Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

A level Psychology > PAPER 2 - Approaches in Psychology > Flashcards

PAPER 2 - Approaches in Psychology Flashcards

(95 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

What is INTROSPECTION ?

A

the examination or observation of one’s own mental and emotional processes.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Who is Wundt ?

A
  • father of psychology

- aim was to examine the structure of the mind

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What was Wundt’s APPROACH ?

A

structuralism

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What was Wundt’s TECHNIQUE ?

A

introspection

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What were the 2 major assumptions that introspection were based on ?

A

(1) all behaviour is seen as being caused (determined)
(2) if behaviour is determined, this it should be possible to predict how human being would behave in different conditions.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are the 2 WEAKNESSES of Wundt’s introspection technique ?

A

UNRELIABLE - relied on ‘non-observational’ response - not reliable reproduced by other researchers

NOT ACCURATE - lacks validity - we have little knowledge of the processes behind out behaviour.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the 4 psychology goals ?

A

DESCRIPTION - tells us ‘what’ occurred

EXPLANATION - tells us ‘why’ it occurred

PREDICTION - identify conditions that will cause a behaviour to occur

CHANGE - apply psychological knowledge to prevent unwanted behaviour

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is a STRENGTH of the emergence of psychology as a science ?

A

reliance on OBJECTIVE SYSTEMATIC METHODS means that theories were tested rather than being accepted as true

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is a WEAKNESS of the emergence of psychology as a science ?

A

by concentrating on objectivity we may focus more on controlling the situation rather than looking at how people behave in normal situation (ECOLOGICAL VALIDITY)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are the 5 approaches that explain behaviours ?

A

THE LEARNING APPROACH: behaviourist and SLT

COGNITIVE APPROACH : point of view of our mind

PSYCHOANALYTIC APPROACH: point of view of our unconscious and early childhood experiences

BIOLOGICAL APPROACH: point of view of genetics

HUMANISTIC APPROACH: point of view of self-image

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the FIRST ASSUMPTION that behaviourists believe ?

A
  • psychology should be seen as a science
  • supported by evidence
  • objective and controlled observations
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is the SECOND ASSUMPTION that behaviourists believe ?

A
  • psychologists should study OBSERVABLE BEHAVIOURS
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is the THIRD ASSUMPTION that behaviourists believe ?

A
  • no FREE WILL

- ENVIRONMENT determines BEHAVIOUR

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the FOURTH ASSUMPTION that behaviourists believe ?

A
  • when we are BORN our mind is TABULA RASA (blank slate)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the FIFTH ASSUMPTION that behaviourists believe ?

A
  • little difference in the learning between ANIMALS and HUMANS
  • study animals generlaise to humans
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is CLASSICAL CONDITIONING ?

A
  • learning through association

- two stimuli (UCS) + (NS) - repeatedly paired

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What are the STRENGTHS of classical conditioning ?

A

EVIDENCE

  • Watson and Rayner
  • Little Albert

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

  • systematic desensitization
  • treat ANXIETY of phobias
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is a LIMITATION of classical conditioning ?

A

DIFFERENT SPECIES, DIFFERENT SURVIVAL NEEDS

  • Seligman
  • preparedness
  • associate if linked with survival
  • cc isn’t always implemented
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What does the COGNITIVE APPROACH argue ?

A

internal mental processes should be observed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What involvement do schema’s have on behaviour ?

A

contribute to how we perceive and have opinions on the world

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What are THEORETICAL MODELS ?

A
  • one way to study INTERNAL PROCESSES
  • information processing approach
  • information flows through cognitive system
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What are COMPUTER MODELS ?

A
  • comparing minds to computers
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE ?

A
  • how structures affect mental processes

- Paul Broca = frontal lobe affects speech

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Name 2 brain imaging techniques

