Approaches

Behaviourist approach assumptions (4)

• Behaviour is learned from experience

• Only observable behaviour is measured/studied, as thought processes are subjective

• Animal testing is ok as they have the same learning principles as humans

• we are born a blank slate (tabula Rasa), there is no genetic influence on behaviour

classical conditioning

a type of learning in which one learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events

Pavlov's experiment

Step 1: US (food) -> UR (salivation)
Step 2: NS (bell) -> US (food) -> UR (salivation)
Later… CS (bell) -> CR (salivation)

operant conditioning

a type of learning in which behaviour is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher

positive reinforcement

Giving something that encourages behaviour

negative reinforcement

Taking something away that encourages behaviour

Skinner Box

A small box in which an animal can make a specific response that is recorded while the consequences of the response are controlled.

3 key terms of the social learning theory

vicarious reinforcement, imitation, identification

Vicarious reinforcement

Indirect learning through others' experience of reward and punishment

Imitation

Observe and 'copy' behaviour (not always copied exactly)

Identification

Wanting to be like a role model, depends on the extent to which an individual feels they are similar to a role model.

The 4 mediational processes in order

Attention --> Retention --> Reproduction --> Motivation

Attention

For a behaviour to be imitated it has to first grab our attention. This is because many behaviours are observed each day, and most of these aren't noteworthy.

Retention

After the behaviour is noticed, it then must be remembered. This is because much of social learning isn't immediate, so we must remember it to imitate it later on.

Reproduction

Considering whether we think we are capable of recreating the behaviour. For example, you may see a professional athlete perform a desirable skill, but you cannot do it as you do not yet have the training to do so.

Motivation

Considering the rewards and punishments that follow a behaviour. If the vicarious reinforcement is not seen to be important enough to the observer then they will not imitate the behaviour

4 assumptions of the cognitive approach

• Behaviour is influenced by conscious and unconscious mental processes

• Behaviour comes from internal cognitive functions (e.g. attention, perception)

• People actively process and interpret stimuli

• The mind works like a computer; cognition can be modelled and tested scientifically

Schema definition

Mental blueprints or packages of info that have developed through experience about what we have expected in the world

4 assumptions of schema according to the cognitive approach

• Babies are born with basic motor schema (sucking/grabbing)

• Schemas become more complex with age

• New info can be assimilated with a pre-existing schema

• It prevents us from being overwhelmed

3 advantages of the cognitive approach

• it has many applications

• Has led to the development of CBT and other depression treatments

• Can be considered a scientific approach because of its supporting evidence

disadvantages of the cognitive approach

• Compares humans to computers even though there are significant differences

• A lot of the evidence used is from brain scans from brain damaged individuals, so low generalisability

Biological approach assumptions (3)

• Everything psychological is at first biological

• Biological processes have evolved due to natural selection

• Abnormal beh. is due to a change in genetics, neurochemistry or brain structure

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals that allow communication between brain cells which help send signals that control our bodies

Monozygotic

identical twins that share 100% of DNA

Dizygotic

Non-identical twins that share 50% of their DNA

Cognitive neuroscience

the scientific study of neurological structures, chemistry and mechanisms that are responsible for cognitive thought processes

SRY gene

determines biological sex + testosterone production

SERT gene

controls the reuptake of serotonin at the synapse and affects how efficiently serotonin is transported

COMT gene

regulates how quickly dopamine is broken down

concordance rate

A reported percentage of both twins displaying the same characteristic

Coccaro et al

(1997) - compared MZ and DZ twins for their concordance of criminal behaviour. MZ had 50% and DZ had 19%. Suggests there’s a genetic element to aggression, however not fully as the MZ wasn’t 100%.