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A Level Psychology > Approaches - Booklet 2 > Flashcards

Approaches - Booklet 2 Flashcards

Biological Approach, Psychodynamic Approach, Humanistic Psychology, Comparison of Approaches (67 cards)

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1
Q

what are the assumptions of the biological approach

A

-there is a direct correlation between brain activity and cognition
-biochemical imbalances can affect behaviour
-brain physiology can affect behaviour
-behaviour can be inherited as it is determined by genes

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2
Q

how would charles darwin explain human behaviour

A

-natural selection
-characteristics that are not suited to a species’ environment will die out as it struggles to survive
-with time it will evolve over generations so only adaptive characteristics remain in future offspring

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3
Q

how can twins be used to suggest behaviour is genetic

A

-twin studies determine likelihood that certain traits have a genetic basis by comparing the concordance rates between pairs of twins
-using mz and dz pairs to determine the influence of genetics

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4
Q

what are concordance rates

A

-the extent to which both twins share the same characteristic

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5
Q

describe mz pairs of twins

A

-monozygotic
-both inherit 100% similar genes
-always of the same sex

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6
Q

describe dz pairs of twins

A

-dizygotic
-both inherit approximately 50% similar genes
-same or different sex

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7
Q

define the biological approach

A

-a perspective that emphasises the importance of physical processes in the body such as genetic inheritance and neural function

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8
Q

define genes

A

-they make up chromosomes and consist of dna which codes the physical features of an organism and psychological features
-genes are transmitted from parents to offspring

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9
Q

define biological structure

A

-an arrangement or organisation of parts to form an organ, system or living thing

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10
Q

define neurochemistry

A

-relating to chemicals in the brain that regulate psychological functioning

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11
Q

define genotype

A

-the particular set of genes that a person possesses

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12
Q

define phenotype

A

-the characteristics of an individual determined by both genes and the environment

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13
Q

define evolution

A

-the changes in inherited characteristics in a biological population over successive generations

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14
Q

what is the difference between genotype and phenotype

A

-genotype is the actual genetic makeup
-but the expression of genotype (phenotype) is influenced by environmental factors

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15
Q

how do the structures of the brain influence our behaviour

A

-interactions between regions of the brain help to control different functions, which biological psychologists assume to be significant in determining our actions

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16
Q

examples of brain structures influencing behaviour

A

-hippocampus - episodic memory recall
-broca’s area - speech production

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17
Q

how can neurochemistry affect behaviour

A

-neurochemical imbalances in the brain are often associated with abnormal behaviour
-evidence suggests imbalances of dopamine are associated with mood disorders such as depression

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18
Q

describe adrenaline

A

-fight or flight
-produced in stressful situations
-increases heart rate and blood flow
-leading to physical boost and heightened awareness

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19
Q

describe noradrenaline

A

-concentration
-affects attention and responding actions in the brain
-controls blood vessels, increasing blood flow

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20
Q

describe dopamine

A

-pleasure
-feelings of pleasure, addiction, movement and motivatiom
-people repeat behaviours that lead to dopamine release

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21
Q

describe serotonin

A

-mood
-contributes to wellbeing and happiness
-helps sleep cycle and digestive system regulation
-affected by exercise and light exposure

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22
Q

AO3 points about the biological approach

A

-reductionist
-uses scientific methods
-real life application

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23
Q

explain limitation of biological approach being reductionist

A

-attempts to reduce all aspects of human behaviour down to one level of explanation
-human behaviour is reduced down to physical processes such as activity of neurotransmitters
-so it underestimates the role of our environment in behaviour

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24
Q

counter to the biological approach being reductionist being a limitation

A

-can be a strength because isolating by one factor allows researchers to investigate that factor scientifically

