Approaches Flashcards
(38 cards)
what is introspection?
The first systematic experiment to study the kind by breaking up conscious awareness into basic structures of thoughts, images and sensations.
What was wundt’s work?
in 1879, Wundts opened the first ever psychology lab. He separated psychology from philosophy.
Used standardised procedures, separating into categories.
+scientific well controlled
-subjective data
What is the behaviouristic approach?
•An approach which explains behaviour in terms of what is observable and measurable.
•Rejects introspection as too vague.
•Relies on Lab studies
•They describe babies mind as a blank space.
•They believe in the two processes of classical conditioning and operant conditioning.
Outline Pavlov research into classical conditioning.
PAVLOV (1927)
•showed dogs could salivate to the sound of a bell, as they expected food.
•They learnt to associate a bell with food to produce saliva.
•so a neutral stimulus can cause a conditioned responce
US~> UR
NS~> NO R
NS+US~> CR
CS~>CR
Outline skinners research into operant conditioning
behaviour is shaped by consequences.
He conducted experiments on rats and pigeons.
every time the rat activated a lever, it was rewarded with a food pellet.
Additionally, he showed how animals can be conditioned through removing negative consequences.
He made the box electrocuted, and when the rat did the desired behaviour (Pushed the lever) then the electric shocks would go.
what is positive reinforcement ?
(behaviourist approach)
receiving a reward when desirable behaviour is performed
what is negative reinforcement?(behaviourist approach)
doing something to avoid unpleasant feeling
e.g handing in homework so you don’t get told off by a teacher
what is a punishment ?
(behaviourist approach)
an unpleasant consequence of behaviour e.g. being shouted at
Evaluate the behaviouristic approach
+Well controlled- lab settings
+real world application -operant conditioning has allowed for the development of token economy systems
-environmental determinism - dependents on our upbringing and what we associate with bshviour
-ethical issues
What are key assumptions of the ‘social learning theory’?
people learn through observation and imitation of other.
Learning through classical and operant conditioning directally.
But also indirectly.
What is ‘Vicarious reinforcement’ ?
(social learning theory?
Imitation more likely to occurs when behaviour is seen to be rewarded rather than punished.
Identify the meditational process
(social learning theory)
1.attention (noticing certain behaviours)
2.Retention (remembering behaviour)
3.motor reproduction (performing the behaviour)
4.motivation (the will to perform behaviour)
What is identification?
(social learning theory)
People are more likely to imitate people they identify with, e.g. imitating role models.
what is imitation?
(social learning theory)
copying the behaviour of others
what is modelling ?
(social learning theory)
demonstrating behaviour which may be imitated.
What was Banduras research?
(social learning theory)
BANDURA (1961)
Aim- wanted to see if a child would imitate behaviour observed.
Procedure-
•Used 72 children aged 3-6. (half girls half boys)
•Used a control group
The children would observe an adult figure hitting a bobo doll.
•Later, children were allowed to play with the doll.
Findings-
All children were much more aggressive towards the doll than before.
Evaluate the Social learning theory.
+Allows for cognitive factors in learning. - associating is not as important if you haven’t got the mediational processes.
+real world application- able to explain cultural differences as different cultures have different norms
-ungeneralisable, (small sample size)
-gathered in lab studies (invalid) e.g. demand characteristics
What are the key assumptions of ‘the cognitive approach’?
Internal mental processes can and should be studied scientifically.
explain the ‘role of a schema’ and ‘theoretical and computer models’ in the cognitive approach.
schema- Cognitive processing can be affected by a persons already made beliefs and expectations
computer models- psychologists use both theoretical and computer models to help them understand internal mental processes.
Information flows through the cognitive stage.
What is the ‘emergence of cognitive neuroscience’ ?
Mapping areas in the brain to specific functions, for example , Wernikes area.
Brain scans can be used such as FMRIS to see the brain
Evaluate the cognitive approach.
+Used scientific methods, with proof- lab studies highly controlled settings
.
+real life application, such as AI and thinking machine (robots)
-machine reductionism- comparing the human brain to a computer
What are the key assumptions of the ‘biological approach’?
Everything psychological is at first biological, so we must look at biological processes in the body. genes and inherited DNA play a large part in out behaviour
what is the neurochemical basis of behaviour?
(the biological approach)
Neurochemistry- chemicals in the brain.
When there’s an imbalance of chemicals it can cause mental problems e.g. overproducing dopamine can cause schizophrenia
what is the genetic basis of behaviour?
(biological approach)
Characteristics can be passed down and inherited, such as eye colour or height.
Twin study’s are used to see concordance rate.
