PAPER 2 - Approaches in Psychology Flashcards

1
Q

What is INTROSPECTION ?

A

the examination or observation of one’s own mental and emotional processes.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Who is Wundt ?

A
  • father of psychology

- aim was to examine the structure of the mind

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What was Wundt’s APPROACH ?

A

structuralism

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What was Wundt’s TECHNIQUE ?

A

introspection

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What were the 2 major assumptions that introspection were based on ?

A

(1) all behaviour is seen as being caused (determined)
(2) if behaviour is determined, this it should be possible to predict how human being would behave in different conditions.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are the 2 WEAKNESSES of Wundt’s introspection technique ?

A

UNRELIABLE - relied on ‘non-observational’ response - not reliable reproduced by other researchers

NOT ACCURATE - lacks validity - we have little knowledge of the processes behind out behaviour.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the 4 psychology goals ?

A

DESCRIPTION - tells us ‘what’ occurred

EXPLANATION - tells us ‘why’ it occurred

PREDICTION - identify conditions that will cause a behaviour to occur

CHANGE - apply psychological knowledge to prevent unwanted behaviour

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is a STRENGTH of the emergence of psychology as a science ?

A

reliance on OBJECTIVE SYSTEMATIC METHODS means that theories were tested rather than being accepted as true

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is a WEAKNESS of the emergence of psychology as a science ?

A

by concentrating on objectivity we may focus more on controlling the situation rather than looking at how people behave in normal situation (ECOLOGICAL VALIDITY)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are the 5 approaches that explain behaviours ?

A

THE LEARNING APPROACH: behaviourist and SLT

COGNITIVE APPROACH : point of view of our mind

PSYCHOANALYTIC APPROACH: point of view of our unconscious and early childhood experiences

BIOLOGICAL APPROACH: point of view of genetics

HUMANISTIC APPROACH: point of view of self-image

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the ASSUMPTIONS that behaviourists believe ?

A
  • psychology should be seen as a science, supported by evidence, objective and controlled observations
  • psychologists should study OBSERVABLE BEHAVIOURS
  • no FREE WILL
  • when we are BORN our mind is TABULA RASA (blank slate)
  • little difference in the learning between ANIMALS and HUMANS, study animals generalise to humans
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is CLASSICAL CONDITIONING ?

A
  • learning through association

- two stimuli (UCS) + (NS) - repeatedly paired

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are the STRENGTHS of classical conditioning ?

A

EVIDENCE

  • Pavlov
  • Little Albert

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

  • systematic desensitization
  • treat ANXIETY of phobias
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is a LIMITATION of classical conditioning ?

A

DIFFERENT SPECIES, DIFFERENT SURVIVAL NEEDS

-Pavolvs research is on dogs = not generlisable / counterpoint = little albert

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What does the COGNITIVE APPROACH argue ?

A

internal mental processes should be observed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What involvement do schema’s have on behaviour ?

A

contribute to how we perceive and have opinions on the world

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Who researched the schema theory ?

A

Bugelski and Alampay

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

How did BUGELSKI and ALAMPAY study the schema theory ?

A

Group A - animals - activate animal schema - last image
- animal related

Group B - human - activate human schema - last image
- human related

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What are THEORETICAL MODELS ?

A
  • one way to study INTERNAL PROCESSES
  • information processing approach
  • information flows through cognitive system
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What are COMPUTER MODELS ?

A
  • comparing minds to computers
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What is COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE ?

A
  • how structures affect mental processes

- Paul Broca = frontal lobe affects speech

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Name 2 brain imaging techniques

A

fMRI and PET scans

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What do brain imaging techniques do ?

A

identify activity in specific areas of the brain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What are the STRENGTHS of the cognitive approach ?

A

USES SCIENTIFIC & OBJECTIVE METHODS

  • reliable, objective methods
  • enables biological and cognitive approach to come together
  • credible basis

USEFUL APPLICATIONS

  • explain dysfunctional behaviours
  • successful treatment
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What is the WEAKNESSES of the cognitive approach ?

A

COUNTERARGUMENT

  • too abstract and theoretical
  • artificial stimuli = not represent everyday experiences

COMPUTER MODELS
- different programming between humans and computers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What would suggest that there is a genetic basis behind traits ?

A

if MONOZYGOTIC twins have a HIGHER concordance rate than DIZYGOTIC twins

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

How do we know that the environment has some effect on traits ?

A

concordance rate of MZ twins is not 100%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

How are twin studies used to determine the likelihood that certain traits have a genetic basis ?

A
  • comparing concordance rates

- concordance rate = extent that both twins share the same characteristics

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

What is GENOTYPE ?

A

GENETIC CODE - ‘written’ in the DNA

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

What is PHENOTYPE ?

A

BEHAVIOUR and PHYSICAL STRUCTURE - arising from INTERACTION between their GENOTYPE and ENVIRONMENT

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

What is EVOLUTION ?

