A Level Psychology - Approaches

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Flashcards on A Level Psychology - Approaches, created by Czean Holgado on 05/01/2018.
Czean Holgado
Flashcards by Czean Holgado, updated more than 1 year ago
Czean Holgado
Created by Czean Holgado almost 7 years ago
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Question Answer
What is the behaviourist approach? -Only studying behaviour that can be observed and measured
Why did early behaviourists like John B. Watson reject introspection? -It involved to many concepts that were too vague and difficult to measure.
What is classical conditioning? -Learning through association
Give an example of classical conditioning and describe it briefly. Ivan Pavlov and his dogs -He revealed dogs could be conditioned to salivate at the sound of a bell if it was repeatedly presented briefly before being fed. -His dogs learnt to associate the sound of the bell with food.
What did Pavlov's dog study show? -It showed how a natural stimulus, such as the sound of a bell, can come to elicit a new learned response (conditioned response) through association.
What is operant conditioning? Operant conditioning is a form of learning in which behaviour is maintained through reinforcement or punishment.
What are the two types of reinforcement? 1)Positive reinforcement 2)Negative reinforcement
Describe what positive reinforcement is and give an example. -Receiving a reward when certain behaviour is showcased - e.g praise from a teacher for answering a question correctly.
Describe what negative reinforcement is, and give an example -When we avoid an unpleasant consquence e.g when we hand in homework so we don't get told off The avoidance of the unpleasant consequence acts as reinforcement for the behaviour being performed.
Give an example of the behaviourist approach can be applied to real life situations. -Token economy system - uses operant conditioning to help maintain good behaviour - used in prisons and psychiatric wards. -Used to explain the acquisition of phobias - acquired through CC and maintained through OC
What are the limitations of the behaviourist approach? -The behaviourist is seen as quite a mechanist way of thinking - humans are seen as passive, with no conscious thought and mental processing.
What is the social learning theory? -This is a theory that explains behaviour, taking into account reinforcement, learning theories and the role of cognitive factors. -It is a theory that emphasises observation and imitation of behaviours within a social context. (devised by Albert Bandura)
What are the several factors involved in the social learning theory? -Vicarious reinforcement -Imitation -Identification -Modelling -Mediational processes
What is vicarious reinforcement? This is when an individual learns to imitate behaviour through observation, and is more likely to imitate the behaviour if the consquence of the behaviour has rewards. Thus the behaviour is reinforced.
What is imitation? Copying the behaviour of others through observation.
What is identification? When an observer associates themselves with a role model, and wants to become like the role model e.g children imitate role models.
What are the four mediational processes involved in the social learning theory? -Attention -Retention -Motor reproduction -Motivation
Briefly describe what attention is. The extent to which we notice certain behaviours - the more we pay attention, the more likely we will be able to imitate it accurately.
Briefly describe what retention is. How well the behaviour is remembered - the higher the retention, the more consistent the behaviour is performed well.
Briefly describe what motor reproduction is. -The ability of the observer to perform the behaviour.
Describe what motivation is in terms of the social learning theory. -The will to perform the behaviour, which is often determined by whether the behaviour was rewarded or punished.
What is modelling? Imitating the behaviour of a role model.
Evaluate the social learning theory. -Bandura's ideas developed in lab studies - which are often criticised for demand characteristics, and lack of generalisability to real life (low external validity) -Bandura does not take into account the role of biological factors - e.g in the Doll Experiment - boys naturally have higher testosterone levels than girls - more likely to be aggressive
Give an example of a study that demonstrates the social learning theory. Bandura's Doll Experiment -Bandura observed the behaviour of children observing an adult behave aggressively towards a doll. -Children were more aggressive when they observed aggressive behaviour.
What is the cognitive approach? This is the study of internal mental processes, the role of schema, the use of theoretical and computer models to explain behaviour.
What is the difference between the cognitive approach compared to other approaches like the behaviourist? -Unlike the behaviourist approach, the cognitive approach investigates areas of human behaviour such as memory, and perception.
How are computer models used to study human internal mental processes? -Theoretical models are used to explain how processes work in our brain - such as the information processing approach - in which information is processed through several sequences via the multi store model (input, storage, retrieval).
How is the mind similar to that of a computer? -the concept of a central processing unit in a computer is compared to our brain and has several similarities -the concept of coding is somewhat similar in humans and computers, as well as the storage of information
What is a schema? Schemas are mental frameworks of beliefs and expectations (stereotypes) which are developed through experience.
What is the role of schemas in behaviour? -Schemas are developed through experience - it helps us to respond to certain stimuli appropriately e.g sitting on a chair -As a baby, we are born with simple, innate behaviours such as grasping and sucking. -As we get older, schemas become more detailed.
How can schemas affect behaviour negatively? -It may distort our interpretations of sensory information, leading to perceptual errors. -Schemas create consistent behaviours, so it may be hard to change.
