Comparison of approaches

Question 1

Define holism

Answer 1

Considers the person as an indivisible system

Question 2

Define reductionism

Answer 2

Breaks down behaviour into its constituent parts

Question 3

Define determinism

Answer 3

Behaviour is determined by internal or external factors acting upon the individual

Question 4

Define hard determinism

Answer 4

View that all behaviour is caused by factors outside of our control and there is no room for free will

Question 5

Define soft determinism

Answer 5

View that all behaviour does have a cause, but not by internal/external events but by our own wishes/conscious desires

Question 6

Which approaches are hard deterministic

Answer 6

Biological, behaviourism and psychodynamic

Question 7

Which approaches are soft deterministic

Answer 7

Cognitive and SLT

Question 8

Define free will

Answer 8

Humans operate as active agents who determine their own development

Question 9

Which approach believes in free will and holism

Answer 9

Humanistic

Question 10

What is nature

Answer 10

Behaviour is a product of innate, biological factors

Question 11

What is nurture

Answer 11

Behaviour is a product of environmental influences

Question 12

Which approaches believe in nurture

Answer 12

Behaviourism and SLT

Question 13

Which approaches believe in nature

Answer 13

Biological

Question 14

Which approaches are a mixture of both nature and nurture

Answer 14

1. cognitive- schemas and information-processing abilities are innate but they are refined through experience
2. psychodynamic- behaviour driven by biological drives and instincts, but believed relationships with parents influenced future development
3. humanism- saw parents, friends and wider society as having an impact on self-concept, but also we have a drive to self-actualise

Question 15

Which four approaches make use of scientific methods

Answer 15

Behaviourist, biological, SLT and cognitive

Question 16

What is an eclectic approach

Answer 16

When researchers combine several approaches and theoretical perspectives in order to provide a more comprehensive account of human behaviour

Question 17

What are two advantages of using an eclectic approach

Answer 17

1. proved a fuller, more detailed understanding of human behaviour
2. isn’t restricted to one perspective- allows new ideas

Question 18

What are two disadvantages of an eclectic approach

Answer 18

1. explanation of behaviour may become ‘watered down’ when combining many perspectives
2. there are practical difficulties when providing eclectic therapy- it may be too complex for one clinician to manage