A

change in INHERITED CHARACTERISTICS over SUCCESSIVE GENERATIONS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

What is the mechanism behind biological evolution ?

A

natural selection

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

How does evolution affect behaviour ?

A

over successive generations - ADVANTAGEOUS BEHAVIOURS - passed on - widespread

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

What is ‘SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST’ ?

A

characteristics are inherited - compete for resources - those who survive reproduce - offspring have this good traits

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

What happened to PHINEAS GAGE ?

A
  • metal bar through skull and brain
  • little intellectual impairment
  • personality change
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

What did the case study of Phineas Gage suggest ?

A
  • damage to frontal lobes

- this structure is involved in controlling behaviour

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

Who studied London taxi drivers ?

A

WOOLLETT AND MAGUIRE

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

How does NEUROCHEMISTRY affect behaviour ?

A

levels of neurotransmitters affect mood and mood and behaviour

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

What is the DOPAMINE HYPOTHESIS ?

A

schizophrenia results from an EXCESS of DOPAMINE - causes FIRING RATE to increase - transmits TOO MANY MESSAGES - causes symptoms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

What does a more recent assessment of the DOPAMINE HYPOTHESIS suggest ?

A

too many DOPAMINE RECEPTORS rather than too much dopamine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

Why do HORMONES do ?

A

cause PHYSIOLOGICAL REACTION - alerting its activity

42
Q

Who studied the effects of hormones ?

A

CARRE ET AL - Canadian ice hockey team

43
Q

What did CARRE ET AL find ?

A
  • surge in levels of TESTOSTERONE - home stadium - energised players - defending home territory
44
Q

What are the STRENGTHS to the biological approach ?

A

SCIENTIFIC METHOD

  • objective measurement
  • easily replicated
  • credibility

REAL-LIFE APPLICATIONS

  • development of psychoactive drugs
  • treat mental illness
  • gain relief
45
Q

What are the LIMITATIONS of the biological approach ?

A

CANNOT ESTABLISH CAUSE AND EFFECT
- never be completely sure that brain activity influences behaviour

DETERMINISM

  • sees human behaviour as governed by INTERNAL BIOLOGICAL cases
  • have no control over
46
Q

What is humanistic psychology concerned with ?

A

explanations of healthy growth of individuals

47
Q

Who led the research of humanistic psychology ?

A

Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow

48
Q

What does humanistic psychology believe about FREE WILL ?

A
  • we have free will
  • rejects scientific models
  • psychology should concern itself with SUBJECTIVE EXPERIENCE
49
Q

What is Maslow’s HIERARCHY OF NEEDS ?

A
  • physiological needs at the bottom

- self-actualisation at the top = PEAK EXPERIENCE

50
Q

What is CONGRUENCE ?

A

ROGERS

  • personal growth achieved through congruence
  • more overlap between SELF-IMAGE and IDEAL-SELF
  • issues in adulthood stem from childhood due to a lack of UNCONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARD
51
Q

What is PERSON-CENTRED THERAPY ?

A
  • each person is best expert of themselves
  • encourage to find OWN SOLUTIONS
  • talk as openly as possible
  • counsellor provides UNCONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARD
52
Q

What are the STRENGTHS of the humanistic approach ?

A

NOT REDUCTIONIST

  • gain better insight into individual’s behaviour
  • qualitative methods
  • holistic view
  • more valid = meaning human behaviour = real life context

POSITIVE APPROACH

  • offers refreshing and optimistic alternative
  • sees people as free to work towards improving themselves
53
Q

What are the LIMITATIONS of the humanistic approach ?

A

LIMITED APPLICATIONS

  • not many real-life application other than the therapy
  • abstract concepts

UNSTABLE CONCEPT

  • adopts non-scientific approach
  • difficult to study
  • lack of empirical evidence to support theories
54
Q

What does the PSYCHODYNAMIC APPROACH suggest ?

A

behaviour is the result of EARLY CHILDHOOD experiences and UNCONSCIOUS THOUGHTS and FEELINGS

55
Q

Who was the founder of the psychodynamic approach ?

A

Sigmund Freud

56
Q

What is the role of the unconscious ?

A

conscious mind = tip of the iceberg
unconscious mind = larger part

behaviour stems from the unconscious part - reveals itself through slips of the tongue

57
Q

What did Freud believe about defence mechanisms ?

A

mind actively prevents traumatic memories - repression / denial / displacement

58
Q

What are the 3 structures of personality ?

A

ID / EGO / SUPEREGO

59
Q

What is the ID ?

A

PLEASURE PRINCIPLE - present from birth- immediate gratification

60
Q

Give an example of the ID

A

if a person is hungry the id demands that they eat there and then

61
Q

What is the EGO ?

A

REALITY PRINCIPLE - mediates between other two personalities

62
Q

Give an example of the EGO

A

may delay gratifying the id until there is a more appropriate opportunity to satisfy its demands

63
Q

What is the SUPEREGO ?

