Approaches-Paper 2 Flashcards
(56 cards)
Summarise Wundts achievements.
-Father of experimental psychology.
-Wrote the first text book on psychology (Principles of Physiological Psychology).
-Came up with introspection.
-First psychologist.
-Studied at Leipzig University.
-Created the first laboratory.
What is introspection?
The first systematic experimental attempt to study the mind by breaking up conscious awareness into basic structures or thoughts, images and sensations.
Summarise Wundts method of studying introspection.
-Introduce a stimulus to the participants, e.g. sound or colour patches.
-Ask participants to record their thoughts, images and sensations.
-Participants=Wundt and PHD students.
What are empirical methods!
Scientific research method that uses observation and experiments to find concrete evidence.
How was Wundt criticised?
Watson-subjective-opinion based.
-Believed that introspection was not an empirical method.
-Argued that behaviourism was a more appropriate approach.
What is behaviour?
It is the way we act around people in certain situations.
Explain Pavlovs dog experiment using the key terms.
(Classical Conditioning)
Pavlov wanted to show that dogs could salivate at the sound of a bell. First he gave the dogs some food which is the unconditioned stimulus and the dogs salivated which is the unconditioned response as it was natural for the dogs to do this. He then started to ring a bell before their food was given which was a neutral stimulus. Overtime the bell had become the conditioned stimulus as they were trained to react and the dogs salivating was the conditioned response. The dogs began to associate the bell to food and would salivate at the sound of the bell even if food was not given.
Operant Conditioning
Skinner argued that learning is an active process. When humans and animals act on and, in their environment, consequences follow these behaviours. If the consequences are pleasant, they repeat the behaviour but if the consequences are unpleasant, they do not repeat the behaviour.
Skinner developed the Skinner box which comprises a chamber in which a small rat has been placed. In the chamber there is a lever for the rats to press. The lever is connected to a food dispenser. When the lever is pressed food is released and made available to the animal. The experimenter sets the number and timing of the lever presses necessary to release food from the dispenser. Lever presses are then recorded on a revolving roll of paper to produce a record of the animals behaviour. Food is positively reinforced as it encourages a positive behaviour. This suggests that positive reinforcement increases the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated.
In another experiment, a rat was placed in a cage in which they were subjected to an uncomfortable electrical current as he moved around the cage the rat hit the lever, this immediately switched off the electrical current (negative reinforcement). The rats quickly learnt to go straight to the lever after a few times of being put in the box. This suggests that negative reinforcement increases the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated.
What is positive reinforcement?
Receiving a reward.
E.g. receiving a sticker for completing work.
What is negative reinforcement?
Occurs when performing an action stops something unpleasant happening. For example, in one of skinners experiment a rat had to press a lever to stop receiving an electric shock.
E.g. putting your phone away to complete homework to avoid a detention.
What is a punishment?
An unpleasant consequence.
E.g. being grounded for not doing your psychology homework.
Evaluation for the behaviourist approach.
(Strengths)
-It is very scientific and usually uses controlled experimental methods.
-Allows psychologists to investigate the effect of the environment on behaviour.
-Many useful applications such as desensitisation (treating phobias)
Evaluation for the behaviourist approach.
(Limitations)
-Laboratory experiments which lack ecological validity.
-It is reductionist (too simple) as it ignores the influences of nature and cognition on behaviour.
-Many animal studies are used which open up the ethical debate/ cause problems when generalising to humans.
What is social learning theory?
A way of explaining behaviour that includes both direct and indirect reinforcement.
It combines learning theory with cognitive factors (mental processes)
How do children learn?
Through observation and experience.
Imitation of role models
Banduras Bobo Doll experiment.
Conducted a controlled experiment study to investigate if social behaviours (i.e. aggression) can be acquired by observation and imitation.
1) 24 children (12 boys and 12 girls) watched a male or female model behaving aggressively towards a toy called a Bobo Doll. The adults attacked the Bobo Doll in a distinctive manner- they used a hammer in some cases, and in others threw the doll in the air and shouted “POW,BOOM”. As a results the kids imitated and copied this behaviour, acting aggressively.
2) Another 24 children were exposed to a non-aggressive model who played in a quiet and subdued manner for 10 minutes (playing with a tinker toy set ignoring the Bobo Doll). As a result the children imitated and copied, playing nicely.
3) The final 24 children were used as a control group and not exposed to any model at all.
Bobo Doll experiment demonstrated that children could learn social behaviours such as aggression through the process of observation learning, through watching the behaviour of another person.
What is a role model?
Someone you look up to and may imitate some or all of their behaviour.
What is identification?
When an observer associates themselves with a role model and wants to be like them.
What is vicarious reinforcement?
Reinforcement which is not directly experienced but occurs through observing someone being reinforced for their behaviour.
E.g. reward or punishment
What is modelling?
Role model-demonstrate the behaviour
Observer-imitate the role model
What are mediational processes?
Bandura
Cognitive factors that influence learning and happen before a stimulus and response.
Learning of behaviour:
-Attention - the extent to which we notice behaviour
-Retention - how well the behaviour is remembered
Performance of behaviour:
-Reproduction - the ability of the observer to perform the behaviour
-Motivation - the will to perform the behaviour, determined by reward or punishment
What are the two features of the biological approach?
- Genotype / Phenotype
- Evolution
What are genotypes and phenotypes?
Genotype:
- The genetic code of an individual.
- All the information found inside individual cells (nucleus).
- Predispose individuals to disorders.
Phenotype:
- The visible expression of genotype. Also influenced by the environment.
- Influenced by nature and nurture.
- Genes + environment.
What is PKU (phenylketonuria)?
(biological approach)
- Rare genetic disorder = genotype.
- Causes severe learning difficulties.
- If detected early, you can be placed on a restricted diet to support normal development.
