Approaches Flashcards
1
Q
Who is Wundt?
A
- the first person to call themselves a psychologist
- established the first psychology laboratory
- worked at Leipzig university
2
Q
Define introspection
A
The systematic analysis of one’s own conscious experience, thought processes, emotions and sensations
3
Q
What is the method of introspection?
A
- Wundt and his colleagues recorded their own conscious thoughts with the aim of breaking these down into their constituent parts.
- researchers were carefully presented with the controlled stimuli and were asked to provide a description of the inner processes they were experiencing
- all introspections were recorded under strictly controlled conditions using the same stimuli and standardised instructions each time
4
Q
What is the empirical method?
A
Evidence is directly observable and gathered through senses. Can be verified by measurements and does not go beyond observation
5
Q
What is objectivity?
A
If a piece of research is objective then it is free from bias. Based on observable data
6
Q
What is replicability?
A
The extent to which a study can be repeated
7
Q
What is falsifiability?
A
When it is possible to prove a statement, hypothesis or theory wrong
8
Q
What are the strengths and limitations of the scientific approach?
A
+ some aspects are scientific (e.g. in a Lab)
+ still considered a useful method by modern psychologists
- not scientific (e.g. based on non empirical, subjective method)
- low ecological validity
9
Q
What are the assumptions of the behaviourist approach?
A
- behaviour is learned from experience
- only observable behaviour is measurable scientifically
- psychologists should use lab experiments
- basic processes of learning is the same in all species so is valid to study animals as they share the same principles of learning as humans
10
Q
What is classical conditioning?
A
Classical conditions is where behaviour is learned through associations
11
Q
What is the equations of classical conditioning? (Watson and Rayner)
___——> no response
___——> fear response (___)
___ + ___ ——> fear response (___)
__ ——> fear response (__)
A
NS ——> no response
UCS ——> fear response UCR
UCS + NS ——> fear response UCR
CS ——> fear response CR
12
Q
Evaluation of Pavlovs research
A
+ used the experimental method (in a lab)
- study of non human animals
- Unethical ( pavlov performed surgery on dogs salivary glands and had them harnessed in the same place for multiple hours)
13
Q
What is operant conditioning?
A
Operant conditioning is the idea that behaviour is learned through consequences and reinforcements
14
Q
What are the 3 types of reinforcement?
A
- positive reinforcement
- negative reinforcement
- punishment
15
Q
What was skinners work?
A
- Skinner worked on rats and pigeons in his box called the ‘skinner box’
- the box contained a response lever and a metal floor which was able to administer an electric shock to the rat is required
16
Q
What is the evaluation of operant conditioning?
A
+ used the experimental method (lab)
- studied non human animals
- unethical (kept animals in small cages)
17
Q
What is the overall evaluation of the behaviourist approach?
A
+ practical applications (CC led to systematic desensitisation/ OC led to token economy in institutions)
+ supported by Pavlov and Skinner
- over simplistic favouring the nurture side of nature vs nurture
- supports the determinism side of free will vs determinism
18
Q
What are the two assumptions of social learning theory?
A
- Behaviour is learned from environment and thus genetics do not influence behaviour
- Behaviour is learned through observation
19
Q
Define identification in social learning theory
A
An individual is influenced by another because they want to be like them or are similar to them. Factors include :
- ethnicity
- age
- higher status
- gender
20
Q
Define imitation in social learning theory
A
An individual observes behaviour from a role model and copies it.
21
Q
What is modelling in social learning theory?
A
An individual observes a live model and example of behaviour demonstrated my be imitated at a later stage
22
Q
Define vicarious reinforcement
A
Term used to describe reinforcement when an individual observes a model receiving a reward. They do not recieve the reward themselves but they see someone else get it
23
Q
What does ARRM stand for in the role of mediating processes
A
Attention
Retention
Motor reproduction
Motivation
24
Q
What was the Aim of banduras bobo doll experiment? AO1
A
To examine if children would imitate an aggressive adult model to discover the extent which gender of role models influences the child’s motivation to imitate
25
What is the evaluation of Banduras Bobo doll experiment? AO3
+ experimental method
- low ecological validity
- used children as participants
- unethical
26
Why was using children as participants in Banduras Bobo doll experiment a weakness? AO3
P: used children as participants
E: children in aggressive condition may have thought they were being tested for the ‘right response’ and thus were required to behave aggressively.