A

MORALITY PRINCIPLE - develops around age 4/5 - right or wrong - how we should behave

64
Q

What is REPRESSION ?

A

MOTIVATED FORGETTING - threatening thoughts are pushed out

65
Q

What is DISPLACEMENT ?

A

TRANSFERRING FEELINGS from a TRUE SOURCE onto a TARGET e.g. parent

66
Q

What is DENIAL ?

A

REFUSING TO BELIEVE the situation is occurring

67
Q

What are the 5 PSYCHOSEXUAL STAGES involved with PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT ?

A
oral stage 
anal stage 
phallic stage
latency stage 
genital stage 

(OAPs Love Gravy)

68
Q

What is the ORAL STAGE (0-1) ?

A

pleasure in the mouth - sucking / biting

69
Q

What are the consequences of unresolved conflict in the oral stage ?

A

ORAL FIXATION - smoking / biting nails

70
Q

What is the ANAL STAGE (1-3)

A

pleasure in the anus - control of bodily waste

71
Q

What are the consequences of unresolved conflict in the anal stage ?

A

ANALLY RETENTIVE - perfectionist

ANALLY EXPULSIVE - disorganised

72
Q

What is the PHALLIC STAGE (3-6)

A

Oedipus and Electra complex - unconscious desire for opposite sex parent - identify with same sex parent

boys fear castration
girls suffer penis envy

73
Q

What are the consequences of unresolved conflict in the phallic stage ?

A

PHALLIC PERSONALITY - reckless / possibly homosexual

74
Q

What is the LATENCY STAGE (6-puberty)

A

sexual urges

75
Q

What is the GENITAL STAGE (puberty onwards)

A

sexual desires - become conscious alongside onset of puberty

76
Q

What are the consequences of unresolved conflict in the genital stage ?

A

difficulty forming heterosexual relationships

77
Q

What are the STRENGTHS of the psychodynamic approach ?

A

EXPLANATORY POWER

  • explains wide range of phenomenon
  • demonstrated influence of childhood on adulthood

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

  • used in hypnosis bringing unconscious to conscious
  • could be considered inappropriate
78
Q

What are the LIMITATIONS of the psychodynamic approach ?

A

UNSTABLE CONCEPTS
- hard to falsify - open to interpretation - very subjective - hard to tests

PSYCHIC DETERMINISM
- no behaviour is an accident - driven by unconscious forces

79
Q

What is OPERANT CONDITIONING ?

A

how consequences influence behaviour

80
Q

What is REINFORCEMENT ?

A

something in the environment that STRENGTHENS a behaviour making it more likely to occur

81
Q

What is POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT ?

A

INCREASES the likelihood that the behaviour will be REPEATED - consequence is pleasant

82
Q

Give an example of positive reinforcement

A

giving child praise for carrying out a good behaviour

83
Q

What is NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT ?

A

INCREASES the likelihood that the behaviour will be repeated - removing something unpleasant

84
Q

Give an example of negative reinforcement

A

giving a crying child sweets to take away the crying

85
Q

What is PUNISHMENT ?

A

DECREASES the likelihood that the behaviour will be repeated - consequence is unpleasant

86
Q

Give an example of punishment

A

giving a detention for not completing homework

87
Q

What is POSITIVE PUNISHMENT ?

A

giving something unpleasant e.g. press-ups at badminton

88
Q

What is NEGATIVE PUNISHMENT ?

A

removing something desirable e.g. being grounded

89
Q

What are the STRENGTHS of operant conditioning ?

A

EMPIRICAL SUPPORT

  • Skinner
  • cause and effect

REAL-LIFE APPLICATIONS

  • token economy programmes
  • prisons
  • good behaviour is rewarded
90
Q

What are the LIMITATIONS of operant conditioning ?

A

FREE WILL IN HUMANS COMPARED TO ANIMALS
- cant relate Skinner’s research to humans

however. ..
- skinner argued free will is an illusion

MECHANISTIC VIEW OF BEHAVIOUR

  • animals = passive responders
  • humans = active responders
  • learning theory may apply less to humans
91
Q

What is the SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY ?

A

we learn indirectly by observing and imitating others

92
Q

What is MODELLING ?

A

someone who is looked at ‘role model’

- can be live models or symbolic

93
Q

What is IMITATION ?

A

copying of behaviour

- determined by characteristics of models, ability to perform and consequences of behaviour

94
Q

What is IDENTIFICATION ?

A

the extent that someone relates to a model

95
Q

What is VICARIOUS REINFORCEMENT ?

A

learning by looking at the consequences of a behaviour

96
Q

What is the MEDITATION PROCESS ?

A

cognition involved prior to imitation

- attention / retention / motor reproduction / motivation

97
Q

What is ATTENTION ?

A

noticing the behaviour

98
Q

What is RETENTION ?

A

remembering the behaviour

99
Q

What is MOTOR REPRODUCTION ?

A

being physically capable / possible

100
Q

What is MOTIVATION ?

A

has to be a reason for copying the behaviour