Approaches Flashcards
Assumptions of behaviourist approach
All behaviours are learnt from our environment.
Focus on observable behaviour
Animals and humans learn in the same ways so behaviourists carry out experiments on animals and extrapolate the results to humans.
Psychology should be scientific and objective therefore behaviourists use mainly laboratory experiments to achieve this.
Steps in SLT
Attention: The individual needs to pay attention to the behavior and its consequences and form a mental representation of the behavior.
Retention: Storing the observed behaviour in LTM where it can stay for a long period of time.
Reproduction: The individual must be able to reproduce the observed behaviour.
Motivation: Individuals must expect to receive the same positive reinforcements (vicarious reinforcement) for imitating the observed behavior that they have seen the model receiving.
Applications of behaviourist
Increased our understanding of the causes of phobias and attachment.
It has also given rise to therapies such as systematic desensitisation and token economy.
Applications of SLT
Used to explain the influence of the media on behavior.
Assumptions of cognitive approach
Interested in how the brain inputs, stores and retrieves information based on the computer analogy
Information received from our senses is processed by the brain and that this processing directs how we behave.
These internal mental processes cannot be observed directly but we can infer what a person is thinking based on how they act.
Applications of cognitive approach
Lead to the development of cognitive interview which has decreased the inaccuracy of eyewitness memory; this should lead to a decrease of wrongful convictions.
It also helped us understand the causes of depression and the approach also proposes a therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy which has shown to be effective for a range of mental disorders and unlike drugs has no side effects.
Assumptions of biological approach
Our thinking and behavior are strongly determined by biological factors: structure and functioning of the nervous system. This in turn is influenced by genetic and evolutionary factors
Applications of biological approach
Led to the development of drugs which are effective in the treatment of mental disorders such as schizophrenia and depression. This enables many of the sufferers to lead a fairly normal life.
Assumptions of psychodynamic approach
All behaviour can be explained in terms of the inner conflicts of the mind.
Highlights the role of the unconscious mind, the structure of personality and the influence that childhood experiences have on later life.
The unconscious mind determines most of our behavior and that we are motivated by unconscious emotional drives.
Applications of psychodynamic approach
Given rise to psychoanalysis, on which many psychological therapies are now based.
Can be used to explain mental disorders such as depression and schizophrenia although these explanations are rarely used by mainstream psychology.
Assumptions of humanistic approach
Every person has their own unique way of perceiving and understanding the world and that the things they do only make sense in this light. Therefore, the aim of this approach is not objectivity as the other approaches; its aim is to understand people’s subjectivity.
People are self-determining, which means that they have free will they can make choices about the way they think and act. These choices are not determined by biological or other external factors.
Applications of humanistic approach
Led to client-centred therapy which aims to increase clients’ self-worth and decrease the incongruence between the self-concept and the ideal self.
