Approaches In Psychology
- Created by: JuliaMabiza
- Created on: 08-05-19 19:49
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- Approaches in Psychology
- 1. The Origins of Psychology
- Introspection-systematic analysis of own conscious experience of a stimulus
- William Wundt
- the father of psychology- set up the 1st psychology lab in Germany
- Structuralism-aim was to study structure of the human mind by breaking down behaviours into their basic elements
- The Emergence of Psychology As a Science
- scientific method refers to the use of investigative methods that are objective, systematic and replicable and the formulation, testing and modification of hypotheses based on these methods
- empiricism-belief all knowledge is derived from sensory experience and info is gained through direct observation
- Evaluation
- Wundt's methods were unreliable
- introspection is not always accurate-Nisbett and Wilson(1977)
- a scientific method is not always appropriate
- 2. The Behaviourist Approach
- Classical Conditioning
- Pavlov's Dogs
- timing- if the NS occurs after the UCS or the time interval between the two is great, conditioning does not take place
- extinction-the CR does not become permanently established as the response after a few presentations of the CS in the absense of the UCS it loses its ability to produce CR
- spontaneous recovery-if the CS and UCS are paired together again the link between them is made quickly
- Stimulus generation-once the animal has been conditioned they will also respond to other stimuli that are similar to CS
- Evaluation
- Practical applications-development in treatment for reduction of anxiety, e.g systematic desensitisation
- Seligman-different species face different challenges to survive so have different capabilities to learn through classical conditioning
- Pavlov's Dogs
- Operant Conditioning
- Skinner
- Types of Reinforcement
- Positive Reinforcement
- Negative Reinforcement
- Schedules of Reinforcement-partial schedule of reinforcement
- Types of Punishment
- Evaluation
- used experimental method, controlled conditions, helping to establish a cause and effect relationship
- used non human animals e.g rats and pigeons rather than humans
- Types of Reinforcement
- Skinner
- Classical Conditioning
- 3. Social Learning Theory
- Bandura
- 'The Bobo Doll' Experiment
- identification, modelling, vicarious reinforcement, imitation, direct reinforcement, internal mediational processes
- Evaluation
- practical applications-increasing understanding of criminal behaviour-Akers(1998)
- determining causality-Sigel and McCormick(2006)
- ignores other influences on behaviour
- Bandura
- 4. The Cognitive Approach
- internal mental processes-the ways in which we process info that helps guide behaviour
- inference-making assumptions about mental processes that cannot be directly observed/going beyond the immediate research evidence
- idea of schemas- cognitive framework that helps organise and interpret info in the brain
- Models-help understand and represent different cognitive processes
- Theoretical Models-present a pictorial model of memory
- Computer Models-computer analogy, would say info is held on a hard disk
- The Emergence of Cognitive Neuroscience
- practical applications
- Evaluation
- has many applications e.g helps to explain dysfunctional behaviour, leading to development of treatment
- a scientific approach
- the use of computer models is a weakness
- 5. The Biological Approach
- Influence of genes
- gene-part of a chromosome that carries info in the form of DNA
- genotype-genetic makeup of the individual& phenotype-observable characteristics of the individual
- heredity-passing of characteristics from one generation to another through genes
- nature v nurture debate
- Influence of biological structures
- The Nervous System- CNS=the brain and spinal cord, peripheral nervous system=somatic and autonomic
- The Brain-biggest part of the brain is the cerebrum
- Frontal lobe=speech, thought and learning
- temporal lobe=hearing, memory
- parietal lobe-sensory info
- occipital lobes-visual info
- influence of neurochemistry
- Neurotransmitters-chemical messengers
- excitatory- trigger nerve impulses in the recieving neuron and stimulate brain action
- inhibitory-inhibit nerve impulses to calm the brain
- Hormones- chemicals produced by the endocrine glands. secrete directly into the blood and travel to target cells stimulating receptors
- Neurotransmitters-chemical messengers
- Evaluation
- importance of scientific method, use of highly controlled studies, precise and objective
- applications of this approach- led to drug treatment for mental illnesses
- the biological approach is reductionist
- Influence of genes
- 1. The Origins of Psychology
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