1
Q
Psychodynamic V Humanism
A
- The Psychodynamic approach focuses on what is ‘wrong’ with people, whereas humanism focuses on growth and healthy self-development.
- The Psychodynamic approach is culturally biased. It is based on patients from one area. The humanistic approach is also culturally biased. Some value cultural actualisation, not self-actualisation.
- Psychodynamic approaches attempt to establish general laws of behaviour (nomothetic), yet Humanistic approaches do not, instead favouring idiographic attempts to understand the whole person
2
Q
Behaviourist V Social Learning Theory
A
- Behaviourism states that people learn behaviour through direct experience, whereas SLT claims we can learn indirectly, through vicarious learning.
- Behaviourism research is focused on animals (E.g. Skinners Rats) whereas SLT focuses on using humans in research (E.g. Bobo Doll study).
- Both approaches favour the role of nurture, claiming that all behaviour is learned through experience, rather than caused by nature.
3
Q
Humanism V Behaviourism
A
- Humanism focuses on the whole person, whilst behaviourism reduces behaviour down to stimulus-response processes.
- Both approaches consider our life experiences to be influential on our development.
- There is a wealth of research support for behaviourism (e.g. Little Albert) but less so for Humanism.
4
Q
Biological V Cognitive
A
- The biological approach relies on experimental research and scans to establish cause and effect however, the cognitive approach only draws inferences from research.
- Both approaches helped to establish the field of cognitive neuroscience, which has helped advance A.I. and the use of brain scans to understand human behaviour.
- Biological research uses both human and animal studies, however cognitive studies generally focus on humans.
5
Q
Biological V Psychodynamic
A
- The biological approach uses objective research methods, such as brain scans, whereas the psychodynamic approach uses subjective case studies.
- The biological approach has led to medical interventions for depression, such as SSRI medication. In contrast, the psychodynamic approach led to talking therapy and dream analysis.
- The biological approach is falsifiable. In contrast, psychodynamic ideas are conceptual and non-falsifiable.
6
Q
Biological V Social Learning Theory
A
- The biological approach is focused on the influence of nature predominantly, yet SLT is focused on the role of nurture.
- The biological approach is criticised for biological reductionism, and SLT is criticised for environmental reductionism.
- Both approaches are supported by a wealth of empirical evidence.
