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psychology alevel ! > approaches > Flashcards

approaches Flashcards

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1
Q

wundt and introspection

A
  • first lab
  • start of psychology as a science
  • standardised methods to analyse human consciousness - introspection
  • develop theories about mental processes
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2
Q

evaluation of wundt’s scientific method - scientific

A

wundt used standardised procedures in a controlled lab setting

led to more scientific approaches like behaviourism

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3
Q

evaluation of wundt’s scientific method - subjectivity

A

self reported data from participants is interpreted subjectively - dont know if they reported accurately

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4
Q

emergence of psychology as a science

A

1900s - behaviourism - watson criticised wundt for subjectiveness - behaviourists use well controlled lab studies

1950s - cognitive approach - introduction of computers - use theoretical models to explain mind

1980s - biological approach - technology such as brain scans and DNA testing has made psychology more scientific - empirical data

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5
Q

behaviourist approach assumptions

A
  • behaviourists believe that all behaviour is learnt
  • only study behaviour that is observable and measurable
  • most of research conducted in controlled scientific lab studies
  • research conducted on animals is valid - same principles of learning
  • we are born blank slates - no genetic influence
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6
Q

classical conditioning

A

pavlov’s dog

food (UCS) -> salivation (UCR)
food (UCS) + bell (NS) -> salivation (UCR)
bell (CS) -> salivation (CS)

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7
Q

operant conditioning

A

skinner

positive reinforcement - increase likelihood of behaviour by pleasant consequences

negative reinforcement - increase likelihood of behaviour by removing a negative outcome

punishment - decreases likelihood of behaviour by applying something unpleasant

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8
Q

evaluation of the behaviourist approach - real world application

A

treatments based on principles

desensitisation - 75% effective when treating phobias

strong behavioural element to behaviour

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9
Q

evaluation of the behaviourist approach - deterministic

A

skinner says free will is an illusion - everything we do is sum of reinforcement history

  • ignores influence of our conscious decision making in our subsequent behaviour
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10
Q

evaluation of the behaviourist approach - animal research

A

barnet - outdated and results can not be used to explain human behaviour - humans are more cognitively advanced and social factors have an influence on behaviour

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11
Q

evaluation of the behaviourist approach - scientific

A

approach lends itself to scientific validation - research in controlled lab setting and can be replicated

scientific credibility

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12
Q

social learning theory assumptions

A
  • based upon classical and operant conditioning
  • uses laboratory experiments in which behaviour is observed
  • child learns vicariously by observing the actions and consequences of actions of role models then will imitate
  • we are more likely to imitate those we identify with
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13
Q

meditational processes - slt

A

attention - pay attention to role model
retention - remember what they saw
motor reproduction - be physically capable of performing the behaviour
motivation - be motivated to perform the behaviour

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14
Q

bobo doll - slt

A

bandura et al
- children saw an adult behave aggressively both verbally and physically towards bobo doll
- children who saw aggressive model were more aggressive than non-aggressive model
- children imitated same-sex model more

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15
Q

evaluation of the social learning theory - immediate effects

A

studies mainly on children - rarely investigate adult behaviour

only look at immediate changes in children’s behaviour

do not know long term effects

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16
Q

evaluation of the behaviourist approach - cognitive factors

A

slt vs behaviourism

acknowledge role of cognitive factors so fuller explanation of human behaviour

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17
Q

evaluation of the behaviourist approach - innate

A

still sees behaviour as environmentally determined whereas some behaviours may be innate and not learnt

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18
Q

evaluation of the behaviourist approach - biological explanations

A

biological explanations of aggression not taken into account

lavine - increase levels of dopamine activity associated with increased aggressive behaviour

testosterone positively correlates with aggressiveness

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19
Q

cognitive approach assumptions

A
  • processes can and should be studied scientifically
  • mind works like a computer - input from the senses which it then processes to produce outputs such as language and specific behaviours
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20
Q

cognitive approach - schemas and theoretical models

A

schemas - cognitive representation of ideas about a situation formed through experiences - allow us to predict what will happen

theoretical models - msm - look at behaviour in distinct steps - information processing model - computation

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21
Q

emergence of cognitive neuroscience

A

approach looks for a biological basis for thought processes

1950s

MRI and PET scans - systematically observe and describe neurological basis of mental processes

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22
Q

evaluation of the cognitive approach - oversimplified

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A

theoretical models may oversimplify complex processes

eg emotion is overlooked

computer analogy is not valid way of explaining mental processes

23
Q

evaluation of the cognitive approach - ecological validity

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A

conducted in labs - lack ecological validity as thought processes measures could be artificial due to context and tasks performed

