Approaches

Question 1

What did Wundt do? (4 things)

Answer 1

Opened first psychology lab
Introspection
Controlled procedures
Structuralism

Question 2

What did Wundt’s controlled procedures involve?

Answer 2

Ppts presented with a ticking metronome, and asked how it made them think and feel.

Question 3

What is structuralism?

Answer 3

Breaking up the consciousness into thoughts, images and functions.

Question 4

Evaluation of Wundt

Answer 4

+ Aspects of Wundt’s work are scientific; he recorded the introspections from within a controlled lab environment.
- Aspects of Wundt’s work are subjective; relied on people’s abilities to self-examine their inner processes, very subjective

Question 5

Key features of SLT

Answer 5

Vicarious learning
Vicarious reinforcement (relating behaviour to consequences)
Mediational processes in learning
Identification with role models

Question 6

What are the four mediational processes?

Answer 6

Attention
Retention
Reproduction
Motivation

Question 7

Bandura procedure (1961)

Answer 7

Children watched either:
-Adult behaving aggressively to Bobo doll
-Adult behaving passively to Bobo doll

Question 8

Bandura findings (1961)

Answer 8

Children copied adult behaviour

Question 9

Bandura and Walters procedure (1963)

Answer 9

Children saw adult who was either _______ for being aggressive to Bobo doll:
-Rewarded
-Punished
-Shown no consequence

Question 10

Bandura and Walters findings (1963)

Answer 10

Children who saw rewards were much more likely to copy behaviour

Question 11

Evaluation of SLT (Emphasis)

Answer 11

+ SLT emphasises importance of cognitive factors; humans and animals store information about perceived behaviours in order to make judgements later on when in those scenarios.
- COUNTER: Research shows that observational learning is controlled by neurons in the brain, which suggests SLT might not put enough emphasis on biological factors

Question 12

Evaluation of SLT (Real world application)

Answer 12

Explains how children learn gender roles through representation in the media

Question 13

Key features of the cognitive approach

Answer 13

Study of mental processes
Inference of information
Schemas
Theoretical models e.g multi-store model
Computer models
Cognitive neuroscience

Question 14

What are schemas?

Answer 14

Packages if information developed through experience that form a mental framework

Question 15

What is cognitive neuroscience?

Answer 15

The study of the influence of brain structures on mental processes
CN found that the parahippocampal gyrus links to OCD

Question 16

Evaluation of cognitive approach? (methodology)

Answer 16

+ Cognitive approach uses scientific and objective methods; lab studies to remove any extraneous variables when inferring cognitive processes
- COUNTER: Use of inference can make cognitive psychology too abstract and theoretical, also often uses artificial stimuli (such as word lists) so lacks mundane realism and has low external validity

Question 17

Evaluation of cognitive approach? (Real world application)

Answer 17

+ Cognitive behavioural therapy as a treatment for depression (also most common therapy)

Question 18

Key features of biological approach

Answer 18

All behaviour links to biological processes
“Mind” is part of the brain
Neurochemical basis of behaviour
Genetic basis of behaviour
Genotypes + Phenotypes
Theory of Evolution

Question 19

What is neurochemistry?

Answer 19

Chemical inside the brain, and what they do
e.g. underproduction of serotonin in OCD

Question 20

What does “genetic basis of behaviour” mean?

Answer 20

Psychological characteristics (eg Intelligence) are inherited
Twins studies showed higher similarity rates between identical twins than non-identical twins

Question 21

How does evolution tie in to the biological approach?

Answer 21

Any genetically determined behaviours that enhance chances of survival are passed down as the holders live to reproduce and pass them down

Question 22

Evaluation of biological approach (Real world application)

Answer 22

+ Drug therapy; SSRIs to treat depression and OCD
- COUNTER: Drug therapy doesn’t work for everybody, so brain chemistry alone must not be the only factor of these disorders

Question 23

Evaluation of biological approach (Methodology)

Answer 23

+ Uses scientific methodology, such as fMRI scans that are not in any way open to bias