Approaches Flashcards
(59 cards)
1
Q
Wundt 1879
A
- Opened first lab for study of psychology
- Aimed for structuralism (study structure of human mind)
- Developed introspection
2
Q
Introspection
A
Examination and obs of ones own mental processes which wundt compared to others
eg, wundt showed a metronome to ppt and asked what they thought (used controlled settings+standardised instructions)
3
Q
Science
A
Enquiring knowledge through objective investigation
4
Q
Psychology
A
Scientific study of human mind+its functions
5
Q
Watson
A
- Questioned introspection, it produced subjective data, made it difficult to establish basic principles
- Began behaviourism which emerged psychology as a science
6
Q
Development of behaviourism 1913
A
- Watson+Skinner brought language,rigour and method of natural science into psychology
- Emphasised use of controlled lab setting
- Believe things should only be studied if it can be observed+measured
- Still used today
7
Q
Development of Cognitive revolution
A
- 1960s
- Study of mental process like wundt but more scientific
- Compared human mind to computers
8
Q
Development of biological approach
A
- Investigate physiological processes with new technology
- Most scientific element to psych
- Includes live activity in the brain using FMRI or EEG
- 1980, developed with new tech
9
Q
Development of social learning
A
- Bandura made this, 1960
- Bridge between behaviourism and cognitive
- Looks at role of cognitive factors in learning
10
Q
Cognitive Neuroscience 21st ce
A
- Brings together cognitive+biological approach
- Investigates how biological structure influences mental state
11
Q
Behaviourist Approach
A
- Assumes all behaviour is learnt passively
- Environment determines behaviour
- Animal behaviour=human behaviour
- Only looks at external process to explain behaviour
12
Q
Classical Conditioning Pavlov
A
- Learning happens through association
- Pavlov did a study on his dogs
- Dog salivated (ucr) when they saw food (ucs)
- Pavlov paired the presence of a bell(ns) with the ucs. Dog associated ucs with ns so bell became cs and salivated with just the be bell (cr)
13
Q
Operant Conditioning Skinner
A
Learning through consequences
-Skinner did a study with rats in the skinner box
1- Put lever in the box, when pressed food pellet given (positive reinforcement) rat pressed it more
2- Electric shock given to rat, lever stopped the shock (negative reinforcement)
14
Q
3 types of reinforcement
A
POSITIVE-getting reward for behaviour makes you do it more(eg getting praise for something) NEGATIVE-avoiding unpleasant reaction by increasing behaviour(doing hmw more to avoid getting told off) PUNISHMENT-reducing behaviour to avoid unpleasant behaviour(told off for talking in class makes you do it less)
15
Q
Behaviourist Approach evaluation
A
- Scientific credibility: Brought method of natural science into psychology. Emphasised importance of observable+measurable behaviour which made it scientifically credible+more status
- Mechanistic view: Assumes humans are same as animals+respond like machines with no conscious thought. Cognitive+social learning theory suggest humans arent as passive as suggested
- Environmental determinism:Assumes past experience determines future actions+undermines role of freewill.
- Real life app: Token economy systems in prisons use this. eg doing good behaviour in prison gets a token which exchanges for privileges(positive reinforcement)
- Environmental reductionism
16
Q
Social Learning Theory Bandura
A
-Learning through observation and imitation
-Bandura studied kids who watched adults play with bobo doll. The kids who saw aggressive play from adult with the doll also gave aggressive reactions
Kids who didnt see aggression gave less aggressive responses(control group)
17
Q
Vicarious Reinforcement
A
- Imitating behaviour when seeing others get rewards for it. (more likely if they’re role models or identify)
- Not imitating behaviour when seeing punishment for it
- Bandura did a variation, group 1 adults got praised for aggressive play+ group 2 adults got punished. Kids acted accordingly
18
Q
Mediational Process
A
- Looks at thinking process+how it leads to learning
1. Attention-extent to which we notice behaviour
2. Retention-how well behaviour is remembered
3. Motor Reproduction-ability to do behaviour
4. Motivation-how willing you are to do it for reward/punishment
19
Q
Identification
A
- People are more likely to imitate people that they identify with; share similar characteristics eg age, gender
- Also identify with role models are those with similar characteristics+interests, high status etc
20
Q
SLT Evaluation
A
- Over reliance on lab studies: Bandura’s explanation is based on his lab study which lacks ecological validity+mundane realism. The kids may have just acted in a way that they thought was expected of them
- Underestimates influence of biological factors:In banduras study, boys were more aggressive to girls which wasnt explained. Can be explained by biology as boys have more testosterone(linked to aggression)
- Interactionist approach: behaviourists don’t focus on thinking+cognitives focus too much on thinking so slt provides a comprehensive explanation which is more practical bc we look at others and judge when to do certain actions.
