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Psychology > Approaches > Flashcards

Approaches Flashcards

1
Q

what is introspection?

A
  • ppts asked to reflect on their own cognitive processes and describe them
  • to investigate the human mind
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2
Q

what are the 3 thing required for an experiment to be scientific?

A

1) systematic- carried out in an orderly way
2) replicable- can be repeated by other researchers
3) empirical methods

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3
Q

what are the main assumptions of the behaviourist approach

A
  • everything we become is shaped from our environment
  • human behaviour is explained in terms of learning, known as conditioning (operant and classical)
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4
Q

what is classical conditioning

A
  • learning a new behaviour via the process of association
  • two stimuli are linked to produce a new learned response in a person or animal
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5
Q

what are the main components in classical conditioning

A

1) UCS (unconditioned stimulus)
2) UCR (unconditioned response)
3) NS (neutral stimulus)
4) CS (conditioned stimulus) - been learned
5) CR (conditioned response)

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6
Q

What did Pavlov do? (classical conditioning)

A
  • taught a dog to associate the ring of a bell with its food, therefore salivates
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7
Q

what are the 4 variables in classical conditioning

A

1) timing- if time between NS and UCS is too great, conditioning can’t take place
2) extinction- CR doesn’t become permantely established as a response
3) spontaneous recovery- if the CS and UCS are paired together again the link between them is made more quickly
4) stimulus generalisation - once an animal has been conditioned, they will respond to other stimuli that are similar to the CS

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8
Q

what is operant conditioning

A
  • states that learning occurs through reinforcement and punishment
  • repeated behaviour is due to the nature of the consequences
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9
Q

What did Skinner do?

A
  • Skinners box
  • conditioned a rat to press a leaver in order to get food
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10
Q

what is positive reinforcement

A

when a behaviour produces a pleasant consequence, most likely to be repeated

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11
Q

what is negative reinforcement

A
  • when a behaviour removes something unpleasant
  • doing smt to avoid an unpleasant response
    -most likely to be repeated
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12
Q

what is positive punishment

A

-behaviour is followed by unpleasant response
- punishment is added to the situation
-less likely to be repeated

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13
Q

what is negative punishment

A
  • behaviour followed by unpleasant consequence
  • taking away something pleasant
  • less likely to be repeated
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14
Q

what are the strengths of classical and operant conditioning as an explanation for behaviour - behaviourist approach

A

1) CC led to development of treatments for phobias. In clinical practices patients learn to associate their feared stimulus with relaxation which reduces anxiety, increases validity
2) Little Albert case study, Watson was able to condition an 11 month baby to fear a white rat by associating it with a loud bang noise. Also supports stimulus generalisation as Little Albert was scared of anything with fur afterwards
3) Experiments used well-controlled research, in controlled lab settings, behaviourist experiments have scientific credibility

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15
Q

what is the assumption of the social learning theory (SLT)

A

behaviour is learnt through experience, not by conditioning

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16
Q

define the term imitation

A

when an individual observes a behaviour from a role model and copies it

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17
Q

define the term identification (SLT)

A
  • extent to which a person views themselves as being similar to the role model.
  • more likely to imitate the behaviour of people whom they identify with
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18
Q

define the term modelling (SLT)

A
  • someone is influential in some way, referred to as a model
  • if individual imitates their behaviour its called modelling the behaviour
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19
Q

define the term vicarious reinforcement

A
  • the reinforcement the observer sees the model receiving
  • individual learns by observing the models behaviour and deciding whether to repeat it
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20
Q

define the term role of mediational processes

A
  • there is some thought when observing the behaviour of a model and imitating it
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21
Q

what are the 4 mediational processes (SLT) and describe them

A

1) attention - for behaviour to be imitated it has to grab our attention
2) retention - have to remember the action to imitate it (requires rehearsal)
3) reproduction - having the physical ability to repeat action
4) motivation - if rewards outweigh costs, we are most likely to imitate it

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22
Q

what experiment did Bandura propose?

