C4 - Comparison of approaches

Question 1

Views on development

Answer 1

Behaviourist/SLT - Processes that underpin learning are continuous, occuring at any age

Cognitive - Increasingly complex schema as child gets older

Biological - Genetically determined maturational changes influence behaviour

Psychodynamic - Age-related stages, no change after genital stage

Humanistic - Development ongoing throughout life, childhood important period (e.g. recieve unconditional positive regard)

Question 2

Nature vs nurture

Answer 2

Behaviourist - Babies ‘blank slates’ at birth, behaviour comes through learned associations & reinforcements

SLT - Like behaviourist, additional processes of observation & imitation

Cognitive - Information-processing abilities & schema are innate, but constantly refined by experience

Biological - Behaviour stems from genetic blueprint inherited from parents, expression influenced by environment

Psychodynamic - Behaviour driven by biological drives & instincts, also child’s relationship with parents is crucial

Humanistic - Parents, friends & society have impact on person’s self-concept

Question 3

Reductionism

Answer 3

Behavourist - Reduces complex learning into stimulus-response units for ease of testing in lab environment

SLT - Cognitive factors interact with external environment

Cognitive - Computer analogy ignoring role of human emotion (machine reductionism)

Biological - Reduces & explains human behaviour at the level of the gene/neuron

Psychodynamic - Reduces behaviour to influence of biological drives

Humanistic - Anti-reductionist, holistic investigation of all aspects of individual

Question 4

Determinism

Answer 4

Behaviourist - Behaviour environmentally determined by external forces we can’t control (hard determinism)

SLT - We are influenced by environment & exert some influence upon it (reciprocal determinism)

Cognitive - Choosers of our own behaviour, but only within limits of what we know (soft determinism)

Biological - Behaviour directed by innate influences (genetic determinism)

Pyschodynamic - Unconscious forces drive our behaviour (pyschic determinism) & they’re rationalised by our conscious minds

Humanistic - Humans have free will & are active agents who determine own development

Question 5

Explanation & treatment of abnormal behaviour

Answer 5

Behaviourist - Abnormality arises from faulty learning, therapies condition new & more healthy behaviours

SLT - Modelling explain aggressive behaviour

Cognitive - CBT to treat depression, eradicate faulty thinking

Biological - Psychoactive drugs regulate chemical imbalances in brain, revolutionised treatment of mental disorders

Psychodynamic - Anxiety disorders emerge from unconscious conflicts & overse of defense mechanisms, psychoanalysis puts people in touch with unconscious thoughts

Humanistic - Humanistic therapy/counselling, reducing incongruence stimulates personal growth