EVALUATION PAPER 2 Flashcards
1
Q
Wundt
A
- controlled methods (all introspections recorded under strictly controlled conditions) this has allowed procedures to be repeated (replicated)
- data was subjective in that it varied from person to person (so it was difficult to establish general principles)
- we have very little knowledge of the causes of our behaviours and attitudes
- still used today
2
Q
The learning approach: behaviourism
A
- Pavlov’s study of classical conditioning and Skinner’s study of operant conditioning
- Watson and Rayner
- determinism (all behaviour is determined by past experiences that have been conditioned so suffers from environmental determinism)
- animals are machine-like responders with little conscious insight into behaviour.
3
Q
The learning theory: slt
A
- Bandura et al.’s Bobo dolls (children imitated the behaviour of the role models)
- SLT mostly relies on the experimental method (using controlled conditions)
- Bandura makes little reference to the impact of biological impacts on learning (boys were more aggressive than girls in Bandura’s study)
- Bandura’s study was a lab experiment
4
Q
the cognitive approach
A
- RWA (explain mental illnesses in terms of faulty info processes, which has led to treatments such as CBT)
- considered to be scientific (highly controlled and rigorous methods e.g., Loftus and Palmer)
- suffers from machine reductionism (machine-like analogy ignores the influence of human emotion and motivation on the cognitive system)
- relies on inferences often from studies involving artificial stimuli
5
Q
the biological approach
A
- uses a range of highly precise and scientific methods in order to investigate the biological bases of behaviour (scanning techniques, lab experiments)
- provides clear predictions about the effects of neurotransmitters on behaviour
- determinist in that it sees human behaviour as governed by internal, biological causes that we have no control over)
- twin studies assume that both MZ and DZ twin pairs share the same environments (environment may be more similar for MZ compared to DZ twins).
6
Q
the psychodynamic approach
A
- brought to the world psychoanalysis which uses techniques designed to access the unconscious
- huge influence on psychology and Western contemporary thought
- based on intensive case studies of individuals who were often in therapy
- Freud’s views of women and female sexuality were less well developed than his views on male sexuality
7
Q
the humanistic approach
A
- have been praised for bringing the person back into Psychology and prompting a positive impact of the human condition
- RWA (Rogerian therapy and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to explain motivation in the workplace)
- includes a number of vague ideas that are abstract and difficult to test
- many of the ideas that are central to the humanistic approach would be more readily associated with individualistic cultures.
8
Q
the fight/flight response
A
- Spiesman et al (primitive and gruesome medical procedure whilst monitoring heartrates)
- stressors of modern life rarely requires such physical activity compared to physical responses that require energetic behaviours)
- it has been suggested that the first phase of a reaction is to avoid confrontation (not fight or flight).
9
Q
localisation of function
A
- Phineas Gage (metre-length pole passing through left cheek and exiting skull)
- Lashley removed areas of the cortex in rats that were learning a maze
- Tulving et al. did a study of LTM and found that semantic and episodic memories reside in different parts of the prefrontal cortex.
10
Q
hemispheric lateralisation and split-brain research
A
- Sperry and Gazziniga found that left hemisphere = analytical and verbal tasks, right hemisphere = spatial tasks and music (this is a key contribution to our understanding of brain processes)
- highly specialised and standardised procedures (image flashed for 1/10 of a second, fixation point) = high internal validity
- small sample size of 11 people with a history of epileptic seizures (may have caused unique changes in the brain that may have influenced the findings, may have also been a disconnection)
11
Q
plasticity and functional recovery
A
- Macguire et al (London taxi drivers)
- Draganski et al (medical students)
- Schneider et al (moderating factor of education reduces internal validity)
12
Q
fMRIs
A
- virtually risk free
- more expensive than EEGs (smaller sample sizes = results are less likely to be externally valid)
- high spatial resolution
- poor temporal resolution
13
Q
EEGs
A
- poor spatial resolution
- can only detect activity in superficial regions of the brain
- high temporal resolution
- much cheaper than fMRIs (large sample)
14
Q
ERPs
A
- more specific than raw EEGs
- low spatial resolution
- high temporal resolution
- cheaper than fMRIs
15
Q
post mortems
A
- high spatial resolution
- no temporal resolution
- no cause and effect
- cannot gain consent directly (also distressing for family members)