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25
explain strength of biological approach having scientific methods
-precise methods -scanning techniques including fMRIs, EEGs -family and twin studies -drug trials -biologival and neural processes can be accurately measured without bias making the biological approach based on reliable data
26
explain strength of biological approach having real life application
-understanding of biochemical processes in the brain has led to development of psychoactive drugs that treat mental illnesses -although not effective for all, revolutionary for many -sufferers can manage their condition and live a relatively normal life
27
counter to real life application being a strength of the biological approach
-drugs can only be used to treat the symptoms of mental illneses rather than the cause -so they should be used alongside other treatments
28
assumptions of the psychodynamic approach
-unconscious activity is the key determinant of how we behave -we possess innate drives that energize our minds to motivate behaviour as we develop through our lives -our personality, the psyche, is comprised of the Id, ego and superego -childhood experiences have significant importance in determining our personalities when we reach adulthood
29
describe the id
-pleasure principle -drives us to satisfy selfish urges -exists from birth -fights with the superego -entirely unconscious
30
describe the ego
-reality principle -acts rationally, balancing the id and superego -develops ages 2-4
31
describe the superego
-moral principle -acts as our conscience -child internalises morals of society -fights with id with feelings of guilt -develops ages 4-5
32
define the psychodynamic approach
-a perspective that describes the different forces, most of which are unconscious, that operate on the mind and direct human behaviour and experience
33
define the unconscious
-the part of the mind that we are unaware of but which continues to direct much of our behaviour
34
define defence mechanisms
-unconscious strategies that the ego uses to manage the conflict between the id and the superego
35
define the psychosexual stages
-five developmental stages that all children pass through -at each stage there is a different conflict, the outcome of which determines future development
36
what are the 5 psychosexual stages
-oral -anal -phallic -latency -genital
37
describe the oral stage
-age 0-1 -focus is the mouth- sucking, biting, chewing -development is weaning off breastfeeding -fixation becomes smoking, overeating
38
describe the anal stage
-age 1-3 -focus is the anus- bowel and bladder elimination -development is toilet training -fixation becomes orderliness, messiness
39
describe the phallic stage
-age 3-5 -focus is the genitals- coping with incestuous sexual feelings -development is resolving oedipus and electra complex -fixation becomes deviancy, sexual dysfunction
40
describe the latency stage
-age 6-12 -no focus as dormant sexual feeling -development is developing defense mechanisms -no fixation
41
describe the genital stage
-age 12/puberty/adulthood -focus is genitals - maturation of sexual interest -development is reaching full sexual maturity -if all stages are successfully completed, the person would be sexually mature and mentally healthy
42
what are the defence mechanisms
-repression -denial -displacement
43
describe repression
-forcing a distressing memory out of the conscious mind
44
describe denial
-refusing to acknowledge some aspect of reality
45
describe displacement
-transferring feelings from the true source of distressing emotion onto a substitute target
46
AO3 points about the psychodynamic approach
-used in modern day psychiatry -evidence of case studies is difficult to generalise -many ideas are non falsifiable
47
explain modern day psychiatry using freudian psychoanalytic techniques
-free association and dream analysis are still used in therapeutic contexts -lasting impact in application
48
counter to psychodynamic approach being used in modern day psychiatry
-some practicioners prefer evidence based approaches -suggesting integration between psychodynamic methods + modern scientific frameworks
49
explain in the psychodynamic approach why case study evidence is difficult to generalise
-findings of individual case studies may not be representative of larger populations -challenging to draw broad conclusions from psychodynamic research -undermining application of the approach in diverse contexts and populations
50
explain in the psychodynamic approach why many of freud's ideas are considered to be non falsifiable
-unconscious mind cannot be directly observed or tested to it is difficult to validate scientifically -karl popper's critique that a theory must be falsifiable to be considered scientific -which diminishes credibility of freud's theories in the scientific community limiting acceptance and application
51
assumptions in the humanistic approach
-existential assumption that people have free will -people are basically good and have an innate need to make themselves and the world better -people are motivated to self actualise -the subjective, conscious experience of the individual is most important
52
list maslows hierarchy of needs in order from bottom to top
-physiological -safety -love/belonging -esteem -self actualisation
53
describe congruence
-the individuals concept of self being broadly equivalent to their ideal self -meaning personal growth can be achieved
54
how do we set our conditions of worth
-people believe they will only be loved or valued if they meet certain conditions of worth -people set their ideal self based on conditions of worth
55
explain the influence of the humanistic approach on counselling psychology
-carl rogers put forward client centered therapy -using unconditional positive regard -to focus on the positive aspects of the person -increase self worth -reduce incongruence
56
AO3 points on the humanistic approach
-not reductionist -limited application -untestable concepts -cultural bias
57
explain the humanistic approach not being reductionist
-humanists reject breaking up behaviour and experience into smaller components -advocate holism -rather than eg the cognitive approach using machine reductionism -so has more validity than its alternatives as it considers meaningful human behaviour within its real life context
58
explain the humanistic approach having limited application
-although rogerian therapy has revolutionised counselling techniques and maslows HON explains motivation in the workplace, the approach has limited impact -it lacks a sound evidence base and is not a comprehensive theory -so it is less beneficial in the discipline of psychology
59
explain the humanistic approach involving untestable concepts
-lots of aspects are vague, abstract and difficult to test -concepts are useful therapeutic tools, but hard to access in experimental conditions -so does not have empirical evidence to support its claims
60
counter to the humanistic approach involving untestable concepts
-rogers developed the q sort technique as an objective measure of progress in therapy
61
explain the humanistic approach having cultural bias
-the ideas of freedom, autonomy and personal growth are associated with individualist cultures in the western world -collectivist cultures such as India emphasise the needs of the group, community and interdependence, which don't identify easily with the values of humanistic psychology -so the approach cannot travel well and is a product of the cultural context it was developed in
62
comparison features of the biological approach
-biological determinism -nature -biological reductionism -nomothetic -scientific -real world application
63
comparison features of the behaviourist approach
-environmental determinism -nurture -environmental reductionism -nomothetic -scientific -real world application
64
comparison features of social learning theory
-soft determinism -nurture -shares elements of the behaviourist and cognitive approach in terms of reductionism -nomothetic -mostly scientific -real world application
65
comparison features of the cognitive approach
-soft determinism -nature+nurture -environmental reductionism -nomothetic -mostly scientific -real world application
66
comparison features of the psychodynamic approach
-psychic determinism -mostly nature -reductionism+holism -idiographic + nomothetic -not scientific -real world application
67
comparison features of the humanistic approach
-free will -mostly nurture -holism -idiographic -not scientific -real world application

A Level Psychology (15 decks)

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