21
Q
Cognitive Approach
A
- Focuses on internal process+effect on behaviour
- Make inferences about what happens in peoples mind through the behaviour they show
- Mind processes info through senses
- Explains things like thinking, perception and memory
22
Q
Inference
A
-Making conclusions about what happens in ones mind depending on behaviour observed
23
Q
Schema
A
- Mental representations of info developed through experiences of the world
- Schema helps make sense of world+are shortcuts when processing info(eg; if someone asks if you want to go the park, you will know what a park is and say yes or no)
- Schema can distort info or cause errors bc you have an expectation of what something is gonna be.
24
Q
Cognitive Neuroscience
A
- Scientific study of influence of brain structures on mental processes
- Puts together biological+cognitive app
- Enables study of living brain+ map different cognitive processes to certain areas of the brain. EG Tulving shows different parts of brain are active when using different types of memory
25
Cognitive approach evaluation
- Scientific+objective method use highly controlled methods so researchers can infer. Lab exp are used for reliable+objective data. Biology+cognitive app come together
- Machine Reductionism:Human mind+computers similar but cognitive app ignores role of emotion+motivation
- Real-life app:Contributed to artificial intelligence(robots)
- Lack of mundane realism:Infer from behaviour seen but behaviour is often tested using artificial stimuli
- Less determinist: Soft determinism app more interactionist as it says we are free to think before reacting+dont automatically respond
26
Development of psychodynamic app
- Freud developed this in the 1900s
| - Believed unconscious mind influenced behaviour
27
Development of Humanistic app
- Developed by Maslow+Rogers 1950s
- Behaviour is determined by the person
- Emphasis free-will +rejects behaviourism
28
Biological approach assumptions
- Everything psychological begins as biological, to understand behaviour, biological structures need to be assessed.
- Brain structure can explain our thoughts and behaviour
- Thoughts, feelings and behaviour have physical basis
29
Genetic basis of behaviour
- Study to see whether behavioural characteristics can be inherited like eye colour.
- Twin studies are used to see if certain traits have a genetic basis using concordance rates
- If concordance was higher for MZ a genetic basis is suggested as MZ twins share 100% of the same genes while DZ only share 50%
30
Genotype+Phenotype
- Genotype is genetic makeup (how you look)
- Phenotype are the way genes are expressed in physical, behavioural+psychological characteristics
- Expression of genotype can be affected by environmental factors so human behaviour depends oh nature nurture interaction
31
Evolution+behaviour
- Natural selection:genetically determined behaviour enhances survival which makes them likely to reproduce which continues in future generations
- The same kinds of traits remain in the gene pool restricting types of genes
32
Biological approach evaluation
- Reliable data: genetic and biological behaviour is investigated using precise scientific methods such as fmri's,EEG's,drug trials. This means results aren't biased
- Real life app: Increased understanding in biochemical processes in the brain=psychoactive treatments for things like depression
- Causal conclusions: suggests that lack of neurotransmitters cause illnesses but only because increasing that NT helps relieve illness. its association not cause
- Determinist view of behaviour, biology determines all
33
Psychodynamic approach: Role of unconscious
- Freud says most of the mind is unconscious
- The unconscious contains biological drives and instincts which influence behaviour+personality
- Also contains threatening+disturbing memories which have been repressed which can be accessed through dreams or 'slip of a tongue'
34
Psychodynamic approach: Structure of personality
- Composed of 3 parts
- id: primitive part of personality, pleasure principle.Full of unconscious drives+instincts. Only id is present at birth and is selfish+demands gratification of need.
