approaches ao1 and ao2

Psychodynamic approach

A perspective describing different forces that operate the mind and behaviour

Unconcious

Part of the mind that we are unaware of but directs much of our behaviour

ID meaning - psychodynamic

unconcious, personality which is selfish, the instincts need immediate gratification

Superego

Moralistic part of personality which represents the ideal self

Ego

Reality check- balances conflicting demands of ID and superego

What are the psychosexual stages

1- oral ( 0-1yrs)

2 - anal (1-3)

3- phallic (3-6)

4 - latency ( 6-12)

5 - genital (12+)

Name the 4 assumptions of the psychodynamic approach

• our behaviour is determined by unconscious processes

• Our personality is split into 3 parts

• Defence mechanisms are used to deal with anxiety

• Early childhood experiences determine adult personality

What are the 3 personalities in the psychodynamic approach?

Id,ego and superego

3 defence mechanisms used by ego to manage conflict between superego and ID

Repression

Denial

Displacement

Define displacement

Transferring feelings from a true source to a substitute target (eg slamming a door after an argument)

Psychosexual stages - what can occur if unresolved conflicts remain from the anal stage?

Anal retentive - can become obbssesive and overly controlling

Anal expulsive - can become very untidy and mean

What stage in the psychosexual stages does Oedipus/ electra complex occur when there are unresolved conflicts.

Phallic

• What re the main assumptions of the humanistic approach?

• Humans strive towards actualisation and is determined by free will

• Holistic approach is used - studies the whole person and considers behaviour in holistic ways

• Person centred approach - concerned with the actual experience of a person

• Empahsises the importance off subjective experience and capacity for self determination

Who designed the humanistic approach

Rogers and maslow

Maslows hierachy - name each step to reach self-actualisation

self actualisation

Esteem

Love/belonging

Safety

Physiological

What is meant by self actualisation

The desire to grow to our potential is innate in everyone

Whats the meaning of congruent ( humanistic approach)

When self concept is very close the the ideal self

Meaning of incongruent ( humanistic)

Self concept and ideal self is very far apart from each other.

What are the main assumptions of the behavioural approach?

• Behaviour is observable and measurable using scientific methods

• Everyone is born with a blank slate - experience makes us learn

• Behaviour is learnt

• Lab experiments are the best way to learn

• Classical and operant conditioning

What is classical conditioning ? Who studied it? What did they do?

• learning through association

• PAVLOVS dogs

• The dog salivated when he saw food, pavlov then rung a bell whenever the dog saw food, after this was repeated numerous times pavlov removed the food and rung the bell, the dog salivated every time the bell had be rung (conditioned response)

What is operant conditioning ? Who studied it? What dis they do?

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• Skinners box - POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT - a rat was placed in the box and moved around randomly ( when in accidentally hit the lever food was released )

• NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT - a rat was placed in the box with an electric current - when it accidentally touched the lever the current stopped

Negative reinforcement

• doing something to avoid something unpleasant from happening

Positive reinforcement

• doing a behaviour as you know a reward will follow

Determinism

The view that all behaviour is determined by internal or external forces rather than free will

What is the SLT

A development of behaviourist approach - mediational processes occur aswell as oo and cc

Main assumptions of SLT

• behaviour is learnt

• We learn through observation and imitation - particularity with role models

• Learning through vicarious reinforcement

• Mental process play a part in learning

What re the meditational processes?

• ATTENTION - the extent to which we notice a certain behaviour

• RETENTION - how well information is remembered.

• REPRODUCTION - ability to reproduce the behaviour

• MOTIVATION - the will to repeat the behaviour ( seeing rewards )

Vicarious reinforcement

Learning through the observation of others ( seeing if behaviour is rewarded)

When is imitation most likely to occur?

