approaches Flashcards
Wundt’s Lab
-when was this lab opened?
-what was the lab dedicated to and what was the main aim?
-what is meant by Wundt’s pioneering method of ‘introspection’?
- Wundt’s lab was opened in 1879
-Wundt’s lab was dedicated to psychological research and the main aim was to analyse human consciousness
-introspection was the first systematic experimental attempt to study the mind by breaking up conscious awareness into basic structures of thought, images and sensations
evaluation of Wundt’s lab
+methods were systematic and well controlled (lab environment) (extraneous variables not a factor)
all procedures were standardised
-data relied on participants self-reporting the data, so may be subjective or thoughts may not be disclosed.
The Behaviourist Approach- (knowledge)
-interested in behaviour that can be…
-mental processes were seen as..
-babies were seen as ‘….’
-name two Behaviourist Approach experiments
-interested in behaviour that can be observed and measured
-mental processes are seen as irrelevant
wanted control and objectivity, used lab experiments
-babies are seen as being a ‘blank slate’ and believe all behaviours are learnt
(Skinner rats and Pavlov dogs)
explain these two experiments briefly
(part of the behaviourist approach)
Pavlov (1927) - classical conditioning, learning through association
Skinner (1953)- operant conditioning
Pavlov’s classical conditioning, learning through association
-dogs could be conditioned to salivate on the sound of the bell if that sound was repeatedly given at the same time as food
-dogs learnt to associate bell with food and would salivate
-shows how bell (neutral stimulus) can elicit a new learned response (a conditioned response) through association
Skinner’s operant conditioning
-positive and negative reinforcement increase the likelihood that a behaviour will be repeated whereas punishment decreases this likelihood
- Skinner put rats in a box, every time the rat hit a lever, it was rewarded with a food pellet
-also showed how rats could be conditioned to avoid the same behaviour in order to avoid an unpleasant stimulus, eg an electric shock
explain what is meant by these terms found in the behaviourist approach:
-positive reinforcement
-negative reinforcement
-punishment
positive reinforcement encourages the behaviour by rewarding positively
(positive phone call home)
negative reinforces encourages the behaviour in order to avoid an unpleasant experience
(does essay to avoid being told off)
punishment discourages the behaviour as it is an unpleasant consequence
(being told off)
behaviourist approach evaluated
+ w..c… r….
+ RWA- p….
+ - e… d….
+‘well controlled research’
focussed on observable behaviour in a lab setting
cause and effect relationships could be established
extraneous variables were removed- contributing to scientific credibility
+‘real world application’
principles of conditioning have been applied to the real-world
e.g operant conditioning is the basis of token economy systems in prisons
rewards good behaviour
increases the value of the behaviourist approach because it has widespread application
-‘environmental determinism’
limitation is that it sees all behaviour has conditioned by past conditioning experiences
ignores any free-will affect on behaviour
ignores the suggestion that conscious decision-making affects behaviour (as suggested by cognitive approach)
Social Learning Theory (knowledge)
-who proposed SLT?
-SLT is a development from which approach?
-SLT suggests behaviour is ? but there are also ?
-What is meant by vicarious reinforcement?
-due to a focus on mediational processes, SLT is described as a bridge between which two approaches?
Name Bandura’s 4 identified mediational processes
How does identification affect a child’s learning? (include modelling)
Bandura proposed SLT as a development from the behaviourist approach.
Agreeing that behaviour is learnt from past experiences but stating that there are also mental processes which have an affect.
vicarious reinforcement: an individual observes the behaviour (and the consequences) and often reproduces this behaviour if it is rewarded
mediational processes: SLT often described as ‘bridge’ between behaviourist and cognitive approach
Bandura identified 4 mediational processes in learning:
1.attention (how well we notice)
2.retention (how well it’s remembered)
3.motor reproduction (ability to do)
4.motivation (will to do, determined by reward)
identification:
people (mostly children) are more likely to perform behaviour of someone they ‘identify’ with
called ‘modelling’
child looks up to them as a role-model
Social Learning Theory (evaluated)
+what does it recognise the importance of? (Bandura quote)
+how has this been applied in the real world? (norms)
-where was the evidence gathered? (ref bobo doll exp.)
