Approaches full set

Origins of Psychology AO1 Point 1

Wundt established psychology as the scientific study of the mind and behaviour.

Origins of Psychology AO1 Point 2

Wundt (1879) opened the first psychology lab in Leipzig, Germany.

Origins of Psychology AO1 Point 3

Used introspection to systematically study conscious experience.

Origins of Psychology AO1 Point 4

Early focus was on structuralism: breaking down mental processes into basic elements.

Origins of Psychology AO1 Point 5

Aimed to make psychology scientific using careful observation and controlled methods.

Origins of Psychology AO1 Point 6

Established psychology as a distinct discipline separate from philosophy.

Origins of Psychology AO3 Paragraph 1 P

Wundt’s controlled methods gave psychology scientific credibility.

Origins of Psychology AO3 Paragraph 1 E

Wundt used systematic introspection in lab conditions.

Origins of Psychology AO3 Paragraph 1 E

Participants reported their conscious experiences in a structured way.

Origins of Psychology AO3 Paragraph 1 P Against

Introspection is subjective; participants gave different reports under same conditions.

Origins of Psychology AO3 Paragraph 1 E Against

Subjective data cannot be independently verified or replicated reliably.

Origins of Psychology AO3 Paragraph 1 E Against

Reduces generalisability of early psychology findings.

Origins of Psychology AO3 Paragraph 1 J

Despite limitations, Wundt’s controlled methods laid foundations for modern experimental psychology.

Origins of Psychology AO3 Paragraph 2 P

Introspection lacks objective measurement.

Origins of Psychology AO3 Paragraph 2 E

Reports of mental processes cannot be independently verified.

Origins of Psychology AO3 Paragraph 2 E

Scientific credibility is reduced; prone to bias.

Origins of Psychology AO3 Paragraph 2 P Against

Behaviourism overcame this by using observable behaviour.

Origins of Psychology AO3 Paragraph 2 E Against

Skinner and Pavlov used experiments to objectively measure responses.

Origins of Psychology AO3 Paragraph 2 E Against

Demonstrates evolution from introspection to observable science.

Origins of Psychology AO3 Paragraph 2 J

Introspection was historically crucial but insufficient for modern psychology.

Behaviourist Approach AO1 Point 1

Focuses on observable behaviour rather than internal mental processes.

Behaviourist Approach AO1 Point 2

Learning occurs through classical conditioning (Pavlov) or operant conditioning (Skinner).

Behaviourist Approach AO1 Point 3

Classical conditioning: association between neutral and unconditioned stimuli.

Behaviourist Approach AO1 Point 4

Operant conditioning: behaviour shaped by reinforcement or punishment.

Behaviourist Approach AO1 Point 5

Behaviour is largely determined by the environment (environmental determinism).

Behaviourist Approach AO1 Point 6

Applied in real-world settings, e.g., token economies, phobia treatments.

Behaviourist Approach AO3 Paragraph 1 P

Behaviourism is highly scientific.

Behaviourist Approach AO3 Paragraph 1 E

Lab experiments like Pavlov’s dogs or Skinner’s rats.

Behaviourist Approach AO3 Paragraph 1 E

Controlled studies provide reliable, replicable data on learning.

Behaviourist Approach AO3 Paragraph 1 P Against

Behaviourism ignores mental processes (cognition).

Behaviourist Approach AO3 Paragraph 1 E Against

Tolman’s cognitive maps show latent learning not explained by reinforcement.

Behaviourist Approach AO3 Paragraph 1 E Against

Suggests behaviourism gives an incomplete picture of learning.

Behaviourist Approach AO3 Paragraph 1 J

Highly scientific but reductionist, focusing only on observable behaviour.

Behaviourist Approach AO3 Paragraph 2 P

Behaviourist principles have practical uses.

Behaviourist Approach AO3 Paragraph 2 E

Systematic desensitisation treats phobias effectively.

Behaviourist Approach AO3 Paragraph 2 E

Shows real-world benefit of conditioning principles.

Behaviourist Approach AO3 Paragraph 2 P Against

Treatments may ignore underlying cognitive/emotional causes.

Behaviourist Approach AO3 Paragraph 2 E Against

CBT addresses maladaptive thought patterns that behaviour therapy alone cannot.

Behaviourist Approach AO3 Paragraph 2 E Against

Some behaviours require understanding thought processes, not just reinforcement.

Behaviourist Approach AO3 Paragraph 2 J

Behaviourist applications are useful but best combined with cognitive insight.

Social Learning Theory AO1 Point 1

Learning occurs via observation, imitation, and modelling of others.

Social Learning Theory AO1 Point 2

People learn by observing role models and consequences (vicarious reinforcement).