Impossible to establish if participants would of imitated behaviour if experiment did not take place in labatory
27
What are the evaluation points of social learning theory? AO3
+ supported by Banduras bobo doll experiment
+ acknowledges the role of cognitions in behaviour
+ enables us to understand cultural differences
- favours nurture side of nature vs nurute
28
What evidence is social learning theory supported by? AO3
P: supported by evidence
E: bandura demonstrated that children who observed an aggressive role model behaved more aggressively than children who observed a non aggressive one and there was also a greater level of imitation in same gender models
E: suggest SLT provides an accurate explanation of aggression
29
How does social learning theory acknowledge the role of cognitions in behaviour? AO3
P: acknowledges role of cognitions in behaviour
E: suggests that cognitions intervene between stimulus and response
E: provides a holistic and less deterministic view of behaviour than operant or classical conditioning
30
How does social learning theory help us understand cultural differences? AO3
P: enables us to understand cultural differences in behaviour
E: can help us understand diversity of cultural norms across different cultures. Helps understand how cultural norms are transmitted through society and role models
E: enhances our understanding of a number of different behaviours
31
How does social learning theory favour the nurture side of nature vs nurture? AO3
P: favours the nurture side of nature vs nurture
E: suggest we learn behaviour through observation and vicarious reinforcement ignoring the wealth of evidence suggesting that biological factors also contribute to behaviour
E: takes a very one sided view and bandura is criticised for fact that in his research boys were more aggressive than girls regardless of specifics or experimental setting, suggesting there is a biological component to behaviour
32
What are the 3 assumptions of The Cognitive Approach?
- thought processes should be studied scientifically
- the mind works like a computer (input and output)
- stimulus and response is appropriate but only if the thought processes that occur between them are acknowledged
33
What is a schema?
A mental framework that incorporates our ideas about the world
34
How are schemas useful?
- Allow us to process information quickly
- take shortcuts when interpreting data
- allow us to predict what might happen in the world and how to respond appropriately
35
What does the Information processing approach suggest?
Information flows through the cognitive system in a sequence similar to a computer
36
What do theoretical models provide?
A testable hypothesis
37
What does the computer analogy suggest?
The human mind is like a computer working by a series of processing steps
38
What is a good example of the computer analogy?
The multi store model of memory
39
What are the 2 evaluation points of the Theoretical and computer models of mental processes? AO3
- oversimplistic
- deterministic
40
How are theoretical and computer models oversimplistic?
P: oversimplistic
E: ignores individual differences and the role of emotion in behaviour. Could also be considered machine reductionism, the belief that human functions are the result of units of activity
E: overlooks the complexity of human behaviour
41
How are theoretical and computer models deterministic?
P: deterministic view of human behaviour
E: suggests humans lack the free will to control their own behaviour and thus can’t be held accountable for their actions
E: many psychologists disagree with this and believe that humans have the ability to use their free will
42
What is cognitive neuroscience the scientific study of?
The influence of brain structures on mental processes
43
What is the main focus of cognitive neuroscience?
Look for a biological basis to thought and understand the role on neurons in this processes
44
How does a FMRI scan measure activity in the brain?
Measured blood flow through radio waves and magnetic fields. When part of brain is active it requires more oxygen and thus more blood flow
45
How do PET scans measure activity in the brain?
