Perspectives

Question 1

Defining principles of behaviourist perspective

Answer 1

1. Psychology should be seen as a science and thus studied in a scientific manner
2. Psychology should focus on behaviours which can be observed and studied, not internal events like thinking and emotion
3. The major influence on behaviour is learning from the environment
4. There is little difference in the learning in humans and animals, so research can be carried out on both

Question 2

What 3 ways have behaviourists suggested humans learn

Answer 2

Classical conditioning (learning through association)
Operant conditioning (learning through reward and punishment)
Social learning theory (learning through observation and imitation)

Question 3

Strengths of behaviourist perspective

Answer 3

1. Supports nurture debate
2. Useful - has practical applications in education
3. Scientific - studies observable behaviour in laboratory conditions

Question 4

Weaknesses of behaviourist perspective

Answer 4

Reductionist - ignores nature
Socially sensitive - implies children may be influenced by things they are exposed to and affected for life
Can lack ecological validity - favours lab experiments

Question 5

What is the focus of the psychodynamic perspective?

Answer 5

Role of unconscious mind and past experiences as an explanation for behaviour

Question 6

What three levels of consciousness did Freud believe in

Answer 6

1. Conscious mind - internal dialogue, current thoughts
2. Preconscious mind - stored memories
3. Unconscious mind - hidden from awareness. Fears / biases etc

Question 7

What are two techniques Freud used to access the unconscious mind

Answer 7

Dream analysis, projective tests (Rorscach ink blot test) and free association (speaking whatever comes into mind while laying down on a couch)

Question 8

What did Freud believe were the roles of the id, ego and superego

Answer 8

Id - base desires such as sex and aggression
Superego - moral code
Ego - mediates between the two

Question 9

What did Freud believe motivated the unconscious mind

Answer 9

Eros - life instinct
Thanatos - death instinct

Question 10

Strengths of the psychodynamic perspective

Answer 10

Explanation for mental illness - conflict between superego and id leading to “ego anxiety”
Useful - lead to talking therapies
Lead to popularity of case studies, which give us in depth detail about a persons experiences, popular for abnormal studies

Question 11

Weaknesses of the psychodynamic perspective

Answer 11

Not representative - based on one case study of Little Hans
Not scientific - hard to falsify as there was no scientific methodology, just analysis and cocaine
Suggests a lack of free will, deterministic