Psychology approaches key terms

AQA psychology key terms

neutral stimulus

neutral stimulus

a stimulus which produces no reaction

unconditioned response

an innate response to a stimulus

conditioned stimulus

a stimulus that provides a response by association

conditioned response

a reaction to a stimulus that has been learnt through association

behavioural/behaviourist approach

the idea that you’re born a blank slate/ all behaviour is learnt

generalisation

the conditioned stimulus can be changed slightly whilst still producing the conditioned response

discrimination

if the conditioned stimulus is changed too much then the conditioned response will not occur

extinction

when the conditioned stimulus is continually presented without the unconditioned stimulus the conditioned response will disappear

spontaneous recovery

after the conditioned response is thought to be extinguished it can return

introspection

Wundt’s method of studying behaviour

Psychodynamic approach

highlights the influence of the unconscious mind/ links physical problems to conflict of the mind

humanistic approach

human’s have an impact on their development/ behaviours

cognitive approach

explains behaviour in terms of mental processes

social learning theory

emphasises the importance of environment and the role of cognitive factors to link to behaviourism

biological approach

explains human behaviour in terms of biological processes especially genetics

cognitive neuroscience

area of science that studies the influence of brain structure on mental processes

positive reinforcement

rewarding someone to encourage a certain behaviour

negative reinforcement

avoiding an unpleasant outcome by exhibiting a desired behaviour

punishment

using an unpleasant consequence to discourage certain behaviours

classical conditioning

learning by association

operant conditioning

learning by rewards and consequences

observer bias

when an observers own opinions influence the results of a study

objective

unaffected by personal opinions, prejudices or interpretations

subjective

affected by personal opinions, prejudices or interpretations

vicarious reinforcement

learning from the experiences of others

attention

the extent to which you notice a behaviour

retention

remembering behaviour

motivation

the will to perform a behaviour

motor reproduction

the ability to perform/replicate observed behaviour

modelling

imitating the behaviour of a role model

inference

to work out what’s happening to information in the brain by investigating behaviour

schema

mental structures that represent an aspect of the world

genes

code for the physical and psychological features which can be inherited

neurochemistry

relating to chemicals in the brain which regulate psychological functioning

genotype

the genetic makeup of an individual organism

phenotype

observable characteristics determined by genetics and the environment

evolution

the changes in inherited characteristics in a biological population over successive generations

concordance rates

the extent to which twins share the same characteristics

monozygotic

identical twins formed from one egg splitting

dizygotic

unidentical twins that form from two seperate eggs

conscious

the part of the mind we are aware of

preconscious

below the conscious containing thoughts and memories

unconscious

storehouse of biological drives and instincts which we are unaware of

ID

operates on the pleasure principle

Ego

operates on the reality principle

superego

operates on the morality principle

displacement

transferring negative feelings from the source to a substitute target

denial

refusing to acknowledge some aspect of reality

repression

forcing a distressing memory out of the conscious mind

oral stage

between 0-1 the mouth is the erogenous zone

anal stage

between 1-3 the anus is the erogenous zone

phallic stage

between 3-6 the genitals become erogenous zones

latency stage

between 6-puberty children want nothing to do with the opposite sex

genital stage

from puberty onwards heterosexual desires develop

free will

the notion that humans aren’t determined by internal or external forces

self-actualisation

the desire to grow psychologically and reach your full potential

physiological needs

biological requirements for survival, stage 1 of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

safety needs

the need for safety and security, stage 2 of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

love and belongingness needs

the emotional need for interpersonal relationships, stage 3 of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

Esteem needs

the need for internalised and externalised esteem need, stage 4 of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

self-actualisation needs

the desire to accomplish everything one can, stage 5 of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

the self

someone’s inner personality/soul

congruence

when someone’s ideal self and actual experience are similar

conditions of worth

rules that govern values, beliefs and behaviours

unconditional positive regard

when someone is loved for who they are regardless of whether they make mistakes or not

conditional positive regard

when someone is only loved on the condition that they behave in a certain way