APPROACHES

Question 1

Learning approach behaviourism

Answer 1

-tend to use animals in studies
studies behaviour that can be observed and measured
classical conditioning:learning through association
study:PAVLOV
Operant conditioning:learning through consequences
positive reinforcement:receiving a reward when a certain behaviour is performed
negative reinforcement:behaviour which is more likely to be repeated as avoids unpleasant situation
punishment:unpleasant consequence of behaviour
STUDY:Skinner
Evaluation:
+led to development of treatments like reduction in anxiety for phobias (flooding +SD).Token economies
-environmental deterministic
-ethical issues:animal research, can animals be generalise to humans
-mechanistic view

Question 2

Social learning theory

Answer 2

Bandura:
-agrees with behaviourists that behaviour is learnt from direct experience however he also proposes we also learn from indirect experience.SLT also takes into account mental processes and thoughts of individuals
Imitation:copying a model
Modelling:for SLT to take place an individual must ‘model’ the behaviour /attitude.Can be symbolic or live model.
Mediational processes:
1)attention
2)retention
3)motor reproduction
4)motivation
identification:the more similar the roles model is to the observe the more likely behaviour will be imitated.EG-gender,age etc
vicarious reinforcement: children who observed a model rewarded rather than punishment are more likely to copy behaviour
STUDY:Bandura et al
procedure:conducted experiment on children.Children observed an aggressive model and non aggressive model interacting with a bobo doll.
Findings:
children who observed the aggressive model imitated more aggressive behaviour.Children who observed the non aggressive model were not aggressive.
-on average boys were more aggressive than girls

Question 3

evaluation of SLT

Answer 3

+emphasise importance of cognitive factors->More complete explanation of human learning
+Less determinist than behaviourist approach.Shows there is some free will->more realistic+flexible than behaviourist approach
-Underestimates role of biology.boys were more aggressive than girls->boys have higher levels of testosterone.
-over reliance if lab studies->risks demand characteristics.Children may have act how they wanted them to act.Research may be inaccurate
COUNTER:rules of extraneous variables making it more valid

Question 4

Psychodynamic approach

Answer 4

Freud:
-approach which is based of the unconscious mind and how humans behave
Role of unconscious:conscious,pre-conscious and unconscious.Unconscious is important on the influence of behaviour.
Tripartite:
Id:pleasure principle
superego:morality principle
ego:reality principle
DEFENCE MECHANISMS:
Repression:pushing thoughts to unconscious mind
Displacement:redirecting your feeling and emotions on to another target
Denial:refusing to acknowledge aspects of reality

Question 5

Psychosexual stages

Answer 5

1)Oral stage
- 18 months,pleasure focus=mouth
-completed with eating independently
2)Anal stage
- 1-3 years,pleasure focus=anus
-competed with potty training
3)phallic stage
-3-5 years
Oedipus complex (boys):boys want their mothers and want their father gone.Fears father knows this and will castrate them
Electra complex (girls):girl desires mother but realises she has no penis so becomes hostile towards mother as believes she has been castrated so becomes attracted to father
4)latency stage
-Age 6
focus on making same sex friendships
5)the genital stage
-adulthood
-focus on developing healthy adult relationships

Question 6

evaluation of psychodynamic approach

Answer 6

+had real life application.developed psychoanalysis EG-dream analysis+hypnosis.De maat et al found that using this had long lasting improvements in symptoms
+Fisher and Greenberg:2500 studies support defence mechanisms and role of unconscious.
-untestable statements:Popper said it couldn’t be falsified therefore not scientific.Can’t disprove role of unconscious.
-Case studies:Little Hans.Can’t be generalised to everyone.Lacks population validity

Question 7

Humanistic approach

Answer 7

Free will:focuses on studying subjective experiences of unique individuals
Maslow hierarchy of needs:Self actualisation is when a person has reached full potential.4 things needs to achieve this:physiological>love/belonging>esteem>self actualisation
Focus on the self
congruence:match between the perceived self and the ideal self.The more similar the better of psychological well-being
conditions of worth:meeting someone’s expectations to be accepted
Influence on counselling psychology:Client centred therapy
-aim to reduce incongruence and help person to be fully functioning
-effective humanistic therapist provides empathy+unconditional positive regard
-therapists act as a guide

Question 8

evaluation of humanistic approach

Answer 8

+Holism approach:looks at the whole person not broken down to small bits.More complete explanation for people behaviour

• limited application.compared to other approaches hasn’t been that effective.Would be hard to use for people with SZ as hallucinations are involved
• culture bias:associated with individualistic cultures.Collectivist cultures help one another as a group and may not identify with things talked about in this approach
• untestable statements:concepts are vague and difficult to test.