comparison of approaches

Question 1

behaviourist and slt
SIMILARITIES

Answer 1

both explain how behaviour is influenced and caused by reinforcement, the behaviourist approach focuses on cc and oc to repeat a desirable behaviour, and slt focuses on vicarious reinforcement

they both recognise the impact of the environment (nurture) on behaviour

Question 2

behaviourist and slt
DIFFERENCES

Answer 2

behaviourist approach rejects thinking patterns for learning, it assumes that humans respond to conditioning via a stimulus-response loop. slt however recognises that humans have a thought process in learning and behaviour

Question 3

behaviourist and cognitive
SIMILARITIES

Answer 3

behaviourist uses and emphasises the importance of scientific methods like lab experiments and animal research. cognitive approach studies internal mental processes scientifically and uses scientific methods of investigation

Question 4

behaviourist and cognitive
DIFFERENCES

Answer 4

behaviourist only studies external directly observable behaviour. cognitive however studies internal mental processes via inference

Question 5

behaviourist and biological
SIMILARITIES

Answer 5

behaviourist is environmentally reductionist, it breaks down behaviour into stimulus-response associations. bio is biologically reductionist, it breaks down behaviour into biological structures/processes

both utilise scientific methods of investigation

both are nomothetic, creating universal laws

Question 6

behaviourist and biological
DIFFERENCES

Answer 6

behaviourist states we are born a blank slate (tabula rasa) and that behaviour is the result of learning, it takes the nurture approach. whereas biological states behaviour is the result of innate biological factors that we are born with, it takes the nature approach

Question 7

behaviourist and psychodynamic
SIMILARITIES

Answer 7

behaviourist is environmentally deterministic, it states behaviour is learnt via conditioning and stimulus-response loops we can’t control (no free will). psychodynamic is psychically deterministic, it states behaviour is due to unconscious drives and early childhood experiences we can’t control (no free will)

Question 8

behaviourist and psychodynamic
DIFFERENCES

Answer 8

behaviourist relies on scientific methods like lab experiments and animal research. whereas psychodynamic refers to concepts and theories that cannot be scientifically and objectively tested/measured, instead relying on subjective interpretation

Question 9

behaviourist and humanistic
SIMILARITIES

Answer 9

behaviourist claims all humans are born a blank slate (tabula rasa) and that behaviour is learnt via the environment and conditioning, it takes the nature approach. humanistic states behaviour is influenced by the environment as humans aim to achieve self-actualisation

Question 10

behaviourist and humanistic
DIFFERENCES

Answer 10

behaviourist is environmentally reductionist, it breaks down behaviour into stimulus-response associations. whereas humanistic is holistic and focuses on all aspects of human behaviour/interaction

Question 11

slt and cognitive
SIMILARITIES

Answer 11

they both take a soft deterministic approach. slt states behaviour is controlled by external forces (e.g. modelling), but accepts that humans have free choice and personal responsibility. cognitive states behaviour is controlled by mediational processes, but humans can make conscious decisions within their cognitive systems

Question 12

slt and cognitive
DIFFERENCES

Answer 12

slt states behaviour is learnt via observation, imitation and vicarious reinforcement (nurture). whereas cognitive uses some concepts that are influenced by the environment, it also recognises the biological nature of information processing (nature and nurture)

Question 13

slt and biological
SIMILARITIES

Answer 13

both take a nomothetic approach. slt establishes general laws of behaviour based on the idea that all humans have similar/shared processes for learning. biological also establishes universal laws based on the idea that all humans share a common physiology and biochemistry

Question 14

slt and biological
DIFFERENCES

Answer 14

slt claims that behaviour is the result of observation, imitation and reinforcement (nurture). whereas biological claims behaviour is due to internal biological mechanisms like hormones and neurotransmitters that we are born with (nature)

Question 15

slt and psychodynamic
SIMILARITIES

Answer 15

slt takes a soft determism stance, stating behaviour is controlled by external forces (e.g. modelling), but accepts that humans have free choice and personal responsibility. psychodynamic is psychically deterministic, stating behaviour is determined by unconscious drives and early childhood experiences