Social Learning Theory AO1 Point 3

Mediational processes: attention, retention, reproduction, motivation.

Social Learning Theory AO1 Point 4

Bridges behaviourist and cognitive approaches.

Social Learning Theory AO1 Point 5

Emphasises cognitive factors in learning.

Social Learning Theory AO1 Point 6

Bandura’s Bobo doll study demonstrates imitation of aggression.

Social Learning Theory AO3 Paragraph 1 P

SLT recognises cognitive factors in learning.

Social Learning Theory AO3 Paragraph 1 E

Bandura proposed mediational processes influence imitation.

Social Learning Theory AO3 Paragraph 1 E

Humans process information before acting, not just responding to stimuli.

Social Learning Theory AO3 Paragraph 1 P Against

Lab studies may lack ecological validity.

Social Learning Theory AO3 Paragraph 1 E Against

Bobo doll studies may reflect play behaviour rather than real aggression.

Social Learning Theory AO3 Paragraph 1 E Against

Limits generalisability to real-world aggression.

Social Learning Theory AO3 Paragraph 1 J

SLT improves on behaviourism but may overestimate imitation in controlled settings.

Social Learning Theory AO3 Paragraph 2 P

SLT informs understanding of social behaviour.

Social Learning Theory AO3 Paragraph 2 E

Media violence studies link exposure to aggressive behaviour.

Social Learning Theory AO3 Paragraph 2 E

Helps develop interventions to reduce negative social behaviours in children.

Social Learning Theory AO3 Paragraph 2 P Against

Difficult to establish causation; confounding variables exist.

Social Learning Theory AO3 Paragraph 2 E Against

Family environment or temperament may also influence aggression.

Social Learning Theory AO3 Paragraph 2 E Against

Observational learning may not be sole cause of behaviour.

Social Learning Theory AO3 Paragraph 2 J

Highly relevant but must consider wider social context.

Cognitive Approach AO1 Point 1

Focuses on internal mental processes: perception, memory, thinking, problem-solving.

Cognitive Approach AO1 Point 2

Uses the computer analogy: input → process → output.

Cognitive Approach AO1 Point 3

Inferences about mental processes drawn from observed behaviour.

Cognitive Approach AO1 Point 4

Cognitive neuroscience links brain structures to cognition.

Cognitive Approach AO1 Point 5

Schemas influence perception and memory; can lead to distortions.

Cognitive Approach AO1 Point 6

Scientific study of cognition using experiments and brain imaging.

Cognitive Approach AO3 Paragraph 1 P

Cognitive psychology uses controlled, objective methods.

Cognitive Approach AO3 Paragraph 1 E

Lab experiments on memory (e.g., Loftus & Palmer).

Cognitive Approach AO3 Paragraph 1 E

Provides reliable, replicable data on cognitive processes.

Cognitive Approach AO3 Paragraph 1 P Against

Lab tasks may lack ecological validity.

Cognitive Approach AO3 Paragraph 1 E Against

Artificial memory tasks may not reflect real-life memory use.

Cognitive Approach AO3 Paragraph 1 E Against

Limits application of findings to everyday cognition.

Cognitive Approach AO3 Paragraph 1 J

Scientific but findings may not generalise fully.

Cognitive Approach AO3 Paragraph 2 P

Informing therapy: CBT treats depression by changing maladaptive thoughts.

Cognitive Approach AO3 Paragraph 2 E

Improves mental health outcomes.

Cognitive Approach AO3 Paragraph 2 E

Shows practical application of cognitive principles.

Cognitive Approach AO3 Paragraph 2 P Against

Therapy may ignore underlying biological causes.

Cognitive Approach AO3 Paragraph 2 E Against

Antidepressants address neurotransmitter imbalances.

Cognitive Approach AO3 Paragraph 2 E Against

Cognitive focus alone is partial rather than complete explanation.

Cognitive Approach AO3 Paragraph 2 J

Valuable for mental health but works best integrated with biological perspective.

Biological Approach AO1 Point 1

Behaviour and mental processes have a physiological basis (genes, neurochemistry, brain structure).

Biological Approach AO1 Point 2

Genetic influence studied via twin, family, and adoption studies.

Biological Approach AO1 Point 3

Neurotransmitters (e.g., dopamine) influence mood, cognition, and behaviour.

Biological Approach AO1 Point 4

Brain structures correlate with behaviour (e.g., hippocampus → memory).

Biological Approach AO1 Point 5

Biological processes studied scientifically (MRI, fMRI, EEG).

Biological Approach AO1 Point 6

Supports nature perspective; behaviour largely innate.

Biological Approach AO3 Paragraph 1 P

Scientific methods allow precise study of physiology and behaviour.