Approaches Flashcards
How did Wundt play a role in the development of psychology?
- Opened first lab dedicated to psychology, made it a distinct and scientific discipline
- Used/developed introspection
- Known as the “father of psychology”, moved from philosophy
- Experiences were analysed in terms of its component parts
- Standardised introspection to make the test replicable, allowing future psychologists to use this method themselves
What did behaviourists believe in?
- Believed that behaviour should be objective and measurable
- Believed in the use of controlled labs to do experiments
- Believed all behaviour is learnt and should be visible, objective and measurable
What is classical conditioning and who is the scientist who discovered it?
Pavlov (1902), Believed that behaviour is learnt through association. Believed we form associations with unlearned (unconditioned) stimuli, in order to form new behaviours (conditioned response).
What is operant conditioning and who was the psychologist who discovered it?
B.F Skinner, said behaviour is learned through positive and negative reinforcement. We learn from early ages which behaviours are rewarded and punished.
What was the method that Pavlov used to test his idea of classical conditioning?
Used dogs, began to ring a bell whenever he gave his dogs food. Over a conditioning period, the dogs would begin to associate the bell with receiving food. After the process, Pavlov found that whenever he rung the bell, his dogs started to salivate, as they were expecting food.
What is the social learning theory?
The social learning theory is a branch of behaviourism and it believes that we learn through observation and imitation of other people, or “role models”.
Who conducted the main experiment in highlighting social learning theory?
Bandura with his Bobo doll experiment.
What are the four mediational processes Bandura said allow us to develop a behaviour?
1: Attention (how well we notice certain behaviours)
2: Retention (how well we remember behaviours)
3: Motor reproduction (our ability to replicate the behaviour ourselves)
4: Motivation (the will to perform the behaviour, which can be influenced by rewards etc)
Describe Bandura’s bobo doll experiment
Children were separated into three groups. One group saw an adult (the role model) hitting the doll and acting aggressively towards it and being rewarded for his actions. Another group saw the same role model doing the same thing but this time being punished for his actions. The third group saw the role model acting calmly and kindly around the doll.
It was found that those who had watched the first role model acted extremely aggressively, some even more than the role model who used prop guns, as they expected to be praised too. The second and third groups chose to act non-confrontational towards the doll.
What is the cognitive approach?
The cognitive approach is the study of internal mental processes (which are private processes of the mind such as perception, attention and memory). This approach uses inference to create theories about behaviour and the mind.
What is a schema?
A schema is a cognitive framework that helps us to organise and interpret information in the brain.
Why are schemas useful?
- Used to make shortcuts when interpreting large amounts of information.
- Helps us to fill in gaps when we do not have complete information.
How did Brunner et al contribute to the cognitive approach?
Used fMRI scans to try and map the areas of the brain involved in processing emotions. Found that when people feel guilty, several regions of the brain activate.
Two models used to try and explain human mental processes?
- Theoretical models
- Computer models
3 key features of the theoretical model of the brain
- Uses evidence from research and uses it to make diagrams of how programs work
- Adapted and changed for new research
- Information processing approach, says info flows through cognitive system in sequence of stages, multi store model
