Psychology assumptions

The importance of info processing - Cognitive psychologists assume processes of the mind are the same as a computer (input/processing/output) and that our behaviour (output) can be explained in terms of how info is input and processed. the analogy has helped to explain how we remember things E.G: infor that is intended to = input through the senses, processed = in mind and then the output = what we remember.

Genes influence psychological characteristics - Inherit behavioural characteristics from our genes = Eysenck discovered characteristics come from properties of the brain that are genetically inherited.

Learning occurs through operant conditioning- We Learn through consequences of behaviour. if punished is not repeated, if rewarded is maintained.

Internal process of the mind - Attention (process by which we focus on particular sources of info rather than others & maintain focus over time), Language (use of mental symbols to represent info in the mind helping people communicate) and Thinking (process by which we manipulate info in the mind in order to reason, make judgements etc).

Relationships with family members are important to our psychological functioning in later life- is reflected by how well the child progresses through stages, Freud believed as adults we unconsciously respond to people due to the relationship they remind us of. this is known as transference.

Internal process of the mind - Attention (process by which we focus on particular sources of info rather than others & maintain focus over time), Language (use of mental symbols to represent info in the mind helping people communicate) and Thinking (process by which we manipulate info in the mind in order to reason, make judgements etc).

Early childhood experiences shape the adult personality- Freud assumed there was a close connection between the two. our emotions, way we think and behaviour is a result of childhood experiences. Freud believed in a staged approach to development in childhood and each stage linked to a part of the body and this would later link to an adult personality characteristic, these are the psychosexual stages.

Behaviour can be explained in terms of neurons and neurontransmitters. Neurons dont touch so send message to each other over the synapses via neurontransmitters. these effect our behaviour by inhibiting/stimulating the neuron it is communicating with.

Relationships with family members are important to our psychological functioning in later life- is reflected by how well the child progresses through stages, Freud believed as adults we unconsciously respond to people due to the relationship they remind us of. this is known as transference.

Learning occurs through operant conditioning- We Learn through consequences of behaviour. if punished is not repeated, if rewarded is maintained.

Genes influence psychological characteristics - Inherit behavioural characteristics from our genes = Eysenck discovered characteristics come from properties of the brain that are genetically inherited.

Behaviour can be explained in terms of neurons and neurontransmitters. Neurons dont touch so send message to each other over the synapses via neurontransmitters. these effect our behaviour by inhibiting/stimulating the neuron it is communicating with.

Learning occurs through operant conditioning- We Learn through consequences of behaviour. if punished is not repeated, if rewarded is maintained.

The importance of info processing - Cognitive psychologists assume processes of the mind are the same as a computer (input/processing/output) and that our behaviour (output) can be explained in terms of how info is input and processed. the analogy has helped to explain how we remember things E.G: infor that is intended to = input through the senses, processed = in mind and then the output = what we remember.

Early childhood experiences shape the adult personality- Freud assumed there was a close connection between the two. our emotions, way we think and behaviour is a result of childhood experiences. Freud believed in a staged approach to development in childhood and each stage linked to a part of the body and this would later link to an adult personality characteristic, these are the psychosexual stages.

Human animals and Non-Human animals are only quantifiably different- this means research and tests carried out on Non-Human Animals can be applied to Human animals, this is good as some experiments that would not be able to be carried out on Human animals,due to ethics, can then be carried out on Non-Human animals