What is cognitive neuroscience? -This is the scientific study of biological structures in the brain - through processes such as fMRI scans and PET scans.
How has cognitive neuroscience helped to underpin certain cognitive processes? -In the 1860s, the frontal lobe was identified as the area responsible for speech production (Broca's area) -fMRI scans have helped to show the role of the pre-frontal cortex in the storage of different types of long term memory identified by Tulving et al. (episodic and semantic memory)
What are the limitations to do with the cognitive approach? -Although there are similarities of human internal processes and a computer, the cognitive approach does not take into account other factors that could have an effect in the learning of behaviour such as emotions including anxiety, stress and motivation -These factors can affect our ability to process information - especially in processes like eyewitness testimony (anxiety can have a negative effect on memory and recall)
What is the biological approach? -This approach emphasises the influence of genetic inheritance, neural functions, and physical processes on behaviour.
What is the key assumption of the biological approach? -behaviour has a biological basis that is dependent on the genes and neurochemistry of the individual
What is the genetic basis of behaviour? -it is argued that behavioural characteristics such as intelligence, personality, and mental disorders are inherited in the same way that physical characteristics, such as height, and eye colour
Which type of studies have been helpful in supporting the influence of biological factors in behaviour? -Twin studies
How have these studies been used to help support the biological approach? -the concordance rates of twins have been compared to determine the likelihood of that certain traits have a genetic basis
Why would comparing concordance rates support the biological approach? -Identical twins (monozygotic) share 100% of each other's genes while non-identical twins (dizygotic) share about 50% of each other's genes. -If a certain trait, such as musical ability, or having schizophrenia, has a higher concordance rate (both have it) in identical twins than in non-identical, it suggests that there is a biological basis.
What is a genotype? -This is the genetic makeup of an individual i.e the particular set of genes that a person has.
What is a phenotype? -these are characteristics of an individual determined by both genes and the environment e.g hair colour (can be dyed), weight (affected by diet),
How does Charles Darwin's theory of evolution support the biological approach? -This is called NATURAL SELECTION. -His principle stated that advantageous characteristics in behaviour will carried throughout future generations. -Behaviour that enhances survival is inherited by offspring, so it therefore has a biological influence.
How do we know that the biological approach is based on reliable data? -In order to study the biological basis, highly advanced scientific techniques are required, such as fMRI scans, EEG'S and drug trials. -these are highly objective and are not open to bias.
How has the biological approach been applied to real life situations? Increased understanding of biochemical processes in the brain has led to the development of psychoactive drugs used to treat serious mental illnesses such as depression that has helped sufferers to liv a relatively normal life outside of a hospital setting
What are the limitations of the biological approach? -This is quite a determinist view of behaviour - suggests that we have no control over our own behaviour as it is 'innate' and is due to internal, biological causes.
What is the psychodynamic approach? -This is an approach in explaining behaviour in which the role of the unconscious - the structure of personality (Id, Ego and Superego) are most important.
The structure of personality consists of three parts. Name all three parts. -ID -Ego -Superego
Briefly describe the 'Id'. -This is the primitive part of our personality -this is the part that is solely focused on the most pleasurable stimuli to the individual -it is a part in which we try to get whatever we want and whenever we want - it is consistently selfish and is only present at birth
Briefly describe the 'ego'. -This is the part of our personality that bases behaviour on realistic beliefs - its role is to reduce conflict between the needs of the 'id' and the 'superego' and has several defence mechanisms.
When does the 'ego' develop? -At around 2 years old.
Name the three defence mechanisms in the 'ego'. 1) Repression 2) Denial 3) Displacement
What is the 'superego'? -this is the part of our personality that is our sense of right and wrong - it represents the moral standards of the child's same sex parents and punishes the ego's wrong-doing through guilt.
When does the superego develop? -At the end of the phallic stage - at around 5 years old.
Why does the ego have defence mechanisms? -It helps to ensure that the ego is able to prevent us from being overwhelmed by temporary threats and traumas.
What is repression? -Forcing a distressing memory out of the conscious mind.
What is denial? -Refusing to acknowledge some aspect of reality.
What is displacement? -Transferring feelings from true source of distressing emotion onto a substitute target.
What are the 5 psychosexual stages? Name each and give the stage in which they occur. -Oral - 0-1 years old -Anal - 1-3 years old -Phallic - 3-5 years old -Latency -Genital
Describe the oral stage -Focus of pleasure is the mouth - mother's breast is the object of desire
Describe the anal stage -Focus of pleasure is the anus - child gains pleasure withholding and expelling faeces
Describe the phallic stage -Focus of pleasure is the genital area - child experiences Oedipus or Electra complex
Describe the latency stage -Earlier conflicts are repressed.
Describe the genital stage -Sexual desires become conscious alongside the onset of puberty.
What is the humanistic approach?
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