- ego:reality principle, mediator between id+super-ego. Develops around 2 years+role is to reduce the conflict using defence mechanisms
- superego:Formed around age 5, morality principle and internalised sense of right+wrong. Represents moral standards+punishes ego with guilt
35
Defence mechanisms PD
- Repression:forcing distressing memory out of conscious mind
- Denial:refusing to acknowledge aspect of reality
- Displacement:transferring feeling of emotion from true source onto a substitute target
36
Psychosexual stages
- Oral: 0-1 years
- Anal: 1-3years
- Phallic: 3-5 years
- Latency
- Genital
- If psychosexual conflict is unresolved, child will suffer fixation.
37
Oral stage 0-1yrs
- Focus of pleasure is mouth, desired object is mothers breast.
- Consequence of unresolved conflict: oral fixation, eg, nail biting, smoking, sarcastic.
38
Anal stage 1-3yrs
- Focus of pleasure is anus. Gains pleasure from withholding+expelling faeces
- Consequence of unresolved conflict: anal retentive; perfectionist, obsessive or anal expulsive; thoughtless, messy
39
Phallic stage 3-5yrs
- Focus of pleasure:genital area. Child experiences oedipus or elektra complex
- Consequence of unresolved conflict: phallic personality; narcissist, homosexual, reckless
40
Latency
Earlier conflicts (0-5yrs) are repressed
41
Genital
- Sexual desires become conscious alongside puberty
| - Consequence of unresolved conflict: difficulty forming heterosexual relationships
42
Oedipus complex
- Boys go through this in phallic stage
- They develop incestuous desires towards mother+hatred towards father as he is seen as a rival.
- Feelings are later repressed as boys develop castration anxiety fearing their father will castrate them.
- The boy then identifies with the father+takes on male gender role
43
Elektra complex
- Girls go through this in phallic stage
- Experience penis envy as they desire their father and hate the mother as they believe she castrated the girl
- Over time the girl replaces her desire for a penis with a desire for a baby and identifies with her mother taking on the female gender role
44
Psychodynamic approach evaluation
- Explanatory power: Large influence in psychology. Used to explain things like personality development+abnormal behaviour. Associates childhood with future behaviour which impacted other explanations
- Case studies: Lacks inter-rater reliability+validity. Only support comes from case studies like Little Hans who were highly subjective. Lacks scientific rigour+isnt universal
- Unfalsifiable: cant be disproved as it cant be scientifically tested as concepts are unconscious. It is a pseudoscience.
- Psychic determinism: ignores role of freewill.
45
Humanistic psychology
- Freewill: humanists argue humans are self-determining and active agents in making their destiny.
- External and internal factors still have impacts but we are active agents impacting our development
- Humanists reject theories which establish general principles of behaviour+believe psych should involve studying subjective experience not making general laws
46
Self-actualisation
- Everyone has innate tendency to reach full potential and be the best version of themselves, this is self actualisation
- Top level on Maslow's hierarchy of needs, other levels have to be met to self actualise
- Personal growth is essential part of being human and concerned with developing and changing as a person to feel fulfilled.
47
Maslow's hierarchy of needs
1. Physiological needs (basic needs)- food, warmth
2. Safety+security- accomodation
3. Love+belongingness-relationships+support from friends and family
4. Self-esteem- having congruence between self concept+ideal self so higher self esteem is achieved
5. Self-actualisation- progressing further in personal development
48
Self concept, ideal self and congruence
- Rogers argued for personal growth, there must be a state of congruence
- Self concept(how you see yourself) ideal self(how you want to be)
- Congruence is when the self concept and ideal self have a small gap so there is higher self esteem
- Incongruence is when the self concept and ideal self have a large gap so self esteem is lower.