A
  • bobo doll demonstrating observational learning
  • 3 conditions:
    1) model rewarded for hitting doll
    2) model punished for hitting doll
    3) no response when hitting doll
  • when model was rewarded children showed higher levels of aggression
  • when model was punished children showed low levels of punishment
  • vicarious reinforcement is an important factor for imitation
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23
Q

what is a strength of the social learning theory

A

1) emphasises the importance of cognitive factors, humans make judgements on appropriate behaviour, provides a more complete explanation of human learning by recognising mediational processes

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24
Q

weakness of the social learning theory

A

Bandura’s study showed there was a higher number of boys who were aggressive compared to girls, so may not be generalisable to both genders

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25
Q

what are the assumptions of the biological approach

A
  • physiology influences behaviour
  • includes the role of genes and neurochemistry
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26
Q

what are MZ and DZ twins?

A

MZ: completely identical, 100% same genes (shared placenta)
DZ: non-identical genes, share 50% of genes (separate placenta)

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27
Q

why are twin studies important?

A

they are used to determine if traits are environmental or genetic

28
Q

define the term concordance rate

A

the likelihood that if one twin has a certain trait the other twin will have it as well

29
Q

define the term genotype

A
  • our genetic makeup which provides the genetic code for how an individual will develop
  • dictates characteristics such as eye and hair colour
30
Q

define the term phenotype

A
  • product of what happens when the genotype interacts with the environment
  • the way our genes are expressed
31
Q

what are neurotransmitters

A

chemical messengers in our brain

32
Q

what are hormones

A

chemicals which travel through the blood. Produced in the glands and control characteristics such as growth

33
Q

what can an imbalance in neurotransmitters lead to

A

mental illnesses and therefore can change a persons behaviour

34
Q

what are the strengths of the biological approach

A

1) real world application, research into neurochemicals led to drugs to correct chemical imbalances such as low levels of serotonin leading to depression, therefore can treat mental disorders
2) uses scientific methods, scanning methods e.g fMRI scans which assess biological processes whilst avoiding bias, therefore objective and reliable data

35
Q

what is a weakness of the biological approach

A

1) reductionist, suggests main cause of mental disorders is through genes and neurochemical imbalances, but this doesn’t account for environmental influences, therefore approach ignores complexity of human behaviour by reducing it down to simpler components

36
Q

what are the assumptions for the cognitive approach

A

-mental processes are an explanation on how we behave
- information is taken from the environment via the senses and a behavioural output is performed

37
Q

what is a schema

A
  • a package of beliefs and expectations on a topic that come from prior experience
  • they are useful by helping us take shortcuts in thinking
  • however can lead to faulty conclusions and unhelpful behaviour
38
Q

define the term inference

A
  • make assumptions about mental processes that can’t be directly observed
39
Q

what are the two different types of models that are used to understand the brain (cognitive approach) and explain them

A

-theoretical: simplified interpretations of more complex behaviours
-computer: many similarities between the way in which computers work and the human mind

40
Q

what are the strengths of the cognitive approach

A

1) has many applications, been able to explain behaviour in terms of faulty thinking processes, E.g depressed people have negative self schemas. This has led to the development of treatments such as depression with cognitive based therapies.
2) considered a scientific approach, variables are controlled during experiments and methods are objective.
HOWEVER, tasks are artificial and lack external validity (word lists) so does not represent everyday experiences

41
Q

what is a weakness of the cognitive approach

A

1) approach is based of machine reductionism, the computer analogy has bee criticised as influences such as emotion affect things such as accuracy of recal e.g EWT. These factors aren’t considered in the computer analogy

42
Q

explain the emergence of neuroscience

A

-scientific study of influence of brain structures on mental processes
- with advanced brain scanning scientists have been able to describe the neurological basis of mental processing
- this includes research in memory that has linked episodic and semantic memories to opposite sides of the prefrontal cortex (Tulving)

43
Q

what is the assumption for the psychodynamic approach (Freud)

A

-traumatic or disturbing events from child/adulthood can be repressed into the unconscious mind where we cannot access them.
- can only be made conscious through hypnosis/dream analysis/slips of the tongue

