SECTION B: AREAS Flashcards
assumptions and applications
what are the defining principles and concepts of the cognitive area?
behaviour is influenced by internal mental processes, such as memory, thinking, and reasoning
the approach uses experimental methods to infer thoughts by recording individuals behaviour in cognitive tasks
the mind is seen as mechanistic, suggesting that we process information like a computer, with inputs, processes and outputs
thought patterns can be changed
what are the defining principles and concepts of the social area
the main influence on our behaviour, thought processes and emotions are the surrounding environment and other people (family, friends institutions and wider society)
it believes that our social context, rather than individual characteristics, changes and influences people’s behaviour
attempts to understand how the thoughts, feelings and behaviour of individuals are influenced by the actual, imagined or implied presence of others
what are the defining principles and concepts of the developmental area?
change and development goes on throughout our lifetime, and never stops
behaviour may be learned (nurture) and develop on an individual basis
development may be driven by nature ie maturation process of brain development
development may happen in pre-determined stages
what are the defining principles and concepts of the biological area
behaviour is innate
behaviour is directly influenced by biological factors, such as hormones, genes and the brain
all that is psychological is first physiological– the mind resides in the brain, and so al thoughts, feelings and behaviours have a biological cause
every area in the brain has a role in behaviour (localisation of brain function)
what are the defining principles and concepts of the individual differences area
individuals are unique, and everyone behaves differently
differences can be measured quantifiably
adopting an idiographic approach
understanding differences
focus on personality
it supports both sides of the nature/nurture debate
what are the defining principles/concepts of the behaviourist perspective
believes we are born as blank slates
emphasises the role of learning, experience and environment
can be divided into 3: classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and social learning
behaviourists highlight the importance of studying observable behaviour and take a scientific approach
what are the defining principles/concepts of the psychodynamic perspective
Focuses on understanding human behaviour, thoughts and emotions by examining unconscious drives and conflicts.
Argues that a person’s behaviour and feelings as adults, including psychological problems, are rooted in their childhood experiences.
Suggests that the tripartite personality influences behaviour
Suggests that behaviour is influenced by the psychosexual stages of development
what are the applications of the cognitive area
cognitive therapies (CBT). aims to change thought patterns so situations are perceived more positively / less negatively. can be utilised with people with depression, for example, to change faulty cognitions can help reduce vulnerability to depression
memory aids. can help students revise using the context dependent memory effect
what are the applications of the social area
increasing behaviour in schools / prisons. using stern prods to deal with students who misbehave should increase obedience, when the results of Milgram are considered. Teachers could also dress smartly to further enforce a more authoratitive nature, which may increase the likelihood of students obeying their instruction.
encouraging helping behaviour through community programmes, potentially in areas that have been highlighted to be less helpful in Levine’s study, for example Malaysia.
what are the applications of the developmental area
curriculum planning. the developmental area shows that children’s cognitive development occurs in set stages, and so education systems should have a curriculum that follows this pattern of development. if children are taught based on age, they can be supported to develop at the right pace.
parenting classes. parenting classes should place emphasis on the fact that children will imitate the parents’ behaviour, and so the parents should ensure that they are a good role model to their kids, ie not showing aggressive or ‘dysfunctional’ behaviours.
what are the applications of the biological area
drug therapy. for example, SSRIs inhibit the reuptake of serotonin, thus allowing for increased serotonin availability in the synapse for the post-synaptic neuron to be stimulated. this helps to regulate depressive symptoms.
predicting behaviours after brain injury. knowing which area of the brain impacts which type of behaviour means doctores can preduct the outcome of a brain injury, and how a patients’ behaviour may change as a result.
what are the applications of the individual differences area
diagnosing mental health conditions. by investigating unique behaviours, such as those associated with mental disorders like autism, it allows for diagnostic tools to be developed, to aid in the categorisation of mental disorders. for example, the Eyes Task has been proved to be an effective diagnostic material for adults with autism.
what are the applications of the psychodynamic perspective?
dream analysis. a talking therapy that looks at the content of an individual’s dreams, and interprets them as representations of real desires and the unconscious. the manifest content is the actual content of your dream, whilst the latent content is the meaning behind it.
free association. a talking therapy that involves getting patients to talk out loud about a given topic. words are given for the patient to react to and these reactions are explored further
what are the applications of the behaviourist perspective
therapies. behaviourist therapies aim to modify maladaptive or unwanted behaviours through conditioning processes. eg systematic desensitisation aims to treat phobias by gradually exposing people to their fear, and teaching them relaxation techniques so eventually, they associate the stimulus with that relaxed state rather than a fearful state (classical conditioning applied here)
censorship of media content certifications for films and games, as well as the watershed for TV, restrict the content that young children are able to consume, thus reducing their exposure to violent or aggressive content that may have adverse effects on a child’s behaviour, should they imitate what they see.