The presence of a radioactive glucose molecule tracer. Glucose is a source of energy so is used when activity takes place in brain. The tracers will build up and show on a scan as a bright colour
46
What are the evaluation points of neuroscience? AO3
+ the use of PET scans to test LTM
- practical applications can be controversial
47
How were PET scans used to test the LTM? AO3
P: Pet scans were used to test LTM
E: Tulving et al conducted a labatory experiment where participants did different memory tasks and used PET scans to determine which parts of the brain were used. tasks including semantic memory used the left side of the prefrontal cortex and those that used episodic memory used the right side of the prefrontal cortex
48
How can practical applications of cognitive neuroscience be controversial? AO3
P: practical applications can be controversial
E: brain fingerprinting for lie detection in courts including the use of measuring brain waves from an EEG to determine where specific information is stored in the subjects cognitive memory
E: this is a limitation because it could lead to an over reliance on science without human scrutiny and lead to wrongful convictions
49
What are the 4 evaluation points of the cognitive approach? AO3
+ produced a successful treatment
+ mostly uses human participants
+ uses a scientific method and assumptions are based on strong empirical evidence
- low in ecological validity
50
What successful treatment has the cognitive approach produced? AO3
P: produced a successful treatment
E: CBT and to identify and challenge maladaptive thoughts. Treatment has been found to be effective e.g. Holon et al found that fewer depressed patients relapsed after 12 weeks of CBT (40%) than 12 weeks of taking drugs (45%)
E: the treatment is based on the assumptions of the approach, so its effectiveness must give some validity to the approach
51
How is using mostly human participants a strength of the cognitive approach? AO3
P: uses mostly human participants
E: different to behaviourism and biological approaches whose research often includes animal studies
E: possible to generalise results from research to human behaviour in a more valid way
52
How is using a scientific method a strength of the cognitive approach? AO3
P: uses a scientific methobd and assumptions are based on strong empirical evidence
E: provides researchers a rigorous method for understanding how the mind works e.g. Peterson and Peterson conducted a lab experiment to test LTM recalling trigrams
E: assumptions of approach are based of research which establishes cause and effect and is likely to be objective and reliable
53
How does the cognitive approach have low ecological validity? AO3
P: research has low ecological validity
E: do not reflect participants everyday experiences e.g. Baddeley LTM experiment required participants to recall 10 words in correct order
E: unlikely to reflect a participants genuine behaviour so the approach may not be valid
54
What are the 4 assumptions of the biological approach? In detail
1. Genes an individual possesses influence their behaviour
2. Behaviour evolves in the same way as physical characteristics so examination of non human behaviour is useful
3. CNS | The brain is the main focus when explaining behaviour
4. Biochemistry | varying levels of chemicals found in brain
55
What is heredity?
Heredity is the process where characteristics are passed from one generation to the next through genes
56
Biological psychologists suggest that genes underpin certain ______ and often use _____ and ______ studies to establish if this is the case
1. Behaviours
2. Twin
3. Adoption
57
What do twin studies compare?
Compare the concordance rate of MZ twins to DZ twins
58
What does genotype mean?
An Individuals genetic make up which provides the genetic code for how they will develop
59
What does phenotype mean?
The expression of an individuals genetic make up which can be influenced by the environment
60
What is natural selection?
Members of same species must compete with each other for access to resources such as mates and food to survive and reproduce
61
What are 3 human behaviours which that resulted from the process of evolution?
1. Maternal love
2. Mate preferences
3. Aggression
62
What is neurochemistry?
Neurochemistry is the biochemistry of the CNS, including the transmission of chemicals via the cerebral fluid through chemicals which include neurotransmitters
63
Why are neurotransmitters seen to be important?
They are thought to affect behaviour
64
What happens when a nerve impulse reaches the end of one neurone?
