Approaches Flashcards
(46 cards)
what are approaches?
ways of explaining behaviour through different viewpoints
who is wudnt?
-first person to call himself a psychologist
-moved psychology from philosophical to a science
-believed the mind could be studied through experiments
-studied the mind systematically (structuralism approach)
what is introspection?
how a person gains knowledge of their own mental state
what study did wudnt use and how was its scientific?
-observers shown a picture and asked how they percieve it
-used same stimulus each time
-used same instructions (so it could be replicated)
-p’s asked to decribe thought processes so it could be compared
explain one research study into introspection? gambler study
Study thought processes of gamblers and non- gamblers.
He thought gamblers thought processes would be more irrational.
-P’s asked to think aloud while playing fruit machine (told not to justify their thoughts)
Found gamblers had more irrational thoughts.
what are 4 evaluation points of wudnt’s methods?
-Uses self report techniques, we have little knowledge of causes and processes of our behaviour- reports may be inaccurate, thus invalid.
-P’s might lie due to social desirability bias- lowers internal validity.
-Wundts methods are inconsistent, not been reliably replicated by other researchers in other labs. Lacks reliability.
-Theory cannot be tested proven false- he studied unobservable mental processes.
what are the 7 key features of the scientific method?
1- should use empirical methods:
-Science is what we know to be true, not what we believe.
-Therefore, science relies on empirical methods (observation, direct testing).
Feature 2- Theory construction and hypothesis testing:
See something > create a theory > form a hypothesis from the theory > test > modify if there is no support. Repeat to strengthen.
Feature 3- theories must be falsifiable:
Scientists should form theories so they can be proved false.
Feature 4- must have objectivity and be controlled:
-Data should be empirical/ controlled to ensure objectivity, so the study isn’t affected by researchers expectations, therefore psychologists must stay objective.
Feature 5- must have replicability:
If the outcome is the same, it supports original results and can be generalised to other situations/ people. (The theory is valid.)
Feature 6- must have paradigms and paradigm shifts:
Paradigms are general ideas that are accepted by majority of scientists.
Paradigms change with new evidence, that causes questions over original paradigm (paradigm shift)
Some believe psychology is a science as it has undergone paradigm shifts
However, psychology lacks a universally accepted paradigm.
Feature 7- science must use peer review:
Assessment of scientific work by other experts in the same field, to ensure published work is high quality.
what are 4 evaluation points of psychology emerging as a science?
-: can human behaviour be tested scientifically.
-: we don’t live under controlled conditions (not ecologically valid to everyday life)
+: it is objective and uses controlled methods of testing. +: theories can be modified/ abandoned.
what did the behaviourist approach suggest?
-rejected vagueness of introspection and argued psychologists should focus on observable events that can be scientifically measured.
-Theory states learning occurs by classical/ operant conditioning.
what is classical conditioning?
learning via association
US > UR
US + NS > UR
CS > CR
what is the study into classical conditioning?
Pavlov’s dogs- dogs didn’t only salivate with food, they salivated in response to stimulus that was present at the same time. E.g., food bowl
what is operant conditioning?
learning by consequence
Positive reinforcement- rewarding a behaviour to increase likelihood of repeated positive behaviour.
Negative reinforcement- removal of unpleasant consequences.
what is the study of operant conditioning?
Skinner’s rats:
Rat presses lever accidentally when green light flashes = food
If they press it on red light = electric shock
Behaviour likely to be repeated for green light.
what are 4 evaluation points of the behaviourist approach?
+: operant conditioning has real life applications- prisons reward good behaviour with privileges.
+: lab experiments- increases scientific credibility of psychology as a science.
-: research carried out on animals, can’t be generalised to complex human behaviour.
-: reductionist theory- reduces human behaviour capabilities to only learning through reward and association.
what is the social learning theory?
much behaviour is learnt, though observational learning is still important, via imitation of role models behaviour.
-behaviour is learnt faster via imitation than conditioning.
when is behavior more likely to be imitated?
They have self efficacy (believe they have the ability to imitate behaviour)
-There are positive consequences for behaviour (it is rewarded)
-Seeing your role model being rewarded makes imitation more likely as you want to be rewarded. (Vicarious reinforcement).
what are the 4 mediational processes?
Attention- individuals need to perceive and attend to significant features of behaviour.
Retention- individuals must code info into LTM to produce modelled behaviour.
Motor reproduction- observer must be able to reproduce role models behaviour.
Motivation- observer expects to receive positive reinforcement for modelled behaviour so wants to copy.
explain bandura’s bobo doll study?
A: effects of children being exposed to aggressive and non- aggressive role models.
P: 36 boys, 36 girls (3-5 years old), 3 groups:
1= watched aggressive model hit bobo doll with hammer and punch it saying pow/boom.
2=saw non- aggressive model playing quietly in corner of room.
3= control group (had no model)
Children then left in room with bobo doll and observed fro 20mins through one way mirror.
F:Group 1 frequently imitated same acts of aggression, other 2 groups showed little aggression.
what are 4 evaluation points of SLT?
-: lab experiment- lacks ecological validity, results may not generalise to real life aggressive behaviour of children. Children may have also been responding to demand characteristics.
+: SLT provides a more comprehensive explanation of human learning by recognising cognitive processes, less deterministic than CC/OC.
-: can be seen as reductionist- too simplistic to argue behaviour is only learnt via imitation- biological factors (hormones) can influence social learning (bobo doll study- boys more aggressive than girls).
+: Real life application- can explain criminal behaviour, Ulrich 2003- strongest cause of violent behaviour in adult ps was when it was modelled and rewarded. SLT could be used as a campaign for reducing violence.
what is the cognitive approach?
how people perceive, store and interpret information. Cognitive psychologists argued we need to look at internal mental processes to understand behaviour.
what are the 3 areas of cognitive psychology?
-schema
-role of theoretical and computer models
-emergence of cognitive neuroscience
what is schema?
organise info in the brain. Knowledge built up from previous experiences, helps us take shortcuts when interpreting info. Helps us fill in gaps, when some info is absent.
-However schema can cause stereotyping.
-Schema makes us focus on info that confirms our pre- existing beliefs.
what is the role of theoretical and computer models?
Theoretical models- examples include working memory model and multi store model of memory. These are simplified representations of memory, often showed as a diagram. These can be changed/ refined.
Computer models- likens our memory to computers- info is inputted through the senses and encode to our memory to be retrieved when needed. Like RAM (random access memory) working memory is seen as temporary workspace and is cleared when a task is finished.
what is the emergence of cognitive neuroscience?
Neuroscientists now study the living brain through PET scans and fMRI scans to see active parts of brain.
Raine et.al (1997) investigated brain activity of 41 murderes via PET scans. Reduced glucose metabolism in prefrontal cortex in murderes brains, suggests reduced function in PFC (control of emotional impulses including aggression).
