Approaches, biopsychology, types of experiments

Strengths of social learning theory

• Both behavioural and cognitive factors are considered

• Explains cultural differences in behaviours

• Less determinist

• Reciprocal determinist meaning the environment exerts as much of an influence on us as we do on it

Weaknesses of social learning theory

• Biological factors ignored

• Proved wrong by St Helena’s island experiment

Who proposed social learning theory?

Bandura, 1961.

What is the main theory of social learning theory?

That people learn new behaviour through observational learning of punishment/reward in their environment, i.e. their social context, and through cognitive processes known as mediational processes.

What is reductionism?

Reducing an idea to its simplest components.

What are the benefits of reductionism?

It’s useful for understanding core principles of an idea.

What are the limitations of reductionism?

It is often too simplistic, and means that an idea is not explained to its full level of complexity.

How is the behaviourist approach reductionist?

It doesn’t consider human thought, only considers stimulus and response eg. pavlovs dog.

What is determinism?

The idea that our behaviour is entirely governed by external factors, that we have no free will.

How is behaviourism determinist?

Behaviourism is hard determinism, as it assumes our behaviour is purely a product of our environment.

What is validity?

Whether it can explain real life behaviour.

What is replicable?

Whether when repeated, similar results are collected.

What is the evidence for classic conditioning?

Pavlov’s dog.

What are the mediational processes involved in social learning theory?

Attention (eg. if it was a role model), Retention (eg. witnessing a reward being given, vicarious reinforcement), Motor reproduction (the ability to carry out the same behaviour), Motivation (eg. if you choose to carry the behaviour out).

Which 2 kinds of conditioning are involved in the behaviourist approach?

• Operant (Skinerian)

• Classical (Pavlovian)

What is operant conditioning?

Learning through consequence, +- reinforcement and punishment.

What is classic conditioning?

When a neutral stimulus is paired with an unconditioned stimulus to have an unconditioned response so that the neutral stimulus becomes the conditioned stimulus.

Introspection

The first systematic experimental attempt to study the mind by breaking up concious awareness into basic structures of thoughts, images and sensations.

What were the strengths of Wundt’s work?

• His methods were systematic and well controlled.

• All introspections were in a lab setting meaning extraneous variables were controlled.

• All his work was standardised

What were the limitations of Wundt’s work?

• He relied on the participants to self report

• So his work was subjective

What is structuralism?

The study of human consciousness by breaking its structure down into smaller components, such as sensations and perceptions.

What was psychology known as before 1879?

Experimental philosophy

What is the cognitive approach?

Behaviour is influenced by thoughts that can be both concious and non-concious internal mental processes.

Schema

Packages of information learnt through experience.

Is the cognitive approach determinist?

Yes, soft determinism.

Is the cognitive approach reductionist?

Yes, but less than behaviourism (Pavlov + Skinner).

What is the theoretical model?

Information goes through a set process, like a computer.

What is the computer model?

A real computer can be used to predict outcomes and behaviours based on the input (stimulus).

When was St Helena’s Island experiment?

1995-2000

What was Bandura’s experiment and when?

Bandura’s bobo doll, 1961.

Limitations of Bandura’s Bobo doll work

• Ignored biological differences between sexes

• Lacked internal validity (Bobo doll designed to be hit)

• Demand characteristics definitely present, please-u effect

What was the neutral stimulus + unconditioned stimulus in the Little Albert experiment?

• Seeing a white rat

• Hearing a loud sound

What is cognitive neuroscience?

The scientific field concerned with the study of biological processes which underly cognition.

Brief history of cognitive neuroscience

• attempt at brain mapping in 1870 by Wenicke

• PET scans in 1970

Is cognitive neuroscience determinist?

Yes, soft determinism.

What is another term for the cell body of a neuron?

Soma.

What is the nervous system?

A specialised network of cells in the human body which is based on electrical and chemical signals.

What are the main two functions of the nervous system?

• To collect, process and respond to information in the environment

• To co-ordinate the working of different organs and cells

What is the CNS?

Consists of the brain and spinal cord and is the origin of all complex commands and decisions.

What is the role of the PNS?

Sends information to the CNS from the environment, and transmits messages from the CNS to muscles and glands.

What is the role of the somatic nervous system?

Transmits information from receptor cells in the sense organs to the CNS, recieves information from the CNS that directs muscles to act.

What is the role of the autonomic nervous system?

Transmits information to and from internal organs.

Is the autonomic nervous system voluntary or involuntary?

Involuntary

What are the 2 divisions of the autonomic nervous system?

The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system.

What are the 2 divisions of the peripheral nervous system?

The autonomic nervous system and the somatic nervous system.

What is the endocrine system?

A major information system which controls the release of hormones from glands.

Which two systems work together when a stressor is perceived?

The endocrine system and the ANS.

When the ANS is in resting state, which branch is it?

The parasympathetic nervous system.

When the ANS is stimulated, which branch is it?

The sympathetic nervous system.

Where is adrenaline produced?

In the adrenal gland.

What did Skinner develop the importance of?

Eliminating confounding variables.

What is extinction?

The conditioned stimulus is no longer paired with the unconditioned stimulus, so conditioned response stops.

What is spontaneous recovery?

When the conditioned response takes place after extinction.

What is generalisation in CC?

Slight changes in conditioned stimulus still elicit the conditioned response.

Who ran the St Helena TV island experiment?

Charlton et Al.

What is phenotype?

The observable characteristics of an individual.

What is the biological approach?

Viewing humans as biological organisms and so provides biological explainations for all aspects of psychological functioning.

Aim

General statement of what the researcher is trying to investigate.

Hypothesis

Clear testable statement of what the researcher is trying to investigate.

Non-directional hypothesis (two-tailed)

Doesn’t state the relationship between the variables.

Directional hypothesis (one-tailed)

States the relationship between the variables.

What does operationalising a variable mean?

Making the variable strictly measurable through collectable data.

Extraneous variable

Nonsense variables which interfere with the DV

Confounding variable

An extraneous variable which varies systematically with the IV, so reduces internal validity.

Demand characteristics

Any cue from the investigator or research conditions that could be interpreted by the participant as revealing the purpose of the investigation leading to the participant changing their behaviour.

Investigator effects

Any effect of the investigator on the research outcome.

Randomisation

Chance methods to eliminate bias.

Standardisation

Using exactly the same formalised procedure for all participants.

What is experimental design?

The different ways in which participants can be organised in relation to experimental conditions.

Independant groups design

2 seperate groups do 2 seperate conditions

Repeated measures

All participants experience both conditions

Matched pairs

Participant variables are matched and groups are created. Each group then gets a different condition.

Lab experiments strengths

• Extraneous variables can be controlled

• High internal validity

• Replication is easy

Lab experiments weaknesses

• Low ecological validity

• Demand characteristics are common

• Lacks generalisability

Field experiment strengths

• High ecological validity

Field experiment weaknesses

• Confounding variables likely

• Ethical issues

Natural experiment weaknesses

• Random allocations impossible

• Event or IV can be rare

Natural experiment strengths

• High external validity

Quasi experiment strengths

• Replication is easy

Quasi experiment weaknesses

• Confounding variables are common

• IV cannot be deliberately changed

Process of Bandura’s Bobo doll study?

36 girls 36 boys assessed on aggressiveness on 5 point scale

Matched pairs + watch video

Children aggravated

Those who saw video were more aggressive

Parts of the mind according to Freud

Unconcious preconcious concious

How to access unconcious

Dreams and parapraxes

What is Id

Operates on pleasure principle

Unconcious selfish drives which demand immediate gratification

What is superego

Operates on morality principle

Same morals as same sex parent

What is ego

Operates on reality principle

Mediates superego and Id by using defence mechanisms

What are the psychsexual stages

1. Oral

2. Anal

3. Phallic

4. Latency

5. Genital

What marks successful resolvement at each stage

1. Weaning

2. Potty training

3. Understanding differences between sexes

4. Loving normal heterosexual relationships

What is repression

Forcing a memory out of concious

What is denial

Refusing to acknowledge a part of reality

What is displacement

Transferring feelings to a subsitute target

Strengths of psychodynamic

Psychotherapy a forerunner to counselling

Explanatory power

Limitations of psychodynamic

Psychotherapy can be harmful for other diagnoses

Popper - cannnot be falsified so is pseudoscience

Fatalistic - everything depends on childhood

What is the humanistic approach?

An approach which focuses on each person’s capacity for self determination.

Maslows hierachy of needs (top to bottom)

Self actualisation

Self esteem

Love and belonging

Safety and security

Physiological needs

What is self actualisation

Striving to reach your potential

What is Roger’s theory of self congruence and worth?

In order to self actualise a person’s ideal self cannot be too different from their current self

What two reasons might self actualisation not be possible according to Rogers?

Lack of unconditional positive regard as a child

Gap between current self and ideal self too large

Strengths of humanistic approach

Not reductionist, more holistic

Positive approach

Limitations of humanistic approach

Less scientific as not reductionist

Cultural bias - independent goals are not every cultures ‘ideal’

Limited application