A neurotransmitter is released which may trigger the receiving neurone to send an impulse and stimulate the brain or inhibit never impulses in order to calm the brain
65
What are the evaluation points of the biological approach? AO3
+ successful treatment
+ uses scientific method
- based on experiments that use non human animals
- takes nature side of nature vs nurture
66
What successful treatment has the biological approach produced? AO3
P: produced a successful treatment
E: created drugs such as anti depressants and anti anxiety drugs e.g. soomro found that SSRIs showed significantly more results than a placebo for reducing depressive symptoms
E: as the treatment is based on the assumptions of the approach its effectiveness suggests that’s the approach must have some validity
67
How is it a strength that the biological approach uses the scientific method? AO3
P: uses scientific method when investigating human behaviour and assumptions are based on strong empirical evidence
E: uses experiments as its main method of investigation while adopting objective techniques
E: assumptions of approach are based on research which establishes cause and effect which is likely to be objective and reliable
68
How is it a limitation that the biological approach studies non human animals? AO3
P: partially based on non human animal studies
E: regularly uses rats and mice which are easy to control and manipulate to establish cause and effect which makes it difficult to extrapolate results to humans
E: might not provide an accurate explanation of human behaviour
69
How does the biological approach favour the nature side of nature vs nurture? AO3
P: takes the nature side of nature vs nurture
E: believe that behaviour is caused solely by biological factors and ignore the wealth of evidence that suggest that environmental factors also contribute
E: this is a limitation as it takes a very one sided view of human behaviour ignoring evidence against the idea meaning many psychologists disagree with this standpoint
70
What are the 4 assumptions of the psychodynamic approach?
1. Driving force behind our behaviour is our unconscious mind
2. Instincts drive / motivate our behaviour
3. Early childhood experiences determine our personality
4. Psychoanalysis should be used to make the unconscious conscious
71
What are the 3 structures of personality according to the psychodynamic approach?
- id
- ego
- superego
72
What are the 3 defence mechanisms of the psychodynamic approach?
- repression
- denial
- displacement
73
Define repression ( psychodynamic approach)
Repression is a type of forgetting where a painful memory is pushed into the unconscious mind so it is not accessible to the conscious mind however the memory still exists at an unconscious level
74
What is the effect of repression in the psychodynamic approach?
There is no recall of the event but the repressed memory still effects behaviour without the person being aware of it
75
Define denial and its effect on behaviour in the psychodynamic approach
Refusal to accept the reality of an unpleasant situation
Someone may believe a negative situation is positive and therefore not cause anxiety
76
Define displacement according to the psychodynamic approach
When the focus of a strong emotion is expressed onto a neutral person or object ( a substitute object)
77
What is the effect of displacement in the psychodynamic approach?
Someone may exhibit very strong emotion onto an uninvolved person or object
78
What is a strength of defence mechanisms in psychodynamic approach? AO3
P: a strength is that mechanisms have some explanatory power
E: this is because some people can use them to understand their own behaviour since many people appreciate the idea of denial, repression and displacement
E: this is a strength as it enables people to understand their own behaviour
L: therefore defence mechanisms are a valuable contribution to explaining human behaviour
79
What is a limitation of defence mechanisms in the psychodynamic approach? AO3
P: theories of defence mechanisms lack testability
E: since defence mechanisms are unconscious they cannot be studied directly and rely on inferred behaviour which are often open to interpretation and bias
E: this is a limitation because hypotheses cannot be tested so scientific evidence for them can’t be gained
L: therefore there can be no scientific evidence that defence mechanisms are a valid explanation of human behaviour
80
Freud believed dreams are meaningful and require interpretation, he considered dreams to be ‘ ___ _____ _____ __ ___ ______”
The royal road to the unconscious
81
What are the 3 techniques used in psycho analysis?
1. Dream interpretation
2. Free association
3. Projective techniques e.g. ink blot test
82
What is free association in psycho analysis?
1. Analyst reads list of words to patient
2. Patient says first word that comes into their head
3. Patients response has not had time to be censored by superego
4. Any pause is a sign of ego censoring
83
At each stages children require specific satisfaction or pleasure, what is this called?
Gratification
84
What happens if a child receives too much or too little gratification at a stage?
They become fixated meaning it will be symbolic in a later stages in their life when they are anxious and will determine their adult personality
85
What are the 5 psychosexual stages?