44
Q

what are the 3 structures that Freud divided the mind into

A
  • the id
  • the superego
  • the ego
45
Q

what is the id

A
  • contains the libido (sex drive)
  • demands immediate gratification regardless of circumstances
  • the source of our unconscious desires and impulses
  • operates on the pleasure principle
46
Q

what is the ego

A
  • mediates between the demands of id and the moralistic demands of the super ego
  • operates on the reality principle
47
Q

what is the superego

A
  • contains our moral values, operates on the morality principle.
  • controls the id’s impulses
  • consists of the conscience (guilt) and ego ideal (proud when right choice is made)
48
Q

what are the 4 defence mechanisms and explain them

A

1) repression - pushing unwanted memories into the unconscious mind
2) displacement- unacceptable drive such as hatred is displaced to an acceptable target (unconscious)
3) denial- refusing the accept the truth (unconscious)
4) reaction formation - consciously feeling or thinking the opposite of what u unconsciously (truly) feel, so act in the opposite way of how u feel

49
Q

what are the 5 psychosexual stages according to Freud?

A

1) oral stage
2) anal stage
3) phallic stage
4) latency stage
5) genital stage

50
Q

describe the oral stage

A
  • mouth is the main focus of pleasure
  • mothers breast is the object of desire, successful completion is demonstrated by weaning
  • the consequence of unresolved conflict is oral fixation (sarcastic, bites nails, may smoke)
51
Q

describe the anal stage

A
  • defecation (pooing) main source of pleasure
  • consequences of unresolved conflict:
    anally retentive- very tidy, perfectionist (didn’t get enough pleasure pulling in)
    anally expulsive- thoughtless, messy (not enough pleasure pushing out)
52
Q

describe the phallic stage

A
  • genital area main source of pleasure
  • oedipus complex: boy wants his mother, wants father out the way
  • electra complex: girls experience penis envy, desire their fathers, hate mothers
  • consequences of unresolved conflict:
    phallic personality: narcissistic, reckless
    castration anxiety: fear father will chop of penis if finds out son wants mother
  • identify with father as both want the same thing
53
Q

describe the latency stage

A
  • sexual urges sublimated into sports and other hobbies
  • earlier conflicts are repressed
54
Q

describe the genital stage

A
  • form healthy adult relationships
  • sexual impulses are repressed, however sexual desires become conscious
  • unresolved conflict: difficulty forming healthy relationships
55
Q

what are the weaknesses of the psychodynamic approach

A

1) approach is unfalsifiable, Freud’s claims are metaphysical, meaning they rely on concepts that cannot be proven
2) Psychic determinism, approach suggests our behaviour is determined by unconscious conflicts, however this leaves no room for free will and suggests his views were too extreme

56
Q

what is a strength of the psychodynamic approach

A

1) has explanatory power, has been used to explain a wide range of behaviours and drew attention to the influence of childhood on adult personality, therefore has had a positive influence on psychology and modern-day thinking

57
Q

what is the assumption of the humanistic approach?

A
  • human beings are self-determining and have free will
58
Q

what are the 5 levels of Maslow’s hierarchical needs

A

1) Physiological (food, water, sex, sleep..)
2) safety (employment, morality, family)
3) love/belonging (friendship, family, sexual intimacy)
4) self esteem
5)self-actualization (full potential, creativity, spontaneity)

59
Q

what is self-actualization

A

an innate tendency that each of us has to want to achieve our full potential and become the best we can possibly be

60
Q

What does Rodger assume? (humanistic approach)

A
  • we have a basic need to feel nurtured and valued by significant ppl in our lives
  • if this is given freely (unconditional positive regard) we develop a healthy self-worth
  • if negative regard is received we develop a low self- esteem
61
Q

define the term congruence

A
  • reasonable consistency between ideal self and actual behaviour
62
Q

define the term incongruence

A
  • when the gap between ideal self and actual behaviour
  • incongruence can lead to low self-worth
63
Q

define the term conditions of worth

A
  • a person who is only loved and accepted when they act and behave as others want them to (conditional regard)
  • stores psychological problems for child in the future
64
Q

what are the strengths of the humanistic approach

A

1) anti-reductionist, holistic, does not attempt to break up human behaviour into smaller components compared to other approaches.
2) can explain depression in teenagers, and gives ways to help reduce this

65
Q

what is a weakness of the humanistic approach

A

1) culture bias, not all cultures share the assumption that individual achievement brings fulfilment. In collectivist cultures e.g China, the focus is on the group rather than the individual, therefore approach doesn’t apply universally

Psychology (6 decks)

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