Question 16

slt and psychodynamic
DIFFERENCES

Answer 16

slt relies on scientific methods to examine observable behaviour. whereas psychodynamic examines concepts and theories that cannot be scientifically tested, instead relying on subjective interpretation

Question 17

slt and humanistic
SIMILARITIES

Answer 17

slt claims behaviour is learnt from observation, imitation and reinforcement (nurture). humanistic states behaviour is shaped by the environment as humans aim to achieve self actualisation (mainly nurture)

Question 18

slt and humanistic
DIFFERENCES

Answer 18

slt takes a soft determinism approach, stating behaviour is controlled by external forces (e.g. modelling), but accepts that humans have free choice and personal responsibility. whereas humanistic claims humans have complete free will and have the power to control their own environment and are capable of change

Question 19

cognitive and biological
SIMILARITIES

Answer 19

cognitive takes an experimentally reductionist approach, focusing on cognitions and ignoring factors like emotions and motivation. biological takes a biologically reductionist approach, breaking down behaviour into biological structures and ignoring social and psychological factors

Question 20

cognitive and biological
DIFFERENCES

Answer 20

cognitive recognises that concepts such as schemas are influenced by environmental experiences (nurture). whereas biological claims behaviour is the result of innate biological structures (nature)

Question 21

cognitive and psychodynamic
SIMILARITIES

Answer 21

both have real world applications. cognitive research and its focus on understanding internal mental processes has helped to develop cbt which is used to treat mental illnesses like depression. psychodynamic led to the development of psychoanalysis to explore the unconscious mind

Question 22

cognitive and psychodynamic
DIFFERENCES

Answer 22

cognitive utilises scientific methods of research such as lab experiments and scanning techniques. whereas psychodynamic examines concepts and theories that cannot be scientifically tested and instead relies on subjective interpretation

cognitive focuses on info processing, neglecting emotional factors. whereas psychodynamic focuses on the unconscious mind and the impact of traumatic and emotional experiences

Question 23

cognitive and humanistic
SIMILARITIES

Answer 23

both have real-world applications. cognitive research and its focus on understanding internal mental processes has helped to develop cbt which is used to treat mental illnesses like depression. humanistic’s focus on self-actualisation led to client-centered therapy

Question 24

cognitive and humanistic
DIFFERENCES

Answer 24

cognitive utilises scientific methods of research such as lab experiments and scanning techniques. whereas humanistic rejects scientific methods as a way of studying behaviour

Question 25

biological and psychodynamic
SIMILARITIES

Answer 25

both have real-world applications. biological helped to develop drug therapies for illnesses like depression, ocd and schizophrenia through research into neurotransmitters. psychoanalysis led to the development of psychoanalysis which is used to access and treat traumatic memories repressed in the unconscious mind

Question 26

biological and psychodynamic
DIFFERENCES

Answer 26

biological relies on and promotes the use of scientific methods of measuring internal mechanisms, such as scanning techniques. whereas psychodynamic examines concepts and theories that cannot be scientifically tested and instead relies on subjective interpretation

Question 27

biological and humanistic
SIMILARITIES

Answer 27

both have real-world applications. biological helped to develop drug therapies for illnesses like depression, ocd and schizophrenia through research into neurotransmitters. humanistic’s focus on self-actualisation led to client-centered therapy

Question 28

biological and humanistic
DIFFERENCES

Answer 28

biological takes a biologically reductionist approach, breaking down human behaviour into biological structures and processes. whereas humanistic takes a holistic approach, focusing on all aspects of human behaviour.

Question 29

psychodynamic and humanistic
SIMILARITIES

Answer 29

psychodynamic examines concepts and theories that cannot be scientifically tested and instead relies on subjective interpretation. humanistic rejects scientific methods as a way of studying behaviour

Question 30

psychodynamic and humanistic
DIFFERENCES

Answer 30

psychodynamic is psychically deterministic, claiming behaviour is determined by early childhood experiences and unconscious drives. whereas humanistic claims all humans have free will and complete control over their choices and behaviour