1. Oral
2. Anal
3. Phallic
4. Latent
5. Genital
86
What divisions is the oral stage split into?
1. Passive
2. Aggressive
87
At What age is a child in the oral stage?
0-12 months
88
What is the description of the oral stage?
Focus on pleasure in the mouth
Mothers breast is object of desire
89
What is the effect of the oral stage on adult behaviour?
Oral fixation - smoking, biting nails, sarcastic, critical
90
What divisions is the anal stage split into?
Expulsive / retentive
91
At what age is a child in the anal stage?
1-3 years old
92
What is the description of the anal stage?
Focus of pleasure is the anus and the child gains pleasure from withholding and expelling faeces
93
What are the effects of the anal stage on adult behaviour?
Anal expulsive - thoughtless, messy
Anal retentive - obsessive, perfectionist
94
What divisions is the phallic stage split into?
Oedipus / electra complex
95
At what age is a child in the phallic stage?
3-5 years
96
What is the description of the phallic stage?
Focus of pleasure is the genital area
Child experiences the oedipus or electra complex
97
What effect does the phallic stage have on adult behaviour?
Phallic personality - narcissistic, reckless and possibly homosexual
98
What 2 psychosexual stages have no divisions?
Latent and genital
99
At what age is a child in the latent stage?
6-12 years old
100
At what age is a child in the genital stage?
12+ years
101
What is the description of the latent stage?
Earlier conflicts are repressed
102
What is the description of the genital stage?
Sexual desires become conscious alongside the onset of puberty
103
What effect does the genital stage have on adult behaviour?
Difficulty forming heterosexual relationships
104
What does libido mean in the psychodynamic approach?
Libido is sexual mental energy that motivates behaviour, feelings and thought
105
What does fixation mean in the psychodynamic approach?
Some children get stuck at a psychosexual stage and this had consequences for the adult personality and behaviour
106
What does gratification mean in the psychodynamic approach?
The specific satisfaction or pleasure required at each stage
107
What is the difference between the oral passive and aggressive divisions?
In the passive division children gain pleasure from sucking and swallowing whereas in the aggressive division they gain pleasure from biting and chewing, e.g. teething
108
What does expulsive and retentive mean in the anal psychosexual stage?
Expulsive is when a child is keen to defacate whereas being retentive is when the child holds onto their faeces
109
What complex do boys vs girls go into during the phallic psychosexual stage?
Boys go into the oedipal complex
Girls go into the electra complex
110
What can fixation at the phallic psychosexual stage result in?
Jealousy and anxiety
111
What are the 4 stages of the oedipal complex?
1. Boy develops sexual desire for his mother
2. Boy becomes jealous of father and fears he will castrate him
3. Boy is in state of conflict and deal with this by identifying with father (father becomes superego)
4. Boy substitutes desire for mother with desire for another women
112
What are the 4 stages of the Electra complex?
1. Girl realises she has no penis and blames mother, develops sexual desire for father
2. Girl becomes jealous of her mother
3. Girl realises she can’t have a penis or her father so deals with this by identifying with her mother (who becomes her superego)
4. Girl substitutes desire for a penis with desire for a baby substituting the desire for her father with the desire for another man
113
What are the evaluation points of the psychosexual stages? AO3
+ made a contribution to society
- gender biased
- very difficult to test scientifically
- based upon case studies
114
What contribution to society has psychosexual stages made? AO3
P: a strength is that it’s made a contribution to society
E: drawn attention to possible long term effects of traumatic events in childhood such as abuse and parental separation
E: this is a strength as it has contributed to the well being of people
115
How are the psychosexual stages gender biased? AO3
P: a limitation is that it is gender biased
E: the theory is almost entirely based on male development with little mention of female psychosexual development
E: this is a limitation because it is a gender biased theory and may not apply to females. Therefore the theory can be argued to be an example of androcentrism
116
How are psychosexual stages difficult to test scientifically? AO3
P: a limitation is that it is very hard to test scientifically
E: concepts such as the libido are impossible to measure and therefore can’t be tested. Future predictions based on the theory are too vague and also cannot be tested. Research done tends not to support Freuds theory
E: this is a limitation as there is very little scientific evidence for the theory so there is no way of establishing if the theory is valid or not
117
How is it a limitation that the psychosexual stages are based of case studies? AO3
P: a limitation is that it is based on case studies
E: freuds case studies used recollections of his adult patients which he interpreted not on actual observation so his studies were biased and not empirical
E: this is a limitation as they do not provide strong scientific evidence for the theory so there is no way of establishing if the theory is valid or not
118
Who are the 2 psychologists in the humanistic approach?
