Themes

Question 1

What is the social approach? (2 points)

Answer 1

Focuses on the influence of the individual, the group, the society and the culture on an individual’s behaviour

Main themes of obedience and prejudice

Question 2

How can social psychology be used to explain behaviour? (2 points)

Answer 2

Issues of personality, culture, gender and situation in explaining both obedience and prejudice

Use of two different theories to explain prejudice and obedience behaviour
Obedience: Agency Theory vs SIT
Prejudice: SIT vs RCT

Question 3

What is the cognitive approach?

Answer 3

Focuses on innate mental structures such as schemas, perceptions and memory which are constantly changing due to environmental stimuli

Question 4

How can cognitive psychology be used to explain behaviour? (2 points)

Answer 4

Four models of memory show different ways of explaining memory either through a series of structures or the way memory is processed

1. MSM
2. WMM
3. Tulving’s LTM
4. Reconstructive memory

Question 5

What is the biological approach? (2 points)

Answer 5

Focuses on innate genetic, hormonal and neurotransmitter explanations for human behaviour, which has evolved through the process of natural selection/survival of the fittest

Done in an attempt to explain the theme of human aggression

Question 6

How can biological psychology be used to explain behaviour? (2 points)

Answer 6

Compare Freud’s ideas and biological explanations of aggression, including:
+ Genetics
+ Hormones
+ Neurotransmitters

Role of evolution against hormones when explaining aggression

Question 7

What is the learning theories approach?

Answer 7

Focuses on all behaviour being learned from the environment, through conditioning and observation and imitation of role models

Question 8

How can learning theories be used to explain behaviour? (2 points)

Answer 8

Different learning theories explain learning through association, reinforcement and imitation (CC, OC, SLT)

Only social learning theory takes cognition directly into account

Question 9

What is the clinical approach?

Answer 9

Focuses on a biological cause of a mental illness and aims to diagnose, treat and provide therapy for abnormal mental states and symptoms

Question 10

How can clinical psychology be used to explain behaviour? (3 points)

Answer 10

Sz:
Neurotransmitters
Genetics - C4, 22qDs, COMT
Cognitive issues - ADT and ToM

AN:
Neurotransmitters + VMH/LH
SLT

Stress-diathesis model