• when behaviour is reinforced and even more when the behaviour is done by a role model

Who researched the SLT first ? What did they do? What were the findings? 1961

• BANDURA - showed children ( group a) an adult being aggressive with a bobo doll - group b was shown the adult playing nicely

• FINDINGS - Chlidren imitated the behaviour displayed to them - most prominent when the role models was of the same sex

Who researched the SLT second ? What did they do? What were the findings? 1963

• BANDURA AND WALTERS

• Showed a video to students of adults being aggressive to a doll

• GROUP 1 - adults were praised GROUP 2 - adults were punished GROUP 3 - not response (Control)

• Group 1 showed most aggression followed by group 3 then group 2

What are the main assumptions of the cognitive approach?

• Internal processes should be studied scientifically

• Cognitive processes are private and cannot be observed

• Psychologists study them indirectly by making inferences

What is an inference (cognitive)

Making a conclusion on mental processes based on behaviour to see whats happening inside

What are theoretical and computer models in cognitiove?

We receive information input, storage and output based on how computers work

Whats a schema?

Ideas that have been developed from previous experiences - a framework of beliefs and expectations

A strength of schemas?

Make processing new situations easier and less overwhelming

Negative of schemas

• can negatively influence EWT

• Negative schemas about self can lead to depression

What are the 4 main assumptions of the biological approach?

• everything can be understood at the level of biologcal processes

• Emotions, thoughts and behaviour all have biological basis

• Psychologists should study the brain, nervous system and all other biological systems

• Genes impact behaviour and influence individual differences between people

Concordance rates

The chance of twins sharing the same characteristics

What are 3 ways the biological approach investigates genetic basis of behviour?

• family studies

• Twin studies

• Adoption studies

Whats a family study in the biological approach?

Looking through a family tree to find a particular condition - look for patters

Whats a twin study in the biological approach?

Comparing twins who have been raised together and separately - measuring concordance rates

What are adoption studies in the biological approach?

Comparing traits between biological parents and adoptive parents between adopted children

What is the neurochemical basis of behaviour ? Biological approach

The role of chemicals is the brain - thought relies on chemical transmission - therefore an imbalance can lead to mental disorders

What are the 7 themes used in comparing approaches?

• Views on development

• Nature vs nurture

• Reductionism

• Determinism

• Explanation of mental health conditions

• Treatment of mental health conditions

• Idiographic vs nomothetic

How does behaviourism and slt view development?

As a continuous process rather than stages

How does the cognitive approach view development?

As stages - children form more complex schemas as they get older.

How does. The biological approach view development?

• maturational processes genetically determine a childs development which influence the Childs physiological and behavioural characteristics

How does the psychodynamic approach view development?

• most comprehensive theory - ties is theories to specific ages - psychosexual stages of development - little mention of development after genital stages

How does the humanistic approach view development?

• ongoing throughout life, development always occurs

How does behaviourism and slt view the nature vs nurture debate?

• babies are born with a blank slate

• Learning is done through imitation and observation

How does the cognitive approach view of nature vs nurture?

• middle of the debate

• Innate mental structures such as schemas (nature)

• Schemas are developed and made more complex by the environment (nurture)

How does the biological approach view the nature vs nurture debate?

• Nature - focuses on the genetic, hormonal and neurochemical explanations of behaviour.

How does the psychodynamic approach view the nature vs nurture debate ?

• more nature - innate drives of reproduction and aggression(survival)

• Relationships with parents play a fundamental role in development

How does the humanistic approach view the nature vs nurture debate?

• More nature - maslow emphasised basic physical needs for development

• Society may also have a big impact on a persons self concept

How does behaviourism and slt view reductionism?

In the middle - it breaks complex behaviour into simple units for lab testing

Slt takes into account meditational processing

How does the cognitive approach view reductionism?

• Very reductionist - machine reductionism ignores the influence of human emotion on behaviour

How does the biological approach view reductionism?

• very reductionist -views behaviour on a genetic level

How does the psychodynamic approach view reductionism?

• behaviour is reduced to the influence of sexual and aggressive instincts

• However some argue Freud view on personality makes it less reductionist

How does the humanistic approach view reductionism

• very holistic - views each person as a whole rather than breaking it doesn

Define reductionsim

The idea that complex human behaviour can be explained by breaking it down into simpler parts

Define holism

Human behaviour should be studied as a whole