Abraham Maslow
Carl Roger’s
119
What are the 4 assumptions of the humanistic approach?
1. Every person is unique so psychology should focus on subjective thoughts feelings and experiences of a person, ideographic approach
2. Each person is a rational and conscious being with free will
3. Humans should be viewed as a whole (holistic) and not try to reduce behaviour to elements (reductionist)
4. Scientific method is not a valid way of studying human behaviour as it tries to be too objective - humans are subjective in ways we think and behave
120
Define free will in relation to the humanistic approach
A person is responsible for their own behaviour, both social and antisocial, however the humanistic approach recognises constraints on free will.
Humans are seen as active agents who have the ability to determine their own development
121
Define self actualisation in relation to the humanistic approach
Self actualisation is when people attempt to reach their full potential and become the best they can possibly be, it is suggested that not all people can achieve self actualisation.
122
When self actualisation is achieved what can it be regarded to as? (Humanistic)
When self actualisation is achieved it can be described as the ultimate feeling of well being and satisfaction
123
What is rogers theory of self actualisation? (Humanistic)
To be able to reach the state of self actualisation it is important for the person to be fully functioning, meaning the individual has the ability to overcome barriers that occur from the environment or from within
124
What are Roger’s 5 characteristics of a fully functioning person? (Humanistic)
1. Open to experience
2. Lives existentially
3. Trusts feelings
4. Is creative
5. Has a fulfilled life
125
What are the 5 needs in Maslows hierarchy of needs? (Humanistic)
1. Self actualisation
2. Esteem
3. Belongingness and love
4. Safety
5. Physiological (food/water/rest/warmth)
126
What are the 3 selves in Roger’s self actualisation theory? (Humanistic)
1. Self concept
2. Ideal self
3. Real self
127
Define congruence in Roger’s theory of 3 selves (humanistic)
The ideal self, real self, self concept are the same / similar
128
What is conditional positive regard in the humanistic approach?
When parents set boundaries or limits on their love for their child which can lead to negative self conceptb
129
Is person centre therapy directive or non directive? (Humanistic)
Non directive and the client is encouraged to discover their own solutions
130
Why is the client therapist relationship important in the humanistic approach?