49
Conditions of worth and unconditional positive regard
- Conditions of worth are when someone puts boundaries on the love they have for you, mostly in parents with their kids eg Ill only love you if you be a doctor.
- Conditions of worth cause low self esteem+sense of worthlessness
- Should give unconditional positive regard instead where you love the person no matter what
50
Rogers' client centred therapy
- Used to reduce gap between self concept and ideal self to achieve congruence.
- Low self esteem can stem from childhood in terms of conditions of worth
- Client centred therapy involves the therapist giving unconditional positive regard, empathy and genuineness. The session is driven by the client
51
Humanistic approach evaluation
- Holistic approach:other approaches are reductionist like behaviourism, humanists advocate holism by considering the whole person+all aspect so its more valid
- Positive app:Psychodynamic app is negative+says if you become fixated you cant change, humanists aim for progression+see people as capable of doing anything
- Limited application: Cant measure things like self esteem+ if asked social desirability is likely as it lacks evidence+comprehensive theory.
- Cultural bias:Based from individualist society which encourages freedom, collectivist societies may differ so it cant be generalised+is an imposed etic
52
Theoretical+Computer models
-Help understand internal mental processes+ are info processing models
-Theoretical models=abstract
computer models=concrete
-Computer model+ suggests info flows through cognitive system in a series of stages like MSM (input storage retrieval) based on computer functions
eg incoming info to be encoded (from the senses), manipulating this mentally (e.g. storage, a decision), and consequently directing an output (e.g. a behaviour, emotion). this info processing=same as computers
-Theoretical models involve inference about mental processes by comparing input and behaviour output(helps development of artificial intelligence)
53
Comparison of approaches
- Freewill/Determinism
- Nature/Nurture
- Holism/Reductionist
- Idiographic/Nomothetic
- Scientific/Unscientific
- Animal extrapolation/No animal extrapolation
54
Freewill/Determinism
- Freewill: humanism
- Hard determinism: biological determinism, psychic determinism+ environmental determinism
- Soft determinism: SLT environmental determinism but looks at cognitive factors, cognitive is mechanistic+deterministic but schema shows element of freewill
55
Nature/Nurture
- Nature: biological (genes+neurotransmitters), psychodynamic(unconscious has biological drives but experiences cause impact)
- Nature/nurture interaction: cognitive (information processing is innate but schema is nurture)
- Nurture: humanism (largely nurture bc of freewill but element of nature, self actualisation is innate), behaviourism and slt (learn from environment)
56
Holism/Reductionism
- Holism: humanism (considers whole person)
- Interactionism: SLT (environmental reductionism but take into account cognitive factors), psychodynamic (reduce to unconscious but refers to experience)
- Reductionism: cognitive (machine reductionism), behaviourism (environmental reductionism) and biological reductionism (reduced to genes+can be reduced more to physiological reductionism- non concordance looks at whole person though)
57
Idiographic/Nomothetic
-Idiographic (focus on individual+freewill): humanism, cant make general laws every person is unique in self actualisation
Both idiographic+nomothetic: cognitive (looks at case studies like HM+KF but also models like MSM/WMM) psychodynamic (largely nomothetic bc of psychosexual stages but uses case studies so idiographic research)
-Nomothetic (more scientific+makes general laws): SLT , behaviourist and biological (approach generalises to anyone)
58
Scientific/Unscientific
- Scientific: biological(links to natural sciences), behaviourism(uses scientific+objective methods) SLT is less scientific (nomothetic methods but mediational processes cant be tested), cognitive is even less scientific than SLT (experiments involve lab setting but inference is unscientific)
- Unscientific:psychodynamic(based from the unconscious which is untestable, unfalsifiable and unscientific), humanism (you cant measure or test self esteem or self actualisation)
59
Animal extrapolation/No animal extrapolation
-Animal extrapolation: behaviourism; pavlov used dogs+skinner used rats and generalised results to humans
Middle: Biological has some animal extrapolation as animal experiments are used when humans cant be (eg making changes in the brain
-No animal extrapolation: humanism, SLT, cognitive and psychodynamic dont use animals in studies
