Approaches and Perspectives

Assumptions:

• To study the differences between people, rather than those things that we all have in common.
• Everyone is unique, and thus, different - therefore, making common laws about behaviour is not
• Behaviour that deviates from the - People behave as individuals and exercise free will.
• high ecological validity

• Strengths:
  • All of the studies in the approach are high - Both types of data (quantative and qualitative) are used.
  • There are ethical issues in some studies (Thigpen & Cleckley)

• Weaknesses:
• • Can ignore - Small samples and case studies - problems with generalisability - Rosenhan
  • The influence of the situation affecting behaviour e.g., Eve's problems
  • The studies have a lack of control over the environment.

Assumptions:

• Both experience and maturation influence behaviour (nature vs nurture debate)
• Children and adults might think about the world in different ways (Piaget)
• All behaviour in adulthood is affected by experiences in childhood (Freud)
• Deprivation in childhood may lead to delayed or limited development
• Children develop through a series of stages each building on the one before (Freud & Piaget)

Strengths

• Easy to apply everyday life as you can see the effects of maturation on behaviours
• Flexible and can adapt to people developments through life

Weaknesses

• Some research is unethical
• Mainly childhood development
• Ignores individual differences and suggest behaviour is determined by upbringing and free will
• Laboratory experiments have low ecological validity and case studies are hard to generalise

Assumptions:

• Our behaviour is the result of biological factors such a brain fuction, anatomy, and genetics
• Behaviour can be explained and understood by studying the underlying biology

Strengths

• Demonstrates a link between brain activity and cogntive processes
• Uses highly controlled conditions and use specialised techniques
• Contributes to nature/ nurture debate

Weaknesses

• Psychometric tests have problems of reliability and validity
• Case studies cannot be generalised
• Some research ignore situational factors
• May lead to social control
• Determinism - research often correlation - no cause and effect

Assumptions

• Mental processes can be scientifically studied to see how it shape behaviour
• The brain stores, processes and retrives information like a computer

Strengths

• High levels of control in laboratory experiment
• Contributes to understanding the nature/nurture debate
• May help understand those with cognitive problems and abilities of other species

Weaknesses

• Some research may have low ecological validity
• Tends to use quantitative rather than qualitative data
• Cannot directly observe thinking can be reductionist
• Does not account emotional factors affecting our behaviour

Assumptions

• All behaviour is learnt in the same way as other behaviours
• Humans born as bland slates
• Behaviour is learnt as we develop through social learning and conditioning
• Operant Conditioning - Learning through reinforcement
• Classical Conditioning - Learning by association
• Social Learning Theory -  Learning through others

Strengths

• Scientific - observe and measure behaviour
• focuses on here and now - does not focus on balance or complex issues

Weaknessess

• Emphasis on "Nature" alone
• ignores thoughts and emotions (biology)
• Uses animals in experimental research - cannot generalise