Approaches to Psychology AO3

Question 1

Name 3 limitations of introspection.

Answer 1

• Relies on non-observable responses
• Data is subjective
• Difficult to replicate experiments

Question 2

Name 2 strengths of introspection.

Answer 2

• Influenced talking-based therapy
• First method of investigating cognition

Question 3

Name 3 strengths of the behaviourist approach.

Answer 3

• Results are objective
• Real-life application: lead to treatments for phobias
• The experiments are replicable

Question 4

Name 2 weaknesses of the behaviourist approach.

Answer 4

• Overly reductionist: neglects cognition
• Research was unethical: e.g. Little Albert

Question 5

Name 2 strengths of social learning theory.

Answer 5

• Mediational processes account for cognitive side of learning
• Human research doesn’t assume that we share the same learning mechanisms as animals

Question 6

Name 2 weaknesses of social learning theory.

Answer 6

• Not all behaviour is imitated: if there’s no model how can behaviours be imitated?
• Doesn’t account for biological factors in learning

Question 7

Name 2 strengths to the cognitive approach.

Answer 7

• Uses a scientific method through theoretical models
• Real-life application: lead to CBT

Question 8

Name 2 weaknesses of the cognitive approach.

Answer 8

• Machine reductionism: this approach assumes that our brain works like a computer
• Mental processes cannot be directly observed