24
Q

evaluation of the cognitive approach - abstract concepts

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A

schemas and theoretical models are abstract concepts which are difficult to scientifically evidence

cognitive neuroscience can do this in a more scientific manner

25
evaluation of the cognitive approach - deterministic
suggests that people are mechanistic and lack free will, therefore this approach is very deterministic does recognise internal processes that behaviourism does not
26
biological approach assumptions
- everything psychological is at first biological - approach investigates how biological structures and processes within body impact behaviour - genes affect behaviour and influence psychological differences - evolutionary psychology considers genetic influences - psychologists should study the brain, nervous system and other biological systems
27
biological approach - genotype and phenotype
genotype - actual set of genes an individual has phenotype - come from an interaction of genotype and environment
28
biological approach - twin studies
twin studies to compare concordance rate of monozygotic and dizygotic twins - establish if a trait or characteristic is due to biological factors
29
biological approach - evolution
darwin would argue that genes are inherited - natural selection behaviours are genetically determined through genes that are passed on
30
evaluation of the biological approach - scientific
scientific techniques have shown there are biological components to behaviour brain scanning techniques such as fMRi and EEG has improved ability to see this - objective data
31
evaluation of the biological approach - twin studies
McGuffin studied twins where one pair suffered from depression 46% - MZ 20% - DZ
32
evaluation of the biological approach - deterministic
biological approach accused of being simplistic and ignoring environment diathesis-stress model -interactionist approach
33
evaluation of the biological approach - real world application
drug treatments such as SSRIs for depression have proven to be successful in many cases - biological cause to depression HOWEVER drugs dont work for everyone - may only masks symptoms
34
psychodynamic approach assumptions
- unconscious processes - unaware of - determine behaviour - personality has three parts - id, ego and superego - early childhood experiences determine adult personality
35
psychodynamic approach - id
primitive biological part of the mind and present from birth basic biological impulses or drives such as hunger, thirst pleasure principle
36
psychodynamic approach - ego
mediates between id and superego develops around age 2 - tries to reduce conflict between id and superego by using defence mechanisms reality principle
37
psychodynamic approach - superego
judges whether actions are right or wrong internalised representation of same sex parent morality principle
38
psychodynamic approach defence mechanisms
repression - pushing bad experiences or negative emotions out of the conscious mind into the unconscious denial - refusing to accept that something has or will happen when in fact it will displacement - transfer feelings onto something neutral
39
psychodynamic approach - oral
0-1 years fixations - smoking, biting nails, sarcasm
40
psychosexual stages - anal
1-3 years fixations retentive - obsessive and perfectionist expulsive - messy and disordered
41
psychosexual stages - phallic
3-6 years fixations - vain, narcissist, homosexual
42
psychosexual stages - latency
6-12 years fixations - expands social contacts
43
evaluation of the psychodynamic approach - case studies
freud - little hands oedipus complex researcher bias and hard to generalise
44
evaluation of the psychodynamic approach - real world application
freud introduced a range of therapies to help us to access the unconscious mind - dream analysis helps to deal with unresolved conflicts and have influenced counselling
45
evaluation of the psychodynamic approach - abstract concepts
cannot operationalise or measure concepts such as displacement in a scientific way non falsifiable - lack scientific credibility
46
evaluation of the psychodynamic approach - psychic determinism
freud’s theories suggest that our childhood experiences shape our adult personality and does not acknowledge how other factors in adult like could affect abnormality no free will
47
humanistic approach assumptions
- have free will but affected by internal and external influences - interpreters of own world - subjective experiences rather than attempting to create general laws
48
humanistic approach - maslow’s hierarchy of needs
self-actualisation esteem love safety psychological
49
roger’s self, congruence and conditions of worth
we need two basic things - positive regard and self worth when similarity between ideal self and how perceive self there is congruence difference - incongruence experience conditional positive regard and develop conditions of worth from parents
50
influence of humanistic approach on counselling
acts as guide for people to help themselves therapists provide unconditional positive regard - empathy and genuineness
51
evaluation of humanistic approach - hollistic
not as deterministic as other theories such as biological apptoach humanistic approach - more valid
52
evaluation of humanistic approach - positive approach
praised for bringing the human back into psychology free will
53
evaluation of humanistic approach - culture bias
elements of humanism associated with western cultures collectivist cultures focus more on needs of group
54
evaluation of humanistic approach - unrealistic
humanist approach represents an idealised view of human nature fails to recognise that people have a capacity for self destruction and that encourages people to focus on own self development - not realistic

psychology alevel ! (9 decks)

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