A

fMRI and PET scans

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
What do brain imaging techniques do ?
identify activity in specific areas of the brain
26
What are the STRENGTHS of the cognitive approach ?
USES SCIENTIFIC & OBJECTIVE METHODS - reliable, objective methods - enables biological and cognitive approach to come together - credible basis USEFUL APPLICATIONS - explain dysfunctional behaviours - successful treatment
27
What is the WEAKNESSES of the cognitive approach ?
COUNTERARGUMENT - too abstract and theoretical - artificial stimuli = not represent everyday experiences COMPUTER MODELS - different programming between humans and computers
28
How are twin studies used to determine the likelihood that certain traits have a genetic basis ?
- comparing concordance rates | - concordance rate = extent that both twins share the same characteristics
29
What is GENOTYPE ?
GENETIC CODE - 'written' in the DNA
30
What is PHENOTYPE ?
BEHAVIOUR and PHYSICAL STRUCTURE - arising from INTERACTION between their GENOTYPE and ENVIRONMENT
31
What is EVOLUTION ?
change in INHERITED CHARACTERISTICS over SUCCESSIVE GENERATIONS
32
What is the mechanism behind biological evolution ?
natural selection
33
How does evolution affect behaviour ?
over successive generations - ADVANTAGEOUS BEHAVIOURS - passed on - widespread
34
What is 'SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST' ?
characteristics are inherited - compete for resources - those who survive reproduce - offspring have this good traits
35
How does NEUROCHEMISTRY affect behaviour ?
levels of neurotransmitters affect mood and mood and behaviour
36
Why do HORMONES do ?
cause PHYSIOLOGICAL REACTION - alerting its activity
37
Who studied the effects of hormones ?
CARRE ET AL - Canadian ice hockey team
38
What did CARRE ET AL find ?
- surge in levels of TESTOSTERONE - home stadium - energised players - defending home territory
39
What are the STRENGTHS to the biological approach ?
SCIENTIFIC METHOD - objective measurement - easily replicated - credibility REAL-LIFE APPLICATIONS - development of psychoactive drugs - treat mental illness - gain relief
40
What are the LIMITATIONS of the biological approach ?
CANNOT ESTABLISH CAUSE AND EFFECT - never be completely sure that brain activity influences behaviour DETERMINISM - sees human behaviour as governed by INTERNAL BIOLOGICAL cases - have no control over
41
What is humanistic psychology concerned with ?
explanations of healthy growth of individuals
42
Who led the research of humanistic psychology ?
Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow
43
What does humanistic psychology believe about FREE WILL ?
- we have free will - rejects scientific models - psychology should concern itself with SUBJECTIVE EXPERIENCE
44
What is Maslow's HIERARCHY OF NEEDS ?
- physiological needs at the bottom | - self-actualisation at the top = PEAK EXPERIENCE
45
What is CONGRUENCE ?
ROGERS - personal growth achieved through congruence - more overlap between SELF-IMAGE and IDEAL-SELF - issues in adulthood stem from childhood due to a lack of UNCONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARD
46
What is PERSON-CENTRED THERAPY ?
- each person is best expert of themselves - encourage to find OWN SOLUTIONS - talk as openly as possible - counsellor provides UNCONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARD
47
What are the STRENGTHS of the humanistic approach ?
NOT REDUCTIONIST - gain better insight into individual's behaviour - qualitative methods - holistic view - more valid = meaning human behaviour = real life context POSITIVE APPROACH - offers refreshing and optimistic alternative - sees people as free to work towards improving themselves
48
What are the LIMITATIONS of the humanistic approach ?
LIMITED APPLICATIONS - not many real-life application other than the therapy - abstract concepts UNSTABLE CONCEPT - adopts non-scientific approach - difficult to study - lack of empirical evidence to support theories
49
What does the PSYCHODYNAMIC APPROACH suggest ?
behaviour is the result of EARLY CHILDHOOD experiences and UNCONSCIOUS THOUGHTS and FEELINGS
50
Who was the founder of the psychodynamic approach ?
Sigmund Freud
51
What is the role of the unconscious ?
conscious mind = tip of the iceberg unconscious mind = larger part behaviour stems from the unconscious part - reveals itself through slips of the tongue
52
What did Freud believe about defence mechanisms ?
mind actively prevents traumatic memories - repression / denial / displacement
53
What are the 3 structures of personality ?
ID / EGO / SUPEREGO
54
What is the ID ?
PLEASURE PRINCIPLE - present from birth- immediate gratification
55
Give an example of the ID
if a person is hungry the id demands that they eat there and then
56
What is the EGO ?
