Approaches (PMT)

What is empiricism?

The belief that all knowledge is derived from sensory experience, rather than being innate. This is characterised by the use of the experimental scientific method in psychology

What is the difference between behavioural and biological approaches?

Behavioural:

• all behaviour learned through environment (classical/operant conditioning)

• nurture > nature

• reductionist - focus on environment

• have informed treatment methods e.g. classical conditioning with systematic desensitisation

Biological:

• behaviour determined by genes, hormones and neurochemistry

• nature > nurture

• reductionist - focus on biology

• have informed treatment methods e.g. SSRIs

What is a schema?

a mental framework of beliefs and expectations that influence cognitive processing. Schemas contain our understanding of an object, person or idea. Schemas become increasingly complex during development as we gain more information about each object/idea

Which approaches support nature > nurture?

• Biological

• Psychodynamic

What is introspection?

a technique devised by Wundt so a person can gain knowledge about their own mental and emotional states as a result of the examination of their conscious thought and feelings

What is a reinforcement of behaviour?

Refers to things that strengthen and increase the likelihood that a behaviour will be repeated in the future

What are conditions of worth?

Conditions imposed on an individual’s behaviour and development that are considered necessary to earn positive regard from significant others

Which approaches support nature < nurture?

• Behaviourist

• Humanist

• Social Learning Theory

• Psychodynamic

What is vicarious reinforcement?

Refers to learning that is not the result of direct reinforcement, but rather through observing someone else being reinforced for that behaviour

What is free will?

Refers to the ability to act at one’s own discretion, choosing to behave without being influenced by external forces

What is determinism?

The belief that behaviour is determined by external or internal forces acting upon an individual that is out of their control

What are 3 types of determinism?

• Biological

• Environmental

• Psychic

What is the difference between free-will and determinism approaches?

Free-will:

• Humanistic

• Social Learning Theory

Determinism:

• Biological (genetic determinism)

• Psychodynamic (psychic determinism)

• Behaviourist (environmental determinism)

What is the difference between soft determinism and hard determinism?

• Soft determinism - the concept that there are constraints on behaviour, but within these limitations we are free to make our own choices

• Hard determinism - the view that all behaviour is determined by factors out of our control

What happened in Pavlov’s study on classical conditioning?

• Pavlov paired the ringing of a bell with the arrival of dog food

• Ringing was a neutral stimulus (did not naturally produce salivation in dogs) while the food was an unconditioned (innate) stimulus which naturally resulted in salivation

• Through pairing these stimuli, a conditioned response was formed

• Bell became a conditioned stimulus - producing a conditioned response of salivation, even in the absence of the unconditioned stimulus (food)

What is congruence?

Refers to similarity between a person’s ideal self and their own self-image. Incongruence refers to the opposite - disparity between the ideal self and their self-image

What is cognitive neuroscience?

An area of psychology dedicated to the underlying neural bases of cognitive functions

What is self-actualisation?

Used to refer to achievement of one’s true potential, according to Rogers. According to Maslow, self actualisation is the ability to experience periods of extreme euphoria and creativity, and as a result is the final stage of his hierarchy of needs

What are Freud’s psychosexual stages?

• Oral (0-1)

• Anal (1-3)

• Phallic (3-5)

• Latent (6-12)

• Genital (12+)

How does Freud separate the personality?

• Ego

• Id

• Superego