Approaches 🧑⚕️ Flashcards
(35 cards)
Wilhelm Wundt
german physiologist who founded psychology as a formal science; opened first psychology research laboratory in 1879. Coined the terms
‘introspection’ = individuals looking at themselves to understand thinking
‘structuralism’ = break down to simple elements
studies structures of the human mind and aspects of behaviour that could be controlled.
He recorded own conscious thoughts in response to a stimulus to be able to compare and establish general theories on the mental process.
evaluations of Wundt
strength - his methods were systematic and controlled, procedures were carefully standardised.
weakness - some aspects could be considered unscientific, he relied on participants to self report, resulting in subjective data.
the emergence of psychology as a science
the separation of psychology from philosophy is marked through the application of empirical methods. need to be systematic and replicable, constant testing and refinement completes the scientific cycle.
evaluations of psychology as a science
strength -
research in modern psychology can claim to be scientific. psychology has the same aims as natural sciences, cognitive and biological approaches rely on the use of scientific methods like lab studies.
weakness -
not all approaches use objective ,methods. humanistic approach rejects the scientific approach focusing on individuals. psychodynamic approach isn’t representative. demand characteristics are likely.
behaviourist approach assumptions
-behaviour can be observed and measured
-mental process is seen as irrelevant
-rejected introspection, too many concepts that were too vague
-all behaviour is learned
-more control and objectivity
-two forms of learning, classical and operant
classical conditioning - pavlov
- learning through association
- conducted research using dogs
- dogs learned to associate the sound of a bell with food
- dogs produced saliva with the sound of the bell
- unconditioned stimulus = natural response (food)
- conditioned stimulus = neutral stimulus changes to this (bell)
-unconditioned stimulus & neutral stimulus +third party joins unconditioned stimulus (bell)
operant conditioning - skinner
- learning through consequences
- positive/negative reinforcement and punishment
- rats in specially designed cages were given a lever in the box and when they pressed it, they got a treat, so it kept on pushing it.
- replicated with pressing the lever stopped the rat from getting electric shocks
evaluations to the behaviourist approach
strength - well controlled research
strength - real world application, like gambling
weakness - environmental determinism, free will may have an effect, not all determined by history.
weakness - animal studies are unreliable and unethical
social learning theory - assumptions
- Albert Bandura argued that behaviour is learned through experience.
- learning occurs directly through classical and operant conditioning but also indirectly through observation, imitation, identification and vicarious reinforcement
- vicarious reinforcement = imitation only occurs if seen to be rewarded
- meditational processes = cognitive factors intervene in the learning process; attention, retention, motivation and motor reproduction
- identification = imitation is more likely to occur when showed by a role model
Bandura’s study - Bobo doll study
Bandura et al recorded the behaviour of children who watched an adult behave aggressively towards a bobo doll, they were then given toys and showed the same behaviour.
In the second study, Bandura and Walters showed videos of adults acting aggressively towards the doll but different groups either saw the adult get rewarded, punished or no consequence.The first group was most aggressive, punished group were least aggressive.
Evaluations to Bandura’s study
Strength -
cognitive factors, SLT provides a more comprehensive explanation of human learning by the role of meditational processes.
strength -
real world application, made contributions to modern understanding on behaviours
weakness -
over reliance on lab studies, demand characteristics
weakness -
underestimates influence of biological factors, Bandura claimed that biological differences influenced our learning potential, but learning itself was determined by the environment.
cognitive approach
internal mental processes can be studied scientifically, investigate areas such as memory, perception and thinking. These processes are private and internal and cannot be observed directly.
schema and top-down processing
framework of our brain, slows us to see what we expect to see.
role of the schema
schema act as mental framework for interpreting incoming information as we get older our schema become more detailed and sophisticated
theoretical and computer models
cognitive psychologists use models to help them understand internal mental processes. theoretical models are abstract whereas computer models are concrete
emergence of cognitive neuroscience
scientific study of the influence of the brain structure on mental processes. advances in last 20 years due to brain imaging techniques
evaluations of the cognitive approach
strength- scientific methods, used objective methods
strength- real world applications, research into memory and the effects of misleading information helps reform police procedure
weakness- machine reductionism, ignores the influence of human emotion
the biological approach
the mind lives in the brain and everything psychological is biological and has a physical basis
neurochemical basis of behaviour
chemical transmissions of neurotransmitters, imbalance of neurochemicals has been implicated in causes of mental health, seratonin = ocd and depression, dopamine = schizophrenia
genetic basis of behaviour
concordance rates are compared in twin studies to see if characteristics have a genetic basis.
OCD, 68% MZ, 31% DZ
schizophrenia, 48% MZ, 17% DZ
monozygotic and dizygotic
mono - identical twins
di - twins
geneotype and phenotype
genotype - actual genetic makeup
phenotype - how genes are expressed
evolution and behaviour
Darwin’s natural selection, any genetically determined behaviour that enhances survival will continue in future generations
evaluations to biological approach
strength- scientific and proven methods used
strength- real world application, understanding lead to drugs being prescribed to help mental illness
weakness- biological determinism
