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Psychology Year 1 > Section 5: Approaches > Flashcards

Section 5: Approaches Flashcards

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1
Q

Who is Wilhelm Wundt?

A

the first ‘psychologist’, studied origins of psychology

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2
Q

What is structuralism?

A

Wundt’s approach to psychology, using experimental methods to find the basic blocks of thought and investigate how they interacted

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3
Q

What did Wundt study and how?

A

sensation and perception, by:
- systematically changing the stimuli he presented to participants
- measuring how long it took for them to respond
- inferring that the longer it took to respond, the more mental processes must be involved

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4
Q

What is introspection?

A

the process of observing and examining your own conscious thoughts and emotions, no longer used in scientific psychology

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5
Q

How did Wundt measure introspection?

A

He used controlled environments and stimuli, to get detailed observations from participants

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6
Q

What is empiricism?

A

stating that the only source of knowledge comes through our senses, all knowledge is based on, or may come from experience

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7
Q

Name two key psychologists in the behaviourist approach

A

Pavlov
Skinner

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8
Q

Name three assumptions of the behaviourist approach

A
  • Psychology should be seen as a science
  • People have no free will
  • All behaviour is learned from environment
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9
Q

Describe classical conditioning

A

learning through association.
two stimuli are linked together to produce a new learned response

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10
Q

Describe the process of classical conditioning with terminology for a dog, with food, and a bell

A

neutral stimulus
no response
unconditioned stimulus
unconditioned response
conditioned stimulus
conditioned response

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11
Q

Who theorised classical conditioning?

A

Pavlov

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12
Q

Who theorised operant conditioning?

A

Skinner

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13
Q

Describe operant conditioning (4)

A

Behaviour made more likely: reinforcement
Behaviour made less likely: punishment
Something is given- positive
Something is taken away- negative

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14
Q

Give 3 strengths of operant conditioning

A
  • scientific methods used, so seen to be credible
  • believes behaviour is learnt, supports nurture in debates
  • research can improve behaviour in schools and prisons
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15
Q

Give three weaknesses of operant conditioning

A
  • scientists don’t study thought processes, so dk the influence
  • dont argue that we have control over our own behaviour, deterministic, consequences in legal system
  • animals were used in research, inappropriate due to differences in animal and human behaviour
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16
Q

Who theorised the social learning theory?

A

Bandura

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17
Q

List 3 assumptions of the social learning theory

A
  • Believes meditational processes occur between stimulus and response
  • Focuses on the learning that occurs within a social context
  • Learning occurs from observing others
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18
Q

How is behaviour explained in the social learning theory?

A

modelling

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19
Q

What is modelling?

A

learning through observation of other people (models)
leads to imitation of behaviour

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20
Q

What are the three types of model in the social learning theory?

A
  • Live models: real life individuals
  • Symbolic models: fictional
  • Cultural models: where media is not widely available
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21
Q

What are the three stages of learning behaviour in modelling?

A

Identification- associating with model
Imitation- copying or reproducing behaviour of model
Reinforcement- consequences of the action for the learner e.g. internalisation

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22
Q

When is it most likely that a child will imitate role models behaviour?

A

when they can identify with them, e.g. same sex

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23
Q

What is vicarious reinforcement?

A

a learning process in which an individual behaves in a certain way because they have observed someone else being reinforced or rewarded for that behaviour.

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24
Q

What is the social learning theory mediational processes? (4)

