approaches to psychology Flashcards
(29 cards)
who founded the behaviourist approach?
John B. Watson
Key Assumptions of the Behaviourist Approach
Behavior is learned from the environment.
Focuses on observable behavior, not mental processes.
Behavior is the result of stimulus-response associations.
Use of animals in experiments to generalize to humans.
Two main types of learning: Classical Conditioning and Operant Conditioning.
Classical Conditioning (Key Idea)
Learning through association.
Discovered by Ivan Pavlov.
Example: Pavlov’s dogs – associating a bell (neutral stimulus) with food (unconditioned stimulus) to produce salivation (conditioned response).
Classical Conditioning (Key Terms)
Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS): Triggers a natural response (e.g., food).
Unconditioned Response (UCR): Natural response to UCS (e.g., salivation).
Neutral Stimulus (NS): Initially has no effect (e.g., bell).
Conditioned Stimulus (CS): Previously NS, now triggers a response (e.g., bell after conditioning).
Conditioned Response (CR): Learned response to CS (e.g., salivation).
Operant Conditioning (Key Idea)
Learning through consequences.
Discovered by B.F. Skinner.
Three types of consequences:
Positive Reinforcement: Adding something pleasant to increase behavior.
Negative Reinforcement: Removing something unpleasant to increase behavior.
Punishment: Adding something unpleasant or removing something pleasant to decrease behavior.
Skinner’s Box Experiment
Rats placed in a box with a lever.
Pressing the lever delivered food (positive reinforcement).
Pressing the lever stopped an electric shock (negative reinforcement).
Demonstrated the role of reinforcement in learning.
Strengths of the Behaviourist Approach
Highly scientific: Emphasizes observable and measurable behavior.
Real-life applications: Used in therapy (e.g., systematic desensitization) and education.
Replicable experiments increase reliability.
Weaknesses of the Behaviourist Approach
Ignores internal mental processes (reductionist).
Ethical concerns in experiments (e.g., with animals).
Limited ecological validity of lab experiments.
Overemphasis on nurture, neglects biological influences.
Applications of the Behaviourist Approach
Therapy: Systematic Desensitization for phobias.
Education: Use of reinforcement to encourage learning.
Parenting: Reward and punishment systems.
Behaviourist researchers use animal research. What argument do they use to justify the use of animal research to understand human behaviour?
Behaviourists use animal research because they believe animals and humans use the same learning mechanisms.
important mental processes are…
attention, perception, and memory
What are the core assumptions of the humanistic approach to psychology? A01
Individual focus, unique experience.
Free will, choice.
Holistic view of the person.
Drive to self-actualisation (growth).
Subjective experience is key.
Maslow’s Hierarchy?A01
5 needs levels (bottom-up): Physiological, Safety, Love, Esteem, Self-actualisation.
Lower needs must be met first.
Self-actualisation = fulfilling potential.
What are the key features of Rogers’ person-centred therapy?A01
Non-directive, client-led.
Therapist needs: Congruence (genuine), Empathy, Unconditional Positive Regard (UPR).
Goal: Increase self-worth, reduce incongruence, enable growth.
How are the concepts of self, congruence, and incongruence understood within the humanistic approach?A01
Self: Our identity/perception.
Ideal Self: Who we want to be.
Congruence: Self = Ideal Self (high well-being).
Incongruence: Self ≠ Ideal Self (anxiety).
What are some of the strengths of the humanistic approach to psychology?A03
Holistic (whole person).
Positive (growth-focused).
Therapy influence (person-centred).
Values subjective experience
What are some of the limitations of the humanistic approach to psychology?A03
Unscientific (abstract concepts).
Subjective (hard to generalise).
Cultural bias (individualistic).
Overly optimistic (ignores negativity).
How does the humanistic approach compare to the psychodynamic and behaviourist approaches in psychology?A03
Psychodynamic: Unconscious vs. conscious, past vs. present/future.
Behaviourist: Observable behaviour vs. internal experience, determinism vs. free will.
“Third force” alternative: choice & growth.
What are ‘conditions of worth’ according to the humanistic approach?
The standards and expectations that other people (e.g., parents, partners) place upon us for them to show their love, acceptance, or positive regard.
These conditions dictate when we feel worthy of affection and approval.
Can lead individuals to deny or distort aspects of their true selves in order to meet these external expectations.
What is congruence in the context of humanistic psychology?
A state of genuine agreement or alignment between a person’s self-concept (how they see themselves) and their ideal self (who they want to be).
Also refers to the alignment between a person’s inner feelings and their outward expression of those feelings.
High congruence is associated with greater psychological well-being and self-acceptance.
What is the impact of experiencing ‘conditions of worth’ on an individual’s development?
Can hinder self-actualisation by forcing individuals to live inauthentically and prioritize others’ expectations over their own needs and feelings.
Can lead to incongruence between the self-concept and ideal self as individuals strive to be who they think others want them to be.
May result in the development of a false self, masking the individual’s true potential and hindering personal growth.
What are some strengths and limitations of the concepts of congruence and conditions of worth?
Strengths: Offer valuable insights into the development of psychological well-being and the impact of social interactions on the self. The emphasis on unconditional positive regard has significantly influenced therapeutic practices.
Limitations: Concepts like congruence are difficult to objectively measure and operationalise for empirical research. The influence of conditions of worth can be complex and may vary across individuals and cultures. The approach may underestimate the impact of biological factors on self-concept.
Psychodynamic Approach: Key Ideas?
Behaviour driven by unconscious psychological forces (drives, conflicts).
Early childhood experiences shape adult personality.
Mind has tripartite structure: Id (pleasure), Ego (reality), Superego (morality).
Defence mechanisms protect ego from anxiety.
Psychic determinism: all behaviour has a cause (often unconscious).
Describe the Id, Ego, and Superego.
Id: Primitive, instinctual; operates on pleasure principle (immediate gratification).
Ego: Develops in infancy; operates on reality principle (mediates between Id and external world). Uses defence mechanisms.
Superego: Develops in phallic stage (internalised parental/societal morals); operates on morality principle (guilt if rules broken).
