Approaches + Key Words

Question 1

Biological approach

Answer 1

Believes behaviour to be a consequence of our genetics and physiology.

Question 2

Psychodynamic approach

Answer 2

Focuses on the internal, unconscious mental forces that individuals are largely unaware of, but drive emotions and actions

Question 3

Behaviourist approach

Answer 3

Focuses on the idea that all behaviours are learned through interaction with the environment.

Question 4

Cognitive approach

Answer 4

Studies information processing and ways in which information is extracted, stored, and retrieved and how this guides behaviour.

Question 5

Humanistic approach

Answer 5

Is a holistic approach that focuses on the whole person

Question 6

Introspection

Answer 6

The examination or observation of one’s own mental and emotional processes, by breaking the human conscience into three categories: thoughts, images and sensations.

Question 7

Determinism

Answer 7

The belief that all events and behaviours have causes (therefore, people can not, in fact, choose what to do)

Question 8

Mental processes

Answer 8

All things that the human mind can do naturally.

Question 9

Empiricism

Answer 9

The belief that all knowledge comes from only experience and observations

Question 10

Objective

Answer 10

Something that is objective is not affected by the personal feelings and experiences of the researcher

Question 11

Subjective

Answer 11

Something that is subjective is affected by the personal beliefs or feelings of the researcher

Question 12

Systematically

Answer 12

According to a fixed plan or system; methodically

Question 13

Perception

Answer 13

The process of extracting meaning from what we see, hear, touch, etc. (sensory information)

Question 14

Demand characteristics

Answer 14

When participants try to make sense of the research and change their behaviour to act accordingly to support the aim of the research.

Question 15

Attention (Bandura’s 4 mediational processes)

Answer 15

The extent to which we notice certain behaviours

Question 16

Retention (Bandura’s 4 mediational processes)

Answer 16

How well behaviour is remembered

Question 17

Motor reproduction (Bandura’s 4 mediational processes)

Answer 17

The ability of the observer to perform the behaviour

Question 18

Motivation (Bandura’s 4 mediational processes)

Answer 18

The will to perform the behaviour, which is often determined by whether the behaviour was rewarded or punished.

Question 19

Identification

Answer 19

When a individual associates themselves closely with another individual (role model) who has similar or desirable characteristics

Question 20

Social Learning Theory

Answer 20

Suggests that behaviour is learned through observation and imitation of others. Directly (classical and operant conditioning) and indirectly

Question 21

Vicarious reinforcement

Answer 21

People’s behaviour is reinforced by observing others being punished or rewarded (indirect)

Question 22

Positive reinforcement

Answer 22

Receiving an award for a particular behaviour (direct, increases certain behaviour)

Question 23

Negative reinforcement

Answer 23

When someone avoids a certain behaviour to avoid something unpleasant (direct, increases certain behaviour)

Question 24

Classical conditioning

Answer 24

Learning through association (direct reinforcement)

Pavlov, 1927

Question 25

Unconditioned stimulus

Answer 25

A stimulus that leads to an automatic response

Question 26

Unconditioned response

Answer 26

An automatic response to a stimulus

Question 27

Neutral stimulus

Answer 27

A stimulus that, at first, elicits no response

Question 28

Conditioned stimulus

Answer 28

A neutral stimulus turned into a conditioned stimulus, which elicits a new learned (conditioned response).

Question 29

Conditioned response

Answer 29

A new learned response to a neutral stimulus that is now a conditioned stimulus

Question 30

Operant conditioning

Answer 30

Behaviour is shaped by its consequence (direct reinforcement)

Skinner, 1953

Question 31

Mediational processes

Answer 31

Are mental / cognitive factors taht intervene 8jnthe learning process to determine whether a new behaviour is acquired
Different to behaviourism : learning and performance don’t need to occur together