Comparison of approaches

Question 1

Scientific methodology (scientific or unscientific)

Answer 1

Behaviourism - highly scientific due to controlled lab experiments and they do not use inferences, viewing internal mental processes as a black box
-Social learning theory - experimental methods with large samples however use of inferences reduce the scientific credibility of the theory
COGNITIVE- also uses controlled experiments however uses inferences
Biological- study directly observable behaviours i.e through fMRI scans, highly scientific
Psychodynamics- developed his theories using ideographic methods, therefore potential for bias, cannot be tested scientifically
-Humanism - reliance of non- experimental qualitative data means it is not scientific as it has a lack of empirical evidence

Question 2

Determinism

Answer 2

-Behaviourism - hard environmental - no room for free will
-Social learning theory- environmentally deterministic but Bandura argued for reciprocal determinism
-Cognitive approach- soft determinists- schemas are formed by the environment but with conscious effort negative schemas can be changed
-Biological approach- biologically deterministic - behaviour is solely due to biological processes
-Psychodynamic approach- psychic determinism, unconscious thoughts drive behaviours
-Humanistic approach- argues for free will - humans have agency etc

Question 3

Nature nurture

Answer 3

-Behaviourism - nurture but some role for nature including innate reflex actions in dogs
-Social learning theory- nurture
-Cognitive approach - closer to nurture as experiences shape shemas
-Biological approach- nature
-Psychodynamic approach both nature and nurture
-Humanistic approach - nature and nurture, including genes but also environmental influences

Question 4

Reductionism

Answer 4

-Behaviorism- highly reductionist- behaviour is due to stimulus response links
Social learning theory- less reductionist as include the role of internal mental processes
Cognitive approach- computer models argued to be machine reductionist
-Biological approach-highly reductionist, ignores the role of cognitive and environmental forces
-Psychodynamic approach not reductionist as it goes over biological changes in childhood, psychosexual stages, and how the unconscious mind influences the conscious mind
-Humanistic approach - not reductionist; argues that only valid explanation is holistic

Question 5

Psychological treatments

Answer 5

-Behaviourist approach - counter conditioning treatments such as flooding and systematic desensitisation
-Social learning theory uses modelling; role models demonstrate desired behaviour
-Cognitive therapy- CBT
-Biological approach - SSRIs
-Psychodynamic approach - psychoanalytic therapies
-Humanism- client centered therapy