Approaches

Key terms, evaluations and research of all approaches

Origins of Psych: Key Concepts

Wundt

1879 - lab

Consciousness

Introspection

Structuralism

Origins of Psych: Evaluations

+ Scientific

+ Pioneering

- Subjective

I/D: Reductionist

Psychology as a Science: Evaluation

+ Scientific
H Some subjective

I/D: Experimental reductionism

Psychodynamic: Key Concepts

Unconscious determining behaviour

Conscious, preconscious, subconscious

Id
Ego
Superego

Psychosexual stages
Fixation

Defence mechanisms

Psychodynamic: Psychosexual stages

Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latency, Genital

Psychodynamic: Defence Mechanisms

Repression

Denial

Displacement

Psychodynamic: Evaluation

- Androcentric

- Not scientific or falsifiable

+ Contribution of Psychoanalysis: talking therapies
H Inappropriate for serious mental disorders

I/D: Idiographic (Little Hans) to create nomothetic characteristics

Behaviourism: Key Concepts

All behaviour is learnt

Observable and measurable

Classical conditioning

Operant conditioning

Classical Conditioning: Key Concepts

Association
Timing
Stimulus generalisation
Extinction
Spontaneous recovery

Watson & Rayner: Little Albert

Operant conditioning: Key Concepts

Skinner Box Experiment

Pavlov’s Dogs

Positive & Negative

Reinforcement & Punishment

Behaviourism: Evaluation

+ Treatments

+ Scientific Credibility
H Experimentally Reductionist

- Use of animals

I/D: Nature/Nurture

Social Learning Theory: Key Concepts

Development of Behaviourism

Mediational Processes

Modelling

Imitation

Identification

Vicarious

Mediational Processes

Attention

Retention

Reproduction

Motivation

Social Learning Theory: Research

Bandura’s Bobo Doll Study

1961- Children behaved more aggressively with toys if they observed agressive adults

1963- From most to least agressive: saw adult rewarded, saw no consequences, saw adult punished

Social Learning Theory: Evaluation

+ Real life applications (explains cultural differences and gender roles)

- Lab based
H Got novel acts performed and these were imitated

I/D: Reciprocal determinism

Humanistic Approach: Key Concepts

Subjective experience

Free will

Self-determination

Active agents

The Self

Hierarchy of Needs

Roger’s Congruence

Conditions of Worth

Unconditional Positive Regard

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Self-actualisation

Esteem

Love/Belonging

Safety

Physiology

Roger’s Congruence: Key Concepts

Self-worth

Self-image

Ideal self

Self-concept

Actual experience

Humanistic Approach: Evaluation

+ Refreshingly optimistic

+ Contribution of Client Centred Therapy

- Cultural Differences in Hierarchy

I/D: Free will

Cognitive Approach: Key Concepts

Study of Internal Mental Processes

Inferences

Theoretical & Computer models

Schemas

Bartlett’s War of Ghosts

Cognitive Neuroscience

Computational & Theoretical Models: Evaluation

+ Development of AI

- Oversimplified

Cognitive Approach: Evaluation

+ Real world applications (improving eye witness testimony, computer models)

+ Scientific and objective methods
H May lack external validity

I/D: Machine reductionist

Biological Approach: Key Concepts

Everything psychological is at first biological

Mind and Body

Neurochemistry

Concordance

Twin studies

Genotype

Phenotype

Evolution

Biological Approach: Evaluation

+ Scientific method

+ Real world application (understanding neurochemical processes → treating depression)

I/D: biologically determinist and ignores environment