+recognises the importance of cognitive factors and their impact on learning/behaviour
Humans store information and make judgements when to perform certain actions
bandura: ‘this coded information serves as a guide to action’ (Bandura 1977)
+ real world application
SLT has been applied to many real-world situations
helps explain human behaviour, especially children’s
can help explain how cultural norms are transmitted throughout society (eg gender roles)
- limitation is evidence was gathered in labs, these are criticised for encouraging demand characteristics
e.g Bobo doll experiment, children may have felt their purpose was to strike the doll however in real life, may not have performed in the same way.
Bandura (1977) emphasised ‘reciprocal determinism’ - what is meant by this?
(SLT)
Bandura (1977) emphasised reciprocal determinism, suggesting that not only are we influenced by our external environment but we exert an influence on it too through our choice of behaviours. This element of choice suggests there is free will in the way we choose to behave. (contrasting the behaviourist approach)
Briefly explain Bandura’s Bobo Doll experiment.
(SLT)
1961
stage 1: modelling
stage 2:aggression arousal
stage 3: test for delayed imitation
different groups of children were exposed to different adult performing different behaviours (some aggressive)
children taken to room with toys, toys then removed
left with doll
those who were exposed to the violent, adult/’models’ were more likely to take their aggression out physically on the doll
Cognitive Approach (knowledge)
mental processes should be …
make inferences based on…
emphaises role of….
(pros/cons of this)
theoretical c… m….
emergence of c….. neu…..
argues that mental processes can and should be studied scientifically
looks at memory, perception and thinking alongside ‘private’ processes that can not be observed, by making inferences based on their behaviour
‘emphasise the role of schema’
-a mental framework of beliefs which influence cognitive processing
-allow info to be processed quickly, however may distort interpretations of info, leading to perceptual errors
‘theoretical and computer models’
-help understand internal metal processes
-based on the way that a computer functions
‘emergence of cognitive neuroscience’
-brain structures and their influence on mental processes
e.g 1960s, Paul Broca, damage to frontal lobe can permanently impair speech production
tech developments allowed scientists to systematically observe structures and processes (fMRIs and PET scans)
Cognitive Approach (evaluation)
+scientific methods
employ highly controlled and rigorous methods, eg lab studies to produce reliable data
+real world application
made significant impact on the world of Artificial Intelligence
cognitive approaches have been applied to treatments of depression and improved the reliability of eyewitness testimony
-one limitation is that it is based on machine reductionism.
although there are similarities between humans and machines, machine reductionism ignores the influence of human emotion
the cognitive approach is founded on ‘soft determinism’ - what is meant by this?
human behaviour may be influenced by internal/external factors but we can also exert our free will at times.
Biological Approach (knowledge)
suggests that everything psychological is first ?
the mind lives in the brain, giving ?/?/? a ? basis
explain the neurochemical basis of our behaviour
(mention neurotransmissions and the affect of an imbalance)
explain the genetic basis of our behaviour
(mention twin studies)
suggests that everything psychological is first biological
must look at biological structures in the body
the mind lives in the brain, meaning all thoughts/feelings/behaviour have a physical basis
‘the neurochemical basis of behaviour’
many of our thoughts/behaviours rely on chemical transmissions between neurotransmitters
an imbalance of these chemical may cause mental illness
‘the genetic basis of behaviour’
psychological characteristics are inherited in the same way as height/eye colour
twin studies are used to analyse whether a characteristic has a genetic basis (measures concordance rate)
Biological Approach (evaluation)
+‘real world application’
increased understanding of neurochemical processes in the brain allows drugs to be prescribed to treat mental illnesses, treatment means people can live relatively normal lives
+‘scientific methods of investigation’
use precise and highly objective methods of observation
technology means findings are reliable (fMRIs)
-one limitation is ‘biological determinism’
the way in which a person’s genotype is expressed (into phenotype) is often heavily influenced by environment
biological approach is too simplistic and avoids the effects of the environment.
