Approaches

Question 1

Who is Wilhelm Wundt

Answer 1

Viewed as one of the founders of psychology and believed all aspects of behaviour and the mind could be studied scientifically through introspection

Question 2

What is introspection

Answer 2

Means ‘looking into’ or the examination of ones thoughts

Question 3

What is the biological approach

Answer 3

All behaviour is driven by physiological factors such as genetic factors, biological structures and neurochemistry

Question 4

Define evolution

Answer 4

The gradual change within a species over several generations in response to environmental pressures

Question 5

Define natural selection

Answer 5

The process where inherited characteristics that enhance survival are passed onto the next generation

Question 6

Define adaptive

Answer 6

Trait to boost survival and reproductive success

Question 7

What did Darwin suggest about evolution

Answer 7

Only adaptive behaviour will be naturally selected through generations

Question 8

What did Seligman suggest about the biological approach

Answer 8

That there was a biological preparedness to phobias through innate tendencies to harmful phobias

Question 9

What is a genotype

Answer 9

Genetic constitution of an individual (humans are 99.9% the same)

Question 10

What is a phenotype

Answer 10

The result of your genetic material interacting with your environment to form a behaviour

Question 11

What is PKU in relation to the biological approach

Answer 11

Rare disorder which causes severe learning difficulties if left, but if detected early enough, child can avoid proteins on diet and develop normally

Question 12

What approach is best taken to the biological approach

Answer 12

Interactionist - nature (biology) or nurture (environment)

Question 13

Why does studying twins increase reliability of research into genetics

Answer 13

MZ twins - 100% similar, DZ only 50% (genetically), so if MZ is higher concordance rate, can suggest its due to genetics

Question 14

What is the twin study by Nestadt

Answer 14

Concordance rate of 67% for MZ (identical) twins and 31% for DZ (fraternal) twins

Question 15

What is neuroanatomy

Answer 15

Mapping relationship between various brain areas and their functions

Question 16

What was Raine et al’s study into neuroanatomy

Answer 16

PET scans to identify several areas of the brain in murderers which differed to matched controls -
Reduced activity in prefrontal cortex, amygdala and hippocampus
Abnormal asymmetries, reduced activity on left hemisphere and greater on right

Question 17

What is Wernicke’s area

Answer 17

Processing and comprehending language - top of left temporal lobe. If damaged can still speak but struggle to understand

Question 18

What is Broca’s area

Answer 18

Speech production - left frontal lobe. If damaged simple non fluent grammatical structure

Question 19

What is an example of brain plasticity

Answer 19

Maguire et al - studied brains of London taxi drivers through MRI - found more grey matter in posterior hippocampus than control group. Area associated to spatial and navigational skills

Question 20

What is neurochemistry

Answer 20

The chemical processes that take place in the brain - second option to inherited disorders

Question 21

What are neurotransmitters

Answer 21

Chemical messengers released by pre - synaptic neuron to post synaptic neuron when they connect at a synapse. If correct receptors, NT dock via lock and key

Question 22

What are the 3 key neurotransmitters

Answer 22

GABA, adrenaline, serotonin

Question 23

What is the effect of GABA on behaviour

Answer 23

Body’s primary inhibitory messenger. Regulates anxiety, vision and motor control.
Lack of GABA - poor impulse control, brain seizures, bipolar/mania
Excess GABA - hypersomnia, lack of energy

Question 24

What are the effects of adrenaline on behaviour

Answer 24

Boosts oxygen and glucose to respond to stressor quickly. Increases HR and blood pressure

Question 25

What are the effects of serotonin on behaviour

Answer 25

Control mood - regulate anxiety and happiness Lack of serotonin - depression, sadness, fatigue, suicidal thoughts, anxiety Excess serotonin - restlessness, hallucinations, confusion

Question 26

What are positive evaluation points for the biological approach

Answer 26

Accessible ways to treat mental health problems Extremely scientific Research support - Maguire et al

Question 27

What are negative evaluation points for the biological approach

Answer 27

Research on non human animals - validity, ethical issues Methodological issues - cause and effect

Question 28

What does CIA stand for in the learning approach

Answer 28

Consequences (operant) Imitation (social learning) Association (classical)

Question 29

What are the assumptions of the learning approach

Answer 29

All behaviour is learned and all we have at birth is the capacity to learn

Question 30

Define a stimulus

Answer 30

Anything, internal or external, that brings about a response

Question 31

Define a response

Answer 31

Any reaction in the presence of a stimulus

Question 32

Define reinforcement

Answer 32

The process by which a response is strengthened

Question 33

What is classical conditioning

Answer 33

Learning through association

Question 34

What was Pavlov's involvement in classical conditioning

Answer 34

First to describe process by testing on animals - refers to conditioning of reflexes by associating new stimuli with innate body reflexes - dog, bell, food, salivation - little albert (watson and rayner)

Question 35

Define extinction

Answer 35

If CS is continually presented without UCS the CR gradually dies out

Question 36

Define spontaneous recovery

Answer 36

If a CR is not reinforced, it become extinguished, but may suddenly reappear

Question 37

Define discrimination

Answer 37

The CR is only produced by presentation of the original stimulus, it doesn't extend to similar stimuli

Question 38

Define generalisation

Answer 38

Extension of CR from original stimulus to similar stimuli

Question 39

Define one trial learning

Answer 39

When conditioning occurs immediately

Question 40

What is operant conditioning

Answer 40

Learning through consequences

Question 41

What is Skinner's role in operant conditioning

Answer 41

Claimed all behaviour is learnt through environmental consequences - past and future. Tested this on rate with food and lever in a box

Question 42

Define a primary reinforcer

Answer 42

Anything that fulfils a basic biological need e.g food fulfils hunger

Question 43

Define a secondary reinforcer

Answer 43

Only becomes a reinforcer when associated with a primary reinforcer e.g caregiver gives food that fulfils hunger

Question 44

What are the 2 methods to schedule reinforcement

Answer 44

Continuous and partial reinforcement

Question 45

What is continuous reinforcement

Answer 45

Desired behaviour is reinforced every single time it occurs

Question 46

What is partial reinforcement

Answer 46

Desired behaviour is reinforced only part or some of the time. Fixed ratio schedule - rat gets food every 5 presses. Variable ratio schedule - rat gets food after changeable number

Question 47

What are the 3 types of reinforcement

Answer 47

Positive, negative, punishment

Question 48

What is positive reinforcement

Answer 48

Increases the likelihood of a response occurring as use of reward to strengthen behaviour

Question 49

What is negative reinforcement

Answer 49

Increases the likelihood of a response occurring because it involves the removal of, or escaping from unpleasant consequences to strengthen behaviour e.g crying stops when given milk

Question 50

What is punishment

Answer 50

Decreasing the frequency of a desired behaviour by giving unpleasant consequences - Skinner, rat shocked when pressed lever so never pressed again

Question 51

What are positive evaluation points for behaviourism

Answer 51

Credible evidence - little albert Extremely scientific - objective and falsifiable methods practical applications to society - phobias can be unlearned

Question 52

What are negative evaluation points for behaviourism

Answer 52

Methodological issues - Pavlov studied dogs Environmental determinism - incomplete explanation

Question 53

What is the Social Learning Theory

Answer 53

Learning through imitation

Question 54

What is imitation

Answer 54

Copying behaviour observed in a role model, may or may not have gained reward