REALITY PRINCIPLE - mediates between other two personalities
57
Give an example of the EGO
may delay gratifying the id until there is a more appropriate opportunity to satisfy its demands
58
What is the SUPEREGO ?
MORALITY PRINCIPLE - develops around age 4/5 - right or wrong - how we should behave
59
What is REPRESSION ?
MOTIVATED FORGETTING - threatening thoughts are pushed out
60
What is DISPLACEMENT ?
TRANSFERRING FEELINGS from a TRUE SOURCE onto a TARGET e.g. parent
61
What is DENIAL ?
REFUSING TO BELIEVE the situation is occurring
62
What are the 5 PSYCHOSEXUAL STAGES involved with PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT ?
``` oral stage anal stage phallic stage latency stage genital stage ``` (OAPs Love Gravy)
63
What is the ORAL STAGE (0-1) ?
pleasure in the mouth - sucking / biting
64
What are the consequences of unresolved conflict in the oral stage ?
ORAL FIXATION - smoking / biting nails
65
What is the ANAL STAGE (1-3)
pleasure in the anus - control of bodily waste
66
What are the consequences of unresolved conflict in the anal stage ?
ANALLY RETENTIVE - perfectionist | ANALLY EXPULSIVE - disorganised
67
What is the PHALLIC STAGE (3-6)
Oedipus and Electra complex - unconscious desire for opposite sex parent - identify with same sex parent boys fear castration girls suffer penis envy
68
What are the consequences of unresolved conflict in the phallic stage ?
PHALLIC PERSONALITY - reckless / possibly homosexual
69
What is the LATENCY STAGE (6-puberty)
sexual urges
70
What is the GENITAL STAGE (puberty onwards)
sexual desires - become conscious alongside onset of puberty
71
What are the consequences of unresolved conflict in the genital stage ?
difficulty forming heterosexual relationships
72
What are the STRENGTHS of the psychodynamic approach ?
EXPLANATORY POWER - explains wide range of phenomenon - demonstrated influence of childhood on adulthood PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS - used in hypnosis bringing unconscious to conscious - could be considered inappropriate
73
What are the LIMITATIONS of the psychodynamic approach ?
UNSTABLE CONCEPTS - hard to falsify - open to interpretation - very subjective - hard to tests PSYCHIC DETERMINISM - no behaviour is an accident - driven by unconscious forces
74
What is OPERANT CONDITIONING ?
how consequences influence behaviour
75
What is REINFORCEMENT ?
something in the environment that STRENGTHENS a behaviour making it more likely to occur
76
What is POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT ?
INCREASES the likelihood that the behaviour will be REPEATED - consequence is pleasant
77
Give an example of positive reinforcement
giving child praise for carrying out a good behaviour
78
What is NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT ?
INCREASES the likelihood that the behaviour will be repeated - removing something unpleasant
79
Give an example of negative reinforcement
giving a crying child sweets to take away the crying
80
What is PUNISHMENT ?
DECREASES the likelihood that the behaviour will be repeated - consequence is unpleasant
81
Give an example of punishment
giving a detention for not completing homework
82
What is POSITIVE PUNISHMENT ?
giving something unpleasant e.g. press-ups at badminton
83
What is NEGATIVE PUNISHMENT ?
removing something desirable e.g. being grounded
84
What are the STRENGTHS of operant conditioning ?
EMPIRICAL SUPPORT - Skinner - cause and effect REAL-LIFE APPLICATIONS - token economy programmes - prisons - good behaviour is rewarded
85
What are the LIMITATIONS of operant conditioning ?
FREE WILL IN HUMANS COMPARED TO ANIMALS - cant relate Skinner's research to humans however. .. - skinner argued free will is an illusion MECHANISTIC VIEW OF BEHAVIOUR - animals = passive responders - humans = active responders - learning theory may apply less to humans
86
What is the SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY ?
we learn indirectly by observing and imitating others
87
What is MODELLING ?
someone who is looked at 'role model' | - can be live models or symbolic
88
What is IMITATION ?
copying of behaviour | - determined by characteristics of models, ability to perform and consequences of behaviour
89
What is IDENTIFICATION ?
the extent that someone relates to a model
90
What is VICARIOUS REINFORCEMENT ?
learning by looking at the consequences of a behaviour
91
What is the MEDITATION PROCESS ?
cognition involved prior to imitation | - attention / retention / motor reproduction / motivation
92
What is ATTENTION ?
noticing the behaviour
93
What is RETENTION ?
remembering the behaviour
94
What is MOTOR REPRODUCTION ?
being physically capable / possible
95
What is MOTIVATION ?
has to be a reason for copying the behaviour

A level Psychology (11 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions