Need To Know Approaches

Question 1

The psychodynamic approach assumptions

Answer 1

• our behaviour and feelings are affected by unconscious motives
• adult behaviour is rooted in childhood experiences and personality is shaped by conflicts in childhood
• all behaviour is determined
• personality is made of 3 parts : the id, the ego and superego

Question 2

The cognitive approach assumptions

Answer 2

. Human behaviour can be explained as a set of scientific processes
. Our behaviour can be explained as a series of responses to external stimuli
. Behaviour is controlled by our own thought processes, as opposed to genetic factors.
. Humans can be seen as data processing systems

Question 3

The behaviourist approach assumptions

Answer 3

. We are born as a blank slate
. We learn everything from the environment
.behaviour can be unlearnt

Question 4

Biological approach assumptions

Answer 4

. Behaviour can be inherited
. Everything psychological is first biological
. Biochemical inbalance can affect human behaviour

Question 5

Humanistic approach assumptions

Answer 5

• Humans have free will; not all behavior is determined.
• All individuals are unique & are motivated to achieve their potential.
• A proper understanding of human behavior can only be achieved by studying humans -not animals.
• Psychology should study individual case (idiographic) rather than average performance of groups (nomothetic).