Evaluation Of Approaches Pt2 Flashcards
Give a strength/weakness of behaviourism (deterministic).
Behaviourists view human behaviour as being environmentally determined, so humans have no control over their behaviour - it is influenced by external forces. Eg Little Albert - Little Albert’s behaviour was determined through classical conditioning. He had no control over his fear of the rat - it was determined by pairing the rat with the loud noise = easier for psychologists to be able to predict the onset of phobias and so treat it.
However - it can make people feel powerless (expand).
Give a weakness of the behaviourist approach (nurture).
Only considers nurture. Behaviourists believe that our behaviour is a product of our environment only - not nature. Eg the blank slate assumption - tabula rasa. Suggests we are born with no prior knowledge + all behaviour is learnt. Bandura’s bobo doll study - children learnt to aggressively play with doll from adults. Ignores influence of nature eg, behaviour could be a product of high testosterone levels.
Give a strength of the behaviourist approach (applications).
Successful applications. Conditioning theory has led to the creation of systematic desensitisation which helps treat phobias by counter-conditioning. people to feel relaxation instead of fear, when placed in front of the phobia. Lang and Lazovik (1963) used SD on students with a snake phobia and ps worked through an anxiety hierarchy over 11 sessions. Ps fear rating fell by the end and the effects were evident 6 monts later. Can improve people’s QOL.
Give a weakness/strength of the biological approach (nature).
Ignores the effect of nurture on behaviour. Eg, the bio approach states that the neurotransmitter, serotonin, influences the feeling of happiness. However, it can be argued that spending time with friends and family can also make you feel happy.
Although, the nature approach does mean that it’s easier to study objectively.
Give a strength of the biological approach (applications).
Applications to health. There are many biological techniques that have led to the successful improvement of QOL for people with severe MHDs. Eg, different types of psychosurgery like frontal lobotomy, can help cure symptoms of MHDs like depression with a success rate of around 70%. However there is a 6% fatality rate which may cause more harm than good.
Give a strength of the biological approach (scientific).
Uses techniques like quasi experiments and brain scans. Eg, Raine. This is scientific and therefore objective. This means the approach is credible.
Give a strength/weakness of cognitive approach (reductionist).
Reductionist - reduces the processing of the human mind down to a computer. Can be studied in detail. However incomplete view of human behaviour, ignores other factors.
Give a strength of the cognitive approach (applications).
Creation of ethical therapies - CBT, client led, collaborative, ethical. The approach is USEFUL.
Give a strength of the cognitive approach (scientific).
It’s scientific. Loftus and Palmer - lab study. Means it is objective, unfalsifiable, trustworthy, credible.
Give a strength of the psychodynamic approach (nature vs nurture).
Nature - unconscious drives. Nurture - importance of childhood experiences. Gives a more complete understanding of behaviour
Give a weakness of the psychodynamic approach (unscientific).
Unscientific - Bowlby - used case studies and interviews. Lacks scientific rigour, social desirability bias, subjective. However can be studied in depth with qualitative data.
Give a strength/weakness of the psychodynamic approach (reductionism).
Less reductionist than other approaches. Considers unconscious drives as well as childhood influences. More holistic view on behaviour, considers more factors.
Give a weakness/strength of the positive approach (free will).
Seligman - we can choose to spend more time with others. This makes behaviour difficult to predict. However it empowers people to change lives for the better.
Give a strength/weakness of the positive approach (holistic).
More holistic than other approaches. Who is happy? - considers lots of factors. In depth understanding of well-being. However it is difficult to study and find causation rather than just correlation.
Give a strength of the positive approach (applications).
Mindfulness created. Ethical - client led, cheap, accessible. Approach is USEFUL.
