Unit 1 - Approaches

Question 1

Who was Wundt?

Answer 1

The ‘father of psychology’

Question 2

What did Wundt do?

Answer 2

• Opened first lab in Leipzig

- Used introspection to study consciousness

Question 3

What is introspection?

Answer 3

A method where subjects analyse their own thoughts and feelings in relation to a stimulus (studies sensation and perception) using a standardised procedure

Question 4

What are the limitations of introspection?

Answer 4

• Subjective/open to bias
• Impossible to validate
• Unfalsifiable

Question 5

How did Wundt attempt to make introspection scientific?

Answer 5

He used standardised procedures in a controlled environment. Used a reductionist approach

Question 6

What features make something a science? (5)

Answer 6

• Hypothesis testing
• Objectivity
• Replicability
• Falsifiability
• Predictability

Question 7

What are the assumptions of the behaviourist approach?

Answer 7

• All behaviour is learnt
• Animals and humans learn in the same way
• We a born a blank slate
• The mind is irrelevant

Question 8

How would you describe the research methods used by the behaviourist approach?

Answer 8

Use experimental method with animals as subjects, looking for quantifiable behaviour

Question 9

Who proposed classical conditioning as a way of learning?

Answer 9

Pavlov

Question 10

How was Classical conditioning first identified?

Answer 10

Pavlov’s dogs study – salivating at the sound of a bell that indicated food was coming.

Question 11

Describe the process of classical conditioning

Answer 11

Unconditioned Stimulus -> Unconditioned Response (usually a pre existing reflex, but can be a previously learnt behaviour), Neutral Stimulus -> No response, US + NS -> UR (repeated pairing of these means eventually the NS becomes…), Conditioned Stimulus -> Conditioned Response

Question 12

What is generalisation in Classical conditioning?

Answer 12

When similar (but slightly different) stimuli to the original CS produce the same response

Question 13

Name one piece of evidence to demonstrate that classical conditioning can be used to create a phobia in humans?

Answer 13

Watson and Rayner (1920) - ‘Little Albert’

Question 14

What is extinction in classical conditioning?

Answer 14

Where the CR stops being produced by the CS

Question 15

What is the name of the process where classical conditioning is used in a hierarchy to help treat phobias?

Answer 15

Systematic desensitisation

Question 16

Who proposed operant conditioning as a way of learning?

Answer 16

Skinner

Question 17

List the four types of outcome which are key to explaining operant conditioning.

Answer 17

• Positive reinforcement
• Negative reinforcement
• Positive punishment
• Negative punishment

Question 18

Outline positive reinforcement in operant conditioning

Answer 18

Behaviour is more likely to be repeated as a result of reward

Question 19

Outline negative reinforcement in operant conditioning

Answer 19

Behaviour is more likely to be repeated as a result of removing an unpleasant stimulus

Question 20

Outline positive punishment in operant conditioning

Answer 20

Behaviour is less likely to be repeated as a result of addition of an unpleasant stimulus

Question 21

Outline negative punishment in operant conditioning

Answer 21

Behaviour is less likely to be repeated as a result of removing of a pleasant stimulus

Question 22

What element of psychopathology can we explain with the behaviourist approach?

Answer 22

Phobias

Question 23

What is a strength of the behaviourist approach?

Answer 23

• Lots of experimental evidence -> scientific credibility
• Highly scientific and objective, therefore conclusions are more likely to be valid
• Useful applications e.g. to treatment of phobias and modification of problematic behaviour (e.g. dealing with criminal offending)

Question 24

What are the problems with the behaviourist approach?

Answer 24

• Generalising from animal studies
• Ethical issues associated with animal research
• Reductionist & Deterministic

Question 25

Which side of the nature nurture debate is the behaviourist approach on?

Answer 25

Nurture

Question 26

Psychologists who subscribe to the behaviourist approach are known as empiricists. Why?

Answer 26

Behaviourism only focused on things that we could observe with our own senses (i.e. behaviour), so it was a more empirical approach than e.g. Wundt. Empirical approaches are usually more scientific.

Question 27

What is the learning approach developed by Bandura called?

Answer 27

Social Learning Theory

Question 28

What are the assumptions of Social Learning theory?

Answer 28

The same as the behaviourist approach + addition of the importance of role models and imitation

Question 29

Describe the key idea behind SLT

Answer 29

We learn a lot of behaviour through imitating role models using cognitive mediational processes

Question 30

Explain the role of modelling and where our role models come from in SLT

Answer 30

We observe and imitate a role model, this requires us to identify with that role model. This is more likely if they are the same gender as ourselves, considered attractive, or are of higher social status

Question 31

Describe vicarious reinforcement in SLT

Answer 31

We learn by seeing others rewarded for a behaviour and then imitate those behaviours that are rewarded

Question 32

What are the 4 mediational processes in SLT?

