Psychology Approches Flashcards
Explain the role of a schema
A schema is a package of information which helps you to prepare for different situations and environments. They are developed from a prior experience, help us to organise/interpret information and allow us to make shortcuts when interpreting large amounts of information.
How do theoretical and computer models explain and make inferences about internal and mental processes?
It is believed that information processing in the brain works like a computer. Computer models. (Such as te information processing model) are used to understand human cognitive processes. It suggests the brain acts as a processor: information is taken from senses (input) it is the coded by the brain (process) to be developed into observable behaviour (output)
What are the basic assumptions of the cognitive approach?
It argues that internal mental processing should be studied scientifically. It has investigated areas of human behaviour that were neglected by behaviourists. E.g. memory. These areas are private and cannot be directly observed. They study these areas by making inferences about what is going on in someone’s mind based on their behaviour.
How did cognitive neuroscience emerge and what does it Aimé to do?
It has emerged with improvements in technology as it uses scientific non-invasive scanning techniques. It aims to investigate the neurological basis of thought processes and disorders.
Name and explain two cognitive neuroscience techniques.
Lesions studies- studying the brain scans of patients with brain damage to see the impact upon normal behaviour.
Neuroimaging- involves using brain scans such as PET or FMRI scans to investigate which parts of the brain become active during particular activities.
How is cognitive neuroscience being scientific a strength?
For it to be scientific, it meas it is based on scientific and objective measures that are controlled which allows for replication. This is because PET scans have shown cocaine addicts have reduced activity in their frontal lobe.
How is cognitive neuroscience using practical applications a strength?
Principles of an approach are put into practice outside of the laboratory. The use of scanning techniques determine. Different functions in the brain. Maguire et al (2000) found that London taxi drivers had a significantly larger posterior hippocampus. Which was positively correlated with the amount of time they had spent as a taxi driver. This allowed for the localisation of functions in he brain.
What is the definition of introspection?
The systematic analysis of our own conscious experiences including all sensations and emotional reactions?
Who is the father of psychology and what did he identify?
Wundt. He set up the first psychological laboratory in Leipzig, Germany in 1879. He identified the importance of higher mental processes and how they could not be studied in a strictly controlled manner he believed all internal mental processes could be studied using his method of introspection.
What is the definition of inference?
Making an assumption about the way mental processes work on the basis of observed behaviour.
Why is introspection being subjective a limitation?
Being subjective means a theory, model, explanation or approach is based on personal opinion rather than being objective and testable. Watson (1913) argued that a persons interpretation of the participants thoughts may vary due to the researcher’s culture. Therefore, this causes us to question the validity of the finding as the results may reflect the researcher’s or participants’s perspective rather than an objective truth.
Why is introspection being unscientific a limitation?
Being unscientific means a theory, model, explanation or approach is based on unscientific and subjective concepts. for example, internal mental processes which cannot be measured objectively. Nisbett and Wilson (1977)questioned the validity of introspection as many aspects of out minds e.g feelings are outside of out conscious awareness and therefore, we are unable to access a measure them objectively. Therefore, introspection cannot be used effectively to make inferences about behaviour as participants may not be able to report thoughts and feeling accurately which reduce scientific credibility.
Why is the cognitive approach being scientific a strength?
Being scientific means the approach is based on scientific and objective measures that are controlled and allow for replication. This is because laboratory experiments have been used ti test memory which have been refined. The multi store model from Atkinson and Shiffin suggests how our memory works. This suggests that research done by cognitive scientists has established a credible scientific basis.
Why is the cognitive approach having practical applications make it a strength?
This is when principles of an approach are out into practice outside f the laboratory in real life. For example, the cognitive approach has contributed to the development of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) which is used to help treat a range of disorders including depression, OCD and anxiety by challenging negative and irrational thoughts. This is a strength because it has lead to a successful therapy for mental health disorders.
What is classical conditioning?
Pavlov (1927). Classical conditioning can be learned by association when a previously neutral stimulus becomes associated with and unconditioned response.
Give an example of classical conditioning. (Hint: Little Albert)
A neutral stimulus (e.g a rat) produces no response but is the paired with an unconditioned stimulus (e.g. loud noise) which produces an unconditioned response (e.g. Fear). When the two stimuli become associated, a conditioned stimulus. (E.g. the rat) produces a conditioned response (fear).
What is operant conditioning? (Skinner 1953)
It suggests that behaviour can be learned by consequence.
Positive reinforcement- behaviour is rewarded making it more likely to be repeated.
Negative reinforcement- behaviour that removes an aversive consequence making it more likely to be repeated.
Punishment- behaviour provides an aversive consequence so it is less likely to be repeated.
Give an example of operant conditioning (hint: Skinner box)
Rat had to press a lever and number of times the lever was pulled was recorded.
The positive reinforcement of pulling the lever was food and the rat quickly associated the lever with food.
The punishment was an electric shock in the box.
The negative reinforcement was pulling the lever to stop the electric shock.
How is the learning approach having practical applications a strength?
This is when the principles of learning theory are put into practice outside of the laboratory. For example, token economies work by rewarding good behaviour with a token that can be exchanged for a desirable item meaning the behaviour is more likely to be repeated. Due to this, it suggests humans do behave in the way learning theory predicts which contributes to our understanding of human behaviour.
How is learning theory being environmentally determined a limitation?
This is when an approach suggests environmental factors are the only cause of a behaviour. For example, not all children who are punished will stop engaging in bad behaviour. This suggests that human have free will to choose and hat we are not just a product of out reinforcement history which casts doubts on learning theory.
What is social learning theory? (bandura 1961)
It suggests hat behaviour can be learned by imitating the behaviour we observe in others through vicarious reinforcement. A person receives vicarious positive reinforcement by observing behaviour being positively reinforced in a role model. This makes a person more likely to imitate a model behaviour in anticipation of a similar level of direct positive reinforcement.
Exalting the mediation process of attention
Attention must be paid to role models. Models may be live such as a parent or symbolic such as somebody portrayed in mass media.
Explain the mediation process of retention.
Observed behaviours must be memorised.
Exalting the mediation process of motivation and what are the two factors?
A person will be motivated to reproduce behaviour through indirect positive reinforcement.
1. Identification- if they identify with the person. E.g age, sex, similar interests.
2. Self-efficacy- believing they have the required skill to perform the behaviour.