Encourages the client to speak freely without judgement enabling the client to realise potential barriers to becoming congruent
131
What are the 4 evaluation points of the humanistic approach? AO3
+ made a significant contribution to psychology
+ produced a successful treatment
- rejects the scientific approach
- exaggerates the significance of free will
132
How has the humanistic approach made a significant contribution to psychology? AO3
P: a strength of the humanistic approach is that it has made a significant contribution to psychology
E: the humanistic approach put forward an alternative viewpoint to other approaches by suggesting humans are active agents who can change and determine their own development which has had a great influence on psychology by promoting the idea of responsibility. Furthermore concepts like self actualisation have been widely accepted
E: this is a strength as without the contribution of the approach our knowledge of human behaviour would be restricted
133
What successful treatment has the humanistic approach produced? AO3
P: a strength of the humanistic approach is that is has produced a successful treatment
E: there is evidence to suggest that client centred therapy developed from the approach are effective and its popularity has increased in recent years
E: this is a strength as the approach clearly has a practical application so because the treatment is based on the assumptions of the approach it can be assumed that the approach must have some validity
134
How does the humanistic approach reject the scientific method? AO3
P: a limitation of the humanistic approach is that is has been criticised for rejecting the scientific approach
E: as the humanistic approach maintains the assumption to study humans subjectively it means that there is little objective evidence to support the assumptions this is a limitation as the subjective experience of an individual is difficult to test so the approach lacks rigour
E: however, humanists reject scientific methodology and do not try to be objective as they believe subjective methods are more appropriate for studying the reality of human experience
135
How does the humanistic approach exaggerate the significance of free will? AO3
P: a limitation of the humanistic approach is that it exaggerates the significance of free will
E: humanists believe that all humans can excersize free will as they are rational and conscious beings who are not dominated by unconscious primitive forces
E: this is a limitation because many psychologists disagree with the assumption as they adopt a determinist perspective so many psychologists question the validity of the assumption
136
Briefly outline the case study of little hans AO1 (psychodynamic approach)
Hans developed a phobia of horses
His father documented his phobia in letters to Freud
Hans had a fascination with his widdler / penis as horses often had larger penises than him (portraying his dad) this interest was thought to be indicative of the phallic stage of development
Hans father went away and Hans enjoyed the sole attention from his mother, when his father returned Hans resented him thought to be evidence of the oedipal complex. Freud thought that hans sister being born was a major influence on his behaviour as Hans was hostile towards her and Freud saw this as an extension of the oedipal complex. Freud suggested hans had a sexual attraction to his mother and his father was therefore a rival so hans was experiencing castration anxiety
137
What does the case study of little hans demonstrate in Freuds theories?
The defence mechanism of displacement
The explanation of phobias
An example of how boys experience the oedipal complex
138
What are the evaluation points of the psychodynamic approach? AO3
+ little hans
+ contributed to our understanding of psychological disorders
- not easy to test empirically
- determinist
139
How is little hans a strength of the psychodynamic approach? AO3
P: a strength of the psychodynamic approach is that it is supported by evidence
E: for example the little hans study. Little hans developed a phobia of horses and Freud interpreted the boys behaviour as evidence of the oedipus complex
E: as little hans was in the phallic stage of development Freud suggested that this case study was evidence for his theory
140
How has Freuds psychodynamic approach made a significant contribution to understanding of psychological disorders? AO3
P: a strength of Freuds psychodynamic approach is that it has made a significant contribution to our understanding of psychological disorders
E: Freuds theory was first to emphasise the role of early experience and the unconscious abnormality which paved the way for other psychologists
Freud claims that some parts of our mind are beyond awareness which strongly influenced other psychologists. Freud also claimed that children go through stages of development which influenced developmental psychologists
E: this is a strength as Freuds theory has been hugely influential and helped develop psychologists knowledge of treatment and abnormality. His theory helped scientific progress and without his initial contribution our understanding of psychodynamic psychology could be very limited
141
How is it a limitation that Freuds psychodynamic theory is not easy to empirically test? AO3
P: a limitation of Freuds psychodynamic theory is that it is not easy to test empirically
E:Freuds emphasis on early childhood means that retrospective case history evidence is used which can be confounded by memory bias and the individuals subjective interpretation
Furthermore concepts like the id ego and superego are not empirical and his hypotheses are not fully operationalised therefore his claims are not directly verifiable and it is possible that his assumptions may be incorrect
E: the psychodynamic theory lacks scientific rigour therefore many psychologists do not accept it as a valid theory
142
How is being determinist a limitation of the psychodynamic approach? AO3
P: a limitation of the psychodynamic approach is that it is determinist
E: Freud believed that abnormality is rooted in childhood conflict that is stored in an individuals unconscious and is therefore out of the individuals control so they are a passive participant in their own life
E: this is a limitation as if an individual believes that an abnormality is pre determined then they are less likely to make any life changes to make themselves better. Furthermore the approach would be criticised by psychologists who favour free will such as humanists
