human psychology.
Congruence
When a person’s ideal self and actual self are aligned.
Defence mechanism
Strategies employed by the ego to protect the mind from
feelings that may be too overwhelming.
Denial
: A defence mechanism utilised by the unconscious mind. This is the
complete refusal to acknowledge the occurrence of an event, in an attempt to
prevent harm.
Displacement
A defence mechanism utilised by the unconscious mind. This
mechanism works by substituting the real target of overwhelming emotions
with a (usually) defenceless target. This allows for a cathartic release of
emotions that would not be possible with the original target.
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What is structuralism?
Breaking conscious thoughts down into their constituent parts.
Define contiguous
Learning that occurs due to the pairing of two objects in time & plac
How did Wundt ensure replicability? Name two ways.
A) controlled conditions using the same stimulus
(i.e. metronome). B) same standardised instructions given.
What’s empiricism and who proposed it?
The idea that all learning comes from only experience and observation. John Locke
After Wundt, what were the two competing dominant approaches in the early 1900s?
Behaviourist and psychodynamic
Name two ways the behaviourist approach is different from the psychodynamic approach
Behaviourist approach focuses on observable behaviour where the psychodynamic approach does not (the unconscious
mind that cannot be observed)
