Comparison of approaches

Question 1

What are the different approaches’ views on development?

Answer 1

• the psychodynamic approach presents the most logical theory in terms of child development by tying concepts to specific stages determined by age
• stage theories within the cognitive approach have contributed to our understanding of child development - e.g. intellectual development is explained as children form increasingly complex schemas as they get older
• the biological approach explains maturation where genetically determined changes influence psychological & behavioural characteristics
• humanistic psychologists see the development of self as ongoing where a child’s relationship to their parents is a key factor or psychological health
• behaviourist approach & SLT don’t offer stage theories of development but see the process that underpin learning as continuous throughout life

Question 2

What is the comparison of approaches in terms of nature vs nurture?

Answer 2

• the biological approach & 2 learning approaches are the furthest apart in the debate
• behaviourists characterise babies as ‘blank slates’ suggesting that all behaviour is learnt through associations, reinforcement, observation & imitation
• the biological approach argues that behaviour is a result of a genetic blueprint that we inherit from our parents
• Freud thought that most of our behaviour was driven by biological drives but he also saw relationships with parents as an important role in development
• the humanistic approach regards parents & wider society as having a critical impact on a person’s self
• cognitive psychologists recognise that much of our info processing abilities & schema are innate but also points out that these are constantly refined through experience

Question 3

What is the comparison of approaches in terms of reductionism?

Answer 3

• reductionism is the belief that humans can be most effectively explained by breaking it down into constituent parts
• behaviourism is reductionists as it breaks up complex behaviour into stimulus-response units for easy testing in labs
• the biological approach is also reductionist in the way that it explains human behaviour & psychological states at the level of the gene or neuron
• the psychodynamic approach reduces our behaviour to the influence of sexual drives & biological instincts however Freud argues there are 3 parts of personality which is often viewed as a holistic explanation
• the cognitive approach has been accused of machine reductionism by presenting people as info processing systems & ignoring the influence of emotions on behaviour
• social learning theorists also reduce complex learning into key processes like imitation & modelling
• humanistic psychology formulates a holistic approach to understanding human behaviour as it involves investigating all aspects of the individual

Question 4

What is the comparison of approaches in terms of determinism?

Answer 4

• determinism proposes that all behaviour has an internal or external cause so is therefore predictable
• the behaviourist approach sees all behaviour as environmentally determined by influences we can’t control
• the biological approach advocates genetic determinism in its assumption as it suggests that most of our behaviour is directed by innate influences
• psychic determinism is a key feature of the psychodynamic approach as we can’t know the unconscious forces that drive our behaviour
• the cognitive approach suggests that we choose our own thoughts & behaviours but these choices can only operate within limits of what we know & have experienced
• social learning theorists advocate for reciprocal determinism which is the idea that we are influenced by our environment but also exert influence upon it through the behaviours we choose to perform
• humanistic psychology believes that humans have free will & operate as active agents who determine their own development

Question 5

What are the approaches’ explanations & treatments of abnormal behaviour?

Answer 5

• the behaviourist approach sees abnormality as arising from faulty learning where inappropriate behaviours have been reinforced - behaviour therapies like SD successfully treat some phobias
• SLT has little application to treatment but ideas of modelling have been used to explain how negative behaviours like aggression are learned through the influence of dysfunctional role models
• Freud saw anxiety disorders as emerging from childhood trauma & overuse of defence mechanisms - psychoanalysis has some success but isn’t appropriate for everyone as it requires a lot of the patient’s input which depends on their time & ability to talk about their emotions
• cognitive therapies like CBT which combines with behaviour therapy is much more effective as it aims to identify & get rid of faulty thinking which is assumed to the the root cause of abnormal behaviour
• humanistic therapy (counselling) which is based of Rogers’ idea of closing the gap between self & ideal concept is also effective in stimulating personal growth
• the biological approach has been though to have revolutionised treatment of mental disorders through drug therapies which regulates chemical imbalances in the brain