Approaches (A2) PAPER 2 Flashcards
Explain what is meant by introspection (4)
- Introspection is when an individual gains knowledge about there mental and emotional state. (inner world)
-wundt claimed that, with sufficient training, mental processes such as memory and perception could be observed systemetically as they occurred, using introspection. - e.g after seeing an object and then getting asked to reflect on what they have seen.
Briefly outline 2 criticisms of introspection as a method of investigation (2)
1) not accurate, we have very little knowledge of the causes of our beliefs and attitudes.
2) Wundts methods lacked reliability, Introspective experimental results were not reliably reproducible by other researchers in other laboratorie
Briefly explain what is meant by ‘classical’ and operant conditioning’ (2)
Classical conditioning - learning by association, involuntary response (pavlovs dog)
Operant conditioning - learning through consequence, voluntary response (skinners rat)
Outline the main findings of Pavlovs research (4)
animals can associate a stimulus with an unordinary response
The sound of a bell (a CS) does not ordinarily produce salivation in a dog.
- However, the sight of food (a UCS) does produce salivation (a UCR).
- Repeated pairing of the CS and UCS leads to the CS eventually producing the UCR. When this happens, the UCR becomes a ‘conditioned response’ (CR).
Explain what is meant by positive reinforcement in operant conditioning. (2 marks)
Positive reinforcement occurs when a behaviour produces a consequence that is satisfying or pleasant. For example, food given to a hungry animal or praise given to a child after they do something particularly well are both effective positive reinforcers.
Explain what is meant by negative reinforcement in operant conditioning. (2 marks)
Negative reinforcement removes something unpleasant and so restores the organism to its ‘pre-aversive’ state. For example, the act of hitting the ‘off’ button on an alarm clock allows a person to escape from the unpleasant ringing and restores the restful pre-alarm state.
Outline the main findings of Skinner’s research. (4 marks)
If the consequences are desirable, the behaviour is repeated. However, if the consequences are undesirable, the behaviour is less common.
in the box, if the rats pressed the lever they got food, postive reinforcement.
in another box, rats experienced electric shocks but learnt that the lever stops the shocks, negative reinforment, so they learnt to go straight to the lever
Outline one strength and one limitation of the behaviourist approach. (6 marks)
One strength of the behaviourist approach is that classical conditioning has led to the development of treatments for the reduction of anxiety associated with various phobias.
For example, systematic desensitisation is a therapy based on classical conditioning and this approach has been found to be effective for a range of phobias, including arachnophobia and aerophobia.
One limitation of the behaviourist approach is that Skinner’s research was done with non-human animals rather than humans. Critics argue that humans have free will rather than having their behaviour determined by positive and negative reinforcement, and therefore that Skinner’s research can tell us little about human behaviour.
Briefly explain ‘imitation’ ‘identification’ ‘modelling’ ‘vicarious reinforcement’ and ‘mediational processes’
imitation - When an individual observes a behaviour of a role model and copies it.
identification - Internalising and adopting behaviours shown by a role model
modelling- When someone is influential in a way and are referred to as a model.
vicarious reinforcement - The observer witnesses the model receiving a reward or consequence for their behaviour so may or may not try to imitate that same behaviour.
mediational processes - Behaviour is not simply observed and individuals imitate it. The individual needs to think before imitation.
Outline the main findings of banduras research into social learning (4marks)
Bobo doll experiment
Children who observed the aggressive model made far more imitative aggressive responses than those who were in the non-aggressive model group.
Boys imitated same sex models rather than girls
Girls shows physical agression towards male models and verbal aggression towards female models
Outline the use of theoretical and computer models as an explanation of mental processes.
Theoretical models are visual representations of internal mental processes that help researchers simplify and study complex processes.
Computer models explain different mental processes in futher detail.
Outline two strengths of the cognitive approach in psychology
1) real-world applications:
- cognitive research into memory and misleading information has reduced the use of eyewitness testimonies in court.
- better understanding of thinking patterns has allowed professionals to treat disorder better through therapies.
2) It is scientific:
- allows scientists to reach accurate conclusions about how the mind works
Outline two limitations of the cognitive approach
1) lacks ecological validity
- little in common with natural everyday tasks
- cant generalise these findings to real life situations
2) ignores emotion and motivation
- It tells us how cognitive proccesses take place but not why
- motivation is irrelevant to a computor, but not to a human being
Explain genotype and phenotype
genotype- the genetic make up of an individual, it is a collection of inherited genetic material that is passed down from generation to generation.
phenotype- The observable characteristics of an individual, interaction of genotype with environment
Outline two strengths of the biological approach
1) Uses reliable methods of research
- e.g research into genetics require scientific methodology like fMRIs and PET scans
- accurate measure of internal processes
- less experimenter bias
2) Real world applications
- drug therapies, antidepressants
- provides patients with an explanation for there illness
