Approaches A03 (SODAS)

Question 1

3 strengths of CC (under behaviourism)

Answer 1

1. supporting studies:
   - pavlov conditioned dogs to salivate at the sound of a ticking metronome (a NS) by associating it with the presentation of food (a UCS), which supports the idea that conditioned responses are developed through the association of a NS with a UCS, which adds credibility to the theory (Little Albert also did this with humans to increase credibility due to it being more generalisable)
2. useful in treating phobias:
   - suggests phobias are learnt from the environment, so can therefore be unlearnt by being paired with a relaxing stimulus (systematic desensitisation), making the theory valuable to society
3. based on scientific research evidence:
   - studies are conducted in labs with controlled EVs, showing clear cause and effect to increase internal validity of approach and make it highly objective. this makes the theory highly credibly
   (however, the theory is based predominantly on animal research, making it less generalisable and credible because we are more cognitively complex)

Question 2

2 weaknesses of CC (under behaviourism)

Answer 2

1. ignores the role of biological factors in involuntary behaviours:
   - explanation is solely based on the environment and past experiences, instead of evolution (we may be biologically programmed to fear certain animals for survival). this means that the theory should be considered alongside others to make it more holistic
2. deterministic:
   believes all behaviours are environmentally determined and ignores the role of free will and conscious decision making. viewing humans as passive responders with little conscious insight is wrong and views human behaviour negatively

Question 3

3 strengths of OC (under behaviourism)

Answer 3

1. supporting evidence:
   skinner conditioned rats by rewarding them with food pellets for good behaviour (positive reinforcement) and removing the electric shock (negative reinforcement). this supports the idea that positive and neagtive reinforcement strengthen a behaviour to make it more likely to be repeated
2. useful practical applications:
   creates token economy programs and encourages children to behave better
3. uses scientific research:
   - studies are conducted in labs with controlled EVs, showing clear cause and effect to increase internal validity of approach and make it highly objective. this makes the theory highly credibly
   (however, the theory is based predominantly on animal research, making it less generalisable and credible because we are more cognitively complex)

Question 4

2 weaknesses of OC (under behaviourism)

Answer 4

1. ignores the importance of mental processing when learning (as shown in the social learning theory). This makes the theory too simplistic/reductionist because it fails to acknowledge to complexity of human behaviour
2. deterministic:
   believes all behaviours are environmentally determined and ignores the role of free will and conscious decision making. viewing humans as passive responders with little conscious insight is wrong and views human behaviour negatively

Question 5

give 3 strengths of the social learning theory

Answer 5

1. supporting evidence from Bandura:
   - discovered that children who observe aggressive role models will be aggressive which supports assumption that behaviour is learnt from observation and imitation, giving credibility to the theory
2. useful practical applications:
   - watershed put in place to prevent children watching aggressive and violent behaviours. role models for children on tv now also encourage good behaviour
3. less deterministic:
   - acknowledges the role of cognition in whether a behaviour is learnt/performed, giving us free will and control (therefore empowerment and accountability)

Question 6

give 2 weaknesses of the social learning theory

Answer 6

1. ignores the importance of biological factors in human behaviour:
   - believes in nurture over nature, despite there being evidence that genes and hormones may biologically impact behaviour
2. unscientific:
   - only deals with observable behaviours that can be measured, so cognitive factors need to be interfered. we therefore cannot directly measure the extent to their influence

Question 7

3 strengths of the cognitive approach

Answer 7

1. less deterministic:
   - accepts that we actively process and interpret information and acknowledges the role of cognition in whether a behaviour is learnt/performed, giving us free will and control (therefore empowerment and accountability)
2. good application (led to useful things such as CBT):
   - allows change in depressed patients through identification and challenging maladaptive thoughts without side effects
3. highly scientific:
   - lab based research which creates observable, objective behaviour
   (however, still cannot directly observe the thought process, so not entirely scientific)

Question 8

give 2 weaknesses of the cognitive approach

Answer 8

1. reductionist:
   - reduces complex human behaviours down to simplified concepts in line with computer models. in focusing on logic instead of emotional and socail aspects, the model becomes over simplified
2. low ecological validity:
   - setting is unnatural to ppts so they may act in a certain way and therefore their results may not reflect their real brain activity, limiting the approaches validity

Question 9

give 3 strengths of the humanistic approach

Answer 9

1. Supporting evidence from Harter et al:
   - teenagers who feel they need to fulfil conditions or create a false-self to win approval from parents end up depressed/not liking themselves. this shows how conditional positive regard is harmful, and teaches parents how to treat children
2. undeterministic:
   - suggests that humans have a degree of free will because they are active agents, and this control and accountability encourages positive behaviours
3. good applicability:
   - led to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, which has made schools and workplaces more comfortable

Question 10

give 2 weaknesses of the humanistic approach

Answer 10

1. unscientific:
   - approach measures self-actualisation through qualitative rich data, not anything objective. the results are up to interpretation and could be influenced by researcher bias because concepts cannot be operationalised. therefore, the approach lacks scientific rigour/evidence (and therefore low internal validity)
2. the main concept of self-actualisation may not be very relevant:
   - in certain collectivist cultures that focus on group needs and sharing success, self-actualisation is irrelevant. this lack of cross-cultural relevance makes the theory ethnocentric and less generalisable

Question 11

give 2 strengths of the psychodynamic approach

Answer 11

1. supporting study:
   - Little Hans’ case study: Freud concluded that Little Hans’ fear of horses came from a displaced fear of his father which supports Freud’s assumptions of the unconscious and defence mechanisms
2. use practical applications:
   - psychoanalysis can be used to treat mental illness which with a more humane and ethical approach that is still used today

Question 12

give 2 weaknesses of the psychodynamic approach

Answer 12

1. deterministic:
   - believes that behaviour is down to unconscious conflict and childhood experiences that you have no control over. by failing to acknowledge the role of free will in behaviour, it makes us less accountable and controllable
2. uses unscientific methods:
   - human behaviour is studied through qualitative data that may face high subjectivity. it is also difficult to replicate, therefore less reliable, and this means it can be criticised for a lack of scientific rigor

Question 13

give 2 strengths of the biological approach

Answer 13

1. useful practical applications:
   - for example, OCD may be caused by low levels of serotonin so drugs can be designed to increase serotonin activity by blocking serotonin reuptake. therefore, it can be used to help minimise and manage symptoms of disorders
2. uses scientific research:
   - Replicable, observable methods used to study the brain, therefore the data is objective and empirical, increasing the reliability

Question 14

give 2 weaknesses of the biological approach

Answer 14

1. ignores the role of nurture in behaviour:
   only focuses on nature (genes/hormones etc.) when behaviour is likely a combination of both. whilst biological predispositions may make us more prone to a behaviour, and an enviromental trigger is needed, therefore both factors are important
2. deterministic:
   - fails to acknowledge the role of free will in behaviour because it is believed that behaviour is determined by processes out of our control (they are inherited/biological processes). this makes people less accountable for behaviour, so potentially more dangerous