Comparison Of Approaches

Question 1

Biological Approach

Nature a nurture

Answer 1

Behaviour is a result of genes which we inherit from our parents

Question 2

Biological Approach

Reductionism vs holding

Answer 2

Reductionist as it explains all behaviour at the level of the gene or neuron

Question 3

Biological Approach

Free will vs determinism

Answer 3

Determinist as it says we have no free will over how we behave, all behaviour is determined by our genes and hormones

Question 4

Biological Approach

Views on development

Answer 4

Maturation is an important part of the biological approach, genetically determined changes in a child’s physiological status influence psychological and behavioural characteristics

Question 5

Biological Approach

Explanation and treatment of abnormal behaviour

Answer 5

Uses drugs as a method of treatment. Many would claim it has revolutionised the treatment of mental disorders through the development of drug therapy which regulates chemical imbalances in the brain

Question 6

Psychodynamic approach

Nature vs nurture

Answer 6

Fried thought that much of our behaviour was driven by biological factors and instincts, however he also saw the importance of relationships with our parents on future development

Question 7

Psychodynamic approach

Reductionism vs holism

Answer 7

Reductionism as it reduces much of our behaviour to the influence of sexual drives and biological instincts

Question 8

Psychodynamic approach

Free will vs determinism

Answer 8

Psychic determinism is a key feature of the approach. It states that we can’t know the unconscious thoughts and forces which drive our behaviour, and these are simply rationalised by our unconscious mind.

Question 9

Psychodynamic approach

Views on development

Answer 9

The approaches concepts and processes are applied to specific psychodynamic stages that are determined by age. However Freud saw very little further development after the genital stage in the teen years

Question 10

Psychodynamic approach

Explanation and treatment of abnormal behaviour

Answer 10

According to Freud anxiety disorder arise from unconscious conflict, childhood traumas, and overuse of defence mechanisms. A therapy called psychoanalysis was developed which attempts to access unconscious thoughts that may be causing the problem, however this won’t be suitable for everyone. This is because it requires patient to be able to talk about and reflect on emotions.

Question 11

Humanistic approach

Nature vs nurture

Answer 11

Regards parents, friends and wider social wry as having a critical impact on the person’s self concept

Question 12

Humanistic approach

Reductionism vs holism

Answer 12

Views human behaviour in a holistic way. It investigates all aspects of the individual, including the effect of interaction with others and wider society

Question 13

Humanistic approach

Free will vs determinism

Answer 13

The only approach which states humans have free will and operate as active agents who determine their own development.

Question 14

Humanistic approach

Views on development

Answer 14

The development of the self is ongoing throughout life. A child’s relationship with their parent is seen as a key determinant in psychological health

Question 15

Humanistic approach

Explanation and treatment of abnormal behaviour

Answer 15

Humanistic therapy (counselling) is based on Rogers’ philosophy and states that closing the gap between the self concept and ideal self will stimulate personal growth to occur.

Question 16

Cognitive approach

Nature vs nurture

Answer 16

Cognitive psychologists recognise that many of our information processing abilities and schemes are innate, however these abilities are constantly refined through experience which would suggest nurture also plays a part.

Question 17

Cognitive approach

Reductionism vs holism

Answer 17

The approach has been accused of machine reductionism as it says people are simply information processing machines. It also ignores the impact of emotion on behaviour.

Question 18

Cognitive approach

Free will vs determinism

Answer 18

This approach demonstrates soft determinism. It suggests we can choose our own thoughts and behaviours, but these choices can only operate within the limits of what we know and have experienced.

Question 19

Cognitive approach

Views on development

Answer 19

The stages of the cognitive approach have contributed to our understanding of child development. For example, as part of their intellectual development, children form increasingly complex concepts (schema) as they get older

Question 20

Cognitive approach

Explanation and treatment of abnormal behaviour

Answer 20

Cognitive therapy is much more effective and applicable than some other therapies, especially when combined with behaviour therapy such as CBT. It aims to identify and eradicate faulty thinking which is assumed to be the main cause of maladaptive behaviour.

Question 21

Behaviourist approach/SLT

Nature vs nurture

Answer 21

We are born a blank state so there is no genetic influence on behaviour.
Behaviourist: all behaviour comes from learned associations or reinforcement
SLT: all behaviours are learned through observation and imitation of the behaviour of others within a social context.

Question 22

Behaviourist approach/SLT

Reductionism vs holism

Answer 22

Reductionist as it breaks up complex behaviour into stimulus-response units for ease of testing in the lab.

Question 23

Behaviourist approach/SLT

Free will vs determinism

Answer 23

Determinist because it sees all behaviour as being determined by a person’s environment by external influences which we are unable to control.

Question 24

Behaviourist approach/SLT

Views on development

Answer 24

This approach doesn’t offer coherent stage theories of development but instead sees the processes that underpin learning as conscious, occurring at any age

Question 25

Behaviourist approach/SLT

Explanation and treatment of abnormal behaviour

Answer 25

See abnormality as arising from maladaptive or faulty learning. Inappropriate or destructive patterns of behaviour will have been reinforced. Behaviour therapies such as systematic desensitisation take a symptom based approach and have been successfully applied to the treatment of phobias.