comparison of approaches

Name the approaches

-behaviourist 

-SLT

-cognitive 

-biological 

-psychodynamic 

-humanistic 

What 5 comparison points can be used to compare the approaches against each other

-scientific methodology 

-determinism vs free will

-nature VS nurture 

-reductionism vs holism 

-psychological treatments 

Scientific methodology 

> Behaviourist - supporting studies PAVLOV (classical con) and SKINNER (operational con) had standardised procedures and controlled conditions - findings can be replicated 

> SLT - supporting study BANDURA (modelling, vicarious reinforcement) had large sample size, controlled conditions, standardised procedure - findings can be replicated 

> Cognitive - focuses on internal mental processes which cannot be observed so inferences are made from behaviour can biased 

> Biological - uses objective and scientific methods e.g. fMRI, EEG to study biological processes e.g. brain activity 

> Psychodynamic - psychosexual stages cannot be empirically tested as they cannot be operationalised  

> Humanistic - reject scientific methods to study human behaviour as they believe human behaviour is best understood on subjective experiences and not general laws 

Determinism vs free will

> Behaviourism - hard environmental determinism (behaviour is caused by factors of env, stimuli response mechanisms which we cannot control), no free will

>SLT - soft determinism (behaviour is predictable, caused by internal/ external factors e.g. observing others’ behaviour but still element of free will, mediational processes how likely learn and perform behaviour)

>Cognitive - soft determinism (behaviour is predictable, caused by internal/ external factors e.g. existing schemas but still element of free will, can change maladaptive schemas with new experiences)

>Biological - hard biological determinism (behaviour is caused by internal biological factors e.g. genes, hormones which we cannot control)

>Psychodynamic  - hard psychic determinism (behaviour is caused by unconscious drives and motives as well as unresolved conflicts from childhood which we cannot control)

>Humanistic - suggests humans have free will and are self determining

Reductionism vs holism 

> Behaviourism - environmental reductionism (behaviour is due to stimulus-response links based on the idea behaviour is learned and acquired from interactions with environment)

> SLT - environmental reductionism ( behaviour is due to stimulus-response links, imitation and modelling) BUT also holistic cognitive factors: 4 mediational processes influence learning and performing behaviour

> Cognitive - machine reductionism (reduces complex behaviour down to computer models like 3 series of operation ignoring influence of emotions)

> Biological - biological reductionism (explains behaviour at lowest biological level: genes, hormones)

> Psychodynamic - holistic, range of factors tripartite of personality, 3 levels of mind un, pre and conscious and psychosexual stages 

> Humanistic - holistic, proposes that human behaviour is best understood by looking at the person as a whole 

Nature VS nurture 

> Behaviourism - nurture, babies are born as blank slates all behaviour is shaped by interactions with the environment 

> SLT - nurture, behaviour is shaped by behaviours we observe from role models and others being vicarious reinforced

> Cognitive - nature, we are born with basic schemas + nurture, schemas change and develop with experiences 

> Biological - nature, all behaviour is innate and psychological characteristics e.g. intelligence are determined by inherited genes 

> Psychodynamic - nature, relationship with parents during psychosexual stages is important e.g. phallic stage  + nurture, behaviour is driven by unconscious drives and motives

> Humanistic - since considers the person as a whole considers nature, genes impact behaviour + nurture, social network and society impact concept of self and ideal self 

Psychological treatments 

> Behaviourism - treatments for phobias attempt to counter condition phobia replacing fear and associating phobia with calm e.g. flooding and systematic desensitisation, 

> SLT - modelling helps alter maladaptive behaviour e.g. high aggression by showing children video of a role model acting kindly and being rewarded for good behaviour 

> Cognitive - reduce irrational thoughts, negative schemas of self, future and the world with CBT

> Biological - drug therapies e.g. antipsychotics for schizophrenics to reduce activity of DA

> Psychodynamic - psychoanalysis bringing repressed emotions into conscious to deal with them, led to many modern day talking therapies 

> Humanistic - client centred therapy reducing gap between concept of self and ideal self and increasing feelings of self worth via unconditional positive regard, led to modern day counselling