Approaches evaluations

Question 1

Introspection
2-

Answer 1

-Wundt’s methods were unreliable as relies on unobservable responses. introspective results weren’t reliably reproduced
-Introspection inaccurate, lacks validity eg. Nisbett + Wilson found we have little knowledge of processes underlying our behaviour. eg. person may be implicitly racist but these attitudes exist outside of conscious awareness and therefore not found using introspection

Question 2

Emergence of psychology as a science
2+,2-

Answer 2

+rely on objective, systematic methods of observation, more than just passive acceptance of facts
+well controlled conditions, can be replicated and state cause and effect
-by being objective and using controlled observations, findings tell us little how people act in natural environments
-much of subject matter is unobservable + can’t be measured accurately, big inferences have to be made

Question 3

Classical conditioning
3+,1-

Answer 3

+ research evidence eg. Pavlov conditioned dogs to salivate at the sound of a bell
+research evidence eg. Watson + Rayner, Little Albert developed phobia of white rats
+Practical applications, led to treatments of anxiety associated with phobias eg. systematic desensitisation and works by eliminating the CR that is associated with CS
-Seligman, biological preparedness, animals prepared to learn things for survival needs, but unprepared to learn things not closely related

Question 4

Operant conditioning
2+,2-

Answer 4

+Research evidence eg. Skinner reinforced rats to press a button to receive food
+Practical applications eg. token economies in prisons award good behaviour by giving tokens which can be exchanged for privileges
-Skinners research used animals which don’t have freewill, findings difficult to generalise
-Mechanistic view of behaviour eg. animals machine like responders to environment with no insight into behaviour, learning theory applies less to humans than animals

Question 5

Social learning theory
2+,2-

Answer 5

+Bandura’s bobo doll supportive research was completed in a lab with high levels of control
+practical applications eg. treat phobias, if someone acts calm around phobic stimulus, person with phobia may copy the model
-Ignores biological factors eg. boys more aggressive towards the doll, could be explained by hormonal factors as boys have more testosterone
-Lab experiment, lacks ecological validity

Question 6

Schema
2+,2-

Answer 6

+Process vast amounts of info rapidly
+Prevent us being overwhelmed by environmental stimuli because we know what to expect
-Perceptual errors eg. inaccurate EWT due to saying what you expected to see not what you actually saw
-Faulty schema may have negative impact on mental health

Question 7

Cognitive approach
2+,2-

Answer 7

+Practical applications eg. used in psychopathology to explain how much dysfunctional behaviour is down to faulty thinking processes
+Uses scientific, objective measures, in labs which produce reliable objective data
-Inferences have to be made from the behaviour to the mental processes that may have occurred, lacks mundane realism
-Big difference between computer and human mind, computers don’t make mistakes, or ignore info or forget therefore reduces validity of comparison

Question 8

Biological approach
2+,2-

Answer 8

+Scientific method of investigation, replicated tested for reliability, associated with medical profession
+Practical applications eg. increased understanding of biochemical processes in the brain has led to development of psychoactive drugs eg. SSRIs used to treat depression
-Can’t establish cause and effect, never be sure brain activity influences the behaviour or is a consequence of behaviour
-Determinism, sees human behaviour as governed by internal biological causes that we have no control over, has implications for society and the law, criminals not responsible for their behaviour

Question 9

Humanistic approach
2+,2-

Answer 9

+not reductionist as uses qualitative methods eg. unstructured interviews which can gain better insight into human behaviour. Provides a more holistic view in contrast to the reductionist position of science
+practical applications eg. helps understand the causes of depression and therefore know how to treat it. Depression/ low self esteem results from a lack of unconditional positive regard and an inability to accept one’s self - use person centred therapy
-little real world application other than Roger’s therapy and Maslow’s hierarchy used to explain motivation in the workplace. This is due to lack of evidence as is often seen as a loose set of abstract concepts not a comprehensive theory
-untestable concepts due to their non-scientific approach as they believe in free will not determinism like science. Also the areas they investigate like consciousness and emotion are difficult to study so there’s a lack of empirical evidence for key theories of the approach

Question 10

Psychodynamic approach
2+,2-

Answer 10

+ explanatory power, Freuds theory has had a huge influence on psychology. Used to explain personality development, abnormal behaviour, moral development, gender. Drew attention to influence of childhood experiences on later adult life
+ Practical applications, developed therapy, uses techniques like dream analysis, word associations and hypnosis to try and bring the unconscious to the conscious. Successfully treated mild neuroses
- untestable concepts, approach is very subjective and doesn’t make predictions on behaviour instead looks retrospectively. Scientific approach should make predictions. Many concepts occur at unconscious level making them difficult to test
- deterministic as suggests no behaviour is an accident, even a slip of the tongue eg. meant to say ‘glad you’re here’ but instead say ‘mad you’re here’, unconsciously thinking you don’t want them here