OCR AS Psychology: Core Studies - Developmental Approach (2)

Samuel and Bryant/Bandura: Similarity: They both use oppurtunity samples of children. They both looked at the development of important behaviour. They're both useful pieces of research to teachers and parents. Differences: S&B emphasises the role of nature, stating that conservation is inborn. Bandura supports nurture, stating aggression is learned.

Freud/Bandura: Similarity: They both suggest experiences with adults have a big effect upon a child's behaviour. In Bandura's study children learn aggression and non-aggression from adults. In Freud's study he suggests that children's early sexual feelings need careful handling to avoid the child being 'stuck' at a particular stage and to over come such phobias such as horses. Differences: Bandura studied 72 children using a lab experiment which was highly controlled whereas Freud only used Little Hans as his sample. LH was studied through correspondance of Hans' father.

Freud/S&B: Similarity: They both deal with stages of development. S&B used pre-operational and concrete stages to see the ability of conservation skill in children which can't be successfully accomplished in the pre-op stages as how things look are more important to them than logic. It can be solved in the concrete stages as children can solve logical problems provided they physically can see or manipulate the problem. Differences: S&B was well controlled as they used a lab experiment whereas Freud was very subjective (as it was open for interpretation/personal opinon) e.g. LH fear of horses could be seen as a fear of Hans' father but it is more likely to be a horse-drawn carriage that frightened LH.