A
  1. Attention- noticing behaviour
  2. Retention- remembering behaviour and mechanisms
  3. Motor reproduction- imitating behaviour
  4. Motivation- desire to repeat behaviour
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25
What theory does the 'Bobo doll study' provide research support for?
Social Learning Theory
26
Describe the Bobo doll case study
- Bandura - Children from Stanford university - Aged 3-6 years - The children had observed either a male or a female aggressive or non-aggressive model - The aggressive-model condition involved an adult behaving aggressively towards a large, inflatable clown toy (the Bobo doll)
27
What were the results and findings of the Bobo doll study?
Children who observed an aggressive model imitated the aggression they saw (plus adding additional 'freestyle' aggressive behaviours), particularly when they had observed a same-sex model Children who had not observed an aggressive model were not aggressive towards Bobo
28
Give two strengths of the social learning theory as an explanation for behaviour
- real life application to health campaigns e.g. anti alcohol advertisements - controlled lab conditions used: repeatable, reliable
29
Give two weaknesses of the social learning theory as an explanation for behaviour
- Using lab-based research to investigate behaviour learned in social contexts lacks ecological validity as it uses artificial tasks in unnatural settings - SLT does not account for innate and biological factors such as the influence of genes, hormones, brain structures on behaviour which limits its scope
30
Name three assumptions of the cognitive approach
1. believe it is necessary to look at internal mental processes to understand behaviour 2. all behaviour is the result of processing 3. comparisons can be made between minds and computers, by describing thinking as info processing
31
Define schema
a package of beliefs and expectations on a topic that come from prior experience
32
What is the effect of schemas?
they can cause us to exclude anything that does not conform with established ideas, causing us to focus on things that establish pre-existing ideas
33
What can schemas lead to?
faulty conclusions, unhelpful behaviour
34
Describe computer models in the cognitive approach
input - processing - output
35
Give two strengths of the cognitive approach
- uses scientific and empirical methods - application: treating psychological disorders like depression
36
Give two weaknesses of the cognitive approach
- computers are not humans, dont make mistakes or forget, inaccurate representation - because things can only be inferred it means that it is detached from real life, lacks external validity
37
What is an assumption of cognitive neuroscience?
cognitive neuroscience is a branch of both biological and cognitive psychology
38
What mental/ cognitive processes does the cognitive neuroscience focus on?
- memory - perception - attention
39
What are the specific areas of study in cognitive neuroscience?
human cognition: neural processes underlying memory, attention etc. social cognition: brain regions when we interact with others cognitive impairments: how impairments may characterise different psychological conditions
40
How can cognitive neuroscience be applied?
- use of brain scans to study mental processing patients with OCD or depression - scanning images can locate different areas of the brain active in memory, leading to memory problem treatments
41
Give one weakness of the cognitive neuroscientific approach
too simple ignores emotions and motives in behaviour reductionist means it doesn't consider people as a whole
42
Give one strength of the cognitive neuroscientific approach
it uses highly specialised brain technology highly reliable counter: lacks ecological validity
43
Give three assumptions of the biological approach
- the genes an individual possesses influence his or her behaviour - brain seen as main focus when explaining behaviour - the chemistry of the body impacts behaviour
44
Define genotype
the set of genes a person has
45
Define phenotype
an individual's observable traits
46
What is a recessive gene?
only shows if the individual has two copies of the same gene
47
What is a dominant gene?
the gene always shows, even with only one copy
48
Name five methods of study in the biological approach
- animal studies - case studies - drug therapies - scans - twin/family studies
49
What is the difference between monozygotic and dizygotic?
identical and non-identical
50
Give two strengths of the biological approach
uses scientific method, high validity provides clear predictions, so real world application e.g. research into drug treatments for depression
51
Give two weaknesses of the biological approach
- approach is reductionist, meaning other factors are not accounted for e.g. emotional - twin studies do not separate nature and nurture,
52
Who investigated the psychodynamic approach?
Freud
53
Give three assumptions of the psychodynamic approach
- we are aware of our conscious mind but this is only a small part of what goes on - all human behaviour can be explained in terms of inner conflict of the mind - childhood experiences have significant importance in determining our personality when we reach adulthood
54
What 2 things can come out via the Freudian slip?
- things you want to say but haven't been able to express - unrealised feelings that haven't entered your conscious yet
55
Name and describe the three structures in personality
the Id- instinct we are born with, operates on pleasure principle the ego- reality principle, balances id and superego the superego- the ideal force, operates on morality principle
56
Name the 5 psychosexual stages
Oral Anal Phallic Latency Genital Old Age Pensioners Like Gin
57
Describe the oral psychosexual stage including the consequences of fixation
0-1 Age Mouth focuses on breastfed or dummy consequences: orally aggressive: chewing gum/pens orally passive: smoking/eating
58
Describe the anal psychosexual stage including the consequences of fixation
2-3 Years Bowel and bladder toilet training- competition between id and ego Anal retentive: obsession with organisation Anal repulsive: reckless, careless, disorganised
59
Describe the phallic psychosexual stage including the consequences of fixation
4-6 years genitals Electra complex: fancy father, castration anxiety Oedipus complex: fancy mother, penis envy
60
Describe the latency psychosexual stage including the consequences of fixation
7-10 years (until puberty) dormant sexual feelings develop friends/ hobbies sexually unfulfilled as a consequence
61
Describe the genital psychosexual stage including the consequences of fixation
11+ years sexual interests mature psychological detachment from parents consequences- impotence, unsatisfactory relationships
62
What are the three defence mechanisms?
Repression Denial Displacement
63
Describe repression as a defence mechanism
A traumatic memory is forced into the unconscious, so it can’t be remembered
64
Describe denial as a defence mechanism
Refusal to accept reality
65
Describe displacement as a defence mechanism
Taking out anger on another person
66
What case study did Freud use?
Little Hans- phobia of horses
67
Give two strengths for the psychodynamic approach
Practical application- Freud introduced psychoanalysis as therapy, produces significant and long lasting improvement in symptoms Research support- Meta analysis of 2500 studies conducted found support for role of unconscious determine behaviour, and deference mechanisms role.
68
What does the humanistic approach state?
Humans are self determining and have free will.
69
Give the Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
Self actualisation Esteem Love/belonging Safety Physiological needs
70
What is the purpose of completing Maslow’s hierarchy of needs?
To reach self actualisation
71
What is self actualisation?
A person’s motivation to reach his/her full potential
72
What is congruence?
A similarity between the current self, and the ideal self Allows us to feel self worth
73
What is incongruence?
When the ideal self and the actual self don’t align Can cause negative feelings of self worth
74
What did Rogers believe?
For a person to achieve self actualisation, they must be in a state of congruence Conditions of worth can cause unhapppiness
75
What are conditions of worth?
When we are not given unconditional positive regard Conditions on love given
76
Who developed person centred therapy?
Rogers
77
Explain person centered therapy
1. Counsellor aware of their own feelings and genuine 2 Unconditional positive regard 3. Empathy
78
Give two strengths to the humanistic approach
- Positive approach, focuses on growth in people - Holistic approach, only one! Whole person considered, more validity, real life context
79
Give two weaknesses of humanistic approach
-Cultural bias: concepts such as individual freedom and personal growth considered western. China study found self actualisation defined more in contributions to the community -Untestable concepts: self actualisation untestable, approach lacks empirical evidence
80
What are the four ways to compare approaches?
Free will v determinism Nature v nurture Reduction v holism Mental health treatments- except SLT

Psychology Year 1 (7 decks)

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