Approaches

Key Approaches in Psychology

Behaviourist Approach

• Definition: Suggests children are born as "tabulae rasae" or blank slates.

• Learning through interaction with the environment.

Biological Approach

• Definition: Views human behaviour as a product of genetics.

• Individual psychology stems from internal physiology.

Cognitive Approach

• Definition: Likens the human mind to a computer.

• Focuses on internal mental processes transforming inputs to outputs.

• Importance of studying these internal processes through inference.

Humanistic Approach

• Definition: Presumes all humans are fundamentally good.

• Emphasizes holistic study of the individual.

Key Terms in Learning Theories

Classical Conditioning

• Definition: Learning by associating a naturally occurring instinct with new stimuli.

• Results in a conditioned response.

Operant Conditioning

• Definition: Learning through direct consequences of behaviour.

• Components:

  • Positive Reinforcement: Adding a positive stimulus to increase behaviour (e.g., treats for cleaning).

  • Negative Reinforcement: Removing a negative stimulus to increase behaviour (e.g., comforting a crying child).

Social Learning Theory

• Definition: Combines behaviourist and cognitive approaches, emphasizing learning through observation and imitation.

• Key Components:

  • Identification: Learning from role models perceived as similar.

  • Imitation: Copying behaviour of identified role models.

  • Modelling: Action by role models that observers can imitate.

  • Vicarious Reinforcement: Learning behaviour through observing consequences for others.

Key Psychological Constructs

Psychodynamic Approach

• Definition: Describes behaviour as a product of unconscious processes.

• Components of Personality:

  • Id: Primitive part concerned with desires.

  • Ego: Mediator between Id desires and reality.

  • Superego: Moral component encouraging perfectionism.

Defence Mechanisms

• Definition: Strategies used by the ego to protect from overwhelming feelings.

• Examples:

  • Denial: Refusal to acknowledge an event.

  • Repression: Preventing disturbing thoughts from reaching consciousness.

  • Displacement: Substituting a defenceless target for expression of emotions.

Developmental Theories

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

• Theory: Humans have needs that must be met in a specific order to achieve full potential.

Psychosexual Stages (Freud)

• Theory: Personality develops through overcoming childhood stages.

• Failure to complete stages can lead to fixation and adult disorders.

Self Actualization

• Definition: Achieving full potential once primary needs are met.

Schema

• Definition: Mental frameworks to efficiently interpret new information based on prior knowledge.

Genotype vs Phenotype

• Genotype: Genetic profile of an individual.

• Phenotype: Physical manifestation of the genotype.