evaluation points AO3

• What is operant conditioning based on?


  It is based on reinforcement.
• What is the main criticism of the psychodynamic approach according to the study material?


  It is deterministic, suggesting everything is determined by the unconscious.
• What did Freud contribute to the field of psychology?


  He conducted novel research and developed theories in psychodynamics.
• What are the applications of psychodynamic theory in therapy?


  • Real-world application in psychotherapy.
  • Used to treat mental disorders.
  • Involves counseling therapy.
• What conclusion did Fisher and Greenburg reach regarding psychoanalytic theory?


  They concluded that psychoanalytic theory cannot be fully accepted or rejected.
• How does the psychodynamic approach view free will?


  It suggests that there is no free will as behavior is controlled by the unconscious.
• What is the significance of the unconscious in psychodynamic theory?


  It is believed to control behavior and influence decisions.
• What are limitations

  evaluating Wundt works


  conscious thoughts are mental processes that cannot be properly measured

  lacks ecological validity
• Evaluating the psychodynamic approach

  What are strengths 


  Real world application psychotherapy to treat mental disorders + dream analysis + counselling therapy Does explain human behaviour

  Fisher and Greenburg conclude the theory cannot be accepted or rejected
• Evaluating of psychodynamic approach

  What are Limitations

  unfalsified cannot be proven or disproven so it is highly unscientific

  Freud could have research bias

  Deterministic everything is determined by the unconscious
• Evaluating the biological Approach

  What are strengths

  Scientific cause and effect - increasing reliability

  Measurements are objective - increasing validity

  Increased in the understanding of biochemical processes in the brain leading to development of drugs to treat illnesses
• Evaluation of the biological approach

  What are Limitations 


  Deterministic no free will acknowledged - it’s all due to biological structures

  Reductionists reduces behaviour to your behaviour - dehumanising

  Ignores roles of the environment
• Evaluation of the cognitive

  What are the Strengths 


  Scientific controlled and valid

  Less deterministic allows for individuals to think before responding to stimuli

  sucessfully integrated into other theories providing a more comprehensive understanding of behaviours

  Emergence of neuroscience

  Real world application

  • piaget - children’s thinking and informational procsesses and their mind are like computers
  • beck - mood disorders - depression is caused by faulty thinking
• Evaluation of cognitive

  What are Limitation

  lacks ecological validity

  Reductionist - reduces human mind to a computer ignoring emotional factors on