Answer 32

Attention, Retention, Motor reproduction, Motivation

Question 33

Describe how the 4 mediational processes in SLT relate to learning and performing behaviours we have observed

Answer 33

Learning = attention – see the behaviour, and retention – remember the behaviour and it’s consequences, Reproduction (motor reproduction) = the ability to reproduce the behaviour, and motivation – whether we want to perform the behaviour or not (based on identification and vicarious reinforcement)

Question 34

Outline the procedure for Bandura, Ross and Ross (1961) which formed the basis of SLT

Answer 34

Studied learnt aggression, 36 boys and 36 girls, 3 conditions, 1) Aggressive model - Adult hits BoBo doll, 2) Non aggressive model - Adult ignores BoBo doll and plays nicely with other toys, 3) No adult models. Each condition split into same-sex and opposite sex models. Children put into play room and observed for 20 minutes

Question 35

Outline the findings of Bandura’s original research for SLT

Answer 35

"Children exposed to aggressive role models also played aggressively, children with non-aggressive role models also played non-aggressively. Children without a role model were slightly more aggressive in their play than the non-aggressive children (e.g. Mallet Aggression is high even for the Control group (about 13 acts on average, regardless of gender), but a non-aggressive role model reduces it to 0.5 for girls, 6.7 for boys). Gender differences: Boys imitated more physical aggression after exposure to a same-sex aggressive model than girls. Girls imitated more verbal aggression from a same sex model. Even in the Control group, non-imitative aggression is higher for boys (24.6) than girls (6.1)"

Question 36

What conclusion was drawn from Bandura’s original research for SLT?

Answer 36

Aggressive behaviour is learnt through imitation of role models.

Question 37

As well as his original BoBo doll study, what other versions did Bandura conduct?

Answer 37

Bandura Ross and Ross (1963a) - Children saw the adults playing aggressively/non-aggressively on TV. Children saw cartoon characters playing aggressively/non-aggressively. Bandura (1965) - Model was shown being either reinforced or punished (vicarious reinforcement).

Question 38

What conclusions was Bandura able to draw from his extra variations of the BoBo doll study?

Answer 38

The role model does not have to be physically present for imitation to occur. Imitation is more likely when the role model was same gender as the observer, but this is not essential.

Question 39

What are the strengths of Bandura’s BoBo doll study?

Answer 39

Well controlled, so high reliability and replication

Question 40

What are the weaknesses of Bandura’s BoBo doll study?

Answer 40

Low ecological validity, Hard to generalise (all children from same nursery, from same area of USA). Possible demand characteristics

Question 41

Which two approaches is Bandura trying to combine in SLT?

Answer 41

Behaviourist and Cognitive

Question 42

What are the implications of SLT?

Answer 42

Need to look carefully at role models provided for children – need for male teachers, look at the media, behaviour of those in high profile positions needs to recognise influence it can have (could link to criminal behaviour)

Question 43

What are the strengths of SLT?

Answer 43

Less reductionist than behaviourism – recognises a role for cognitive processes, Has experimental evidence, Can explain cultural differences

Question 44

What are the weaknesses of SLT?

Answer 44

Ignores biological factors (still reductionist), Basis in lab studies. Bandura's studies may not be generalisable (small, unrepresentative samples), are low in ecological validity (very unusual situation), and may have caused demand characteristics in the participants (imitating aggression because they thought that was what they were supposed to do).

Question 45

What are the key ideas underlying the cognitive approach?

Answer 45

Behaviour results from cognitive processes e.g. perception, language, attention, memory, Inferences about processes can be made from examining resulting behaviours, Mind functions like a computer, Schemas

Question 46

What types of research methods would cognitive psychologists use?

Answer 46

Lab, field and natural experiments, Occasionally introspection, Some use of brain imaging in cog. neuroscience

Question 47

Describe the cognitive computer analogy

Answer 47

Information enters through senses, like computers use a keyboard, Signals are passed through the brain (neurons) like wires in computers, The brain acts like the central processor in a computer, encoding and storing information, Information is passed back out of the brain for action (retrieval) like output to a computer monitor

Question 48

What is a schema and what purpose does it have?

Answer 48

A schema is a model that contains all needed information about an object, action of concept, learned through experiences (3 types – role, event and self). These allow us to make mental shortcuts to process information more quickly and to prevent us being overwhelmed by incoming stimuli.

Question 49

What are the limitations of the computer analogy used in the cognitive approach?

Answer 49

Ignores role of emotion, Human memory is unreliable, computer memory is not, Humans are thought to have at least some free will, computers do not

Question 50

How do schemas change as we learn?

Answer 50

Begin with basic schema’s – sucking and grasping. New information is either assimilated (incorporated into an existing schema – if consistent with existing knowledge) or accommodated (put into a new schema/an existing schema is altered – if inconsistent with existing knowledge)

Question 51

What are the problems caused by schemas?

Answer 51

Prejudice and stereotypes can develop which then affect interpretation of new information. Can prevent learning of new information if we ignore information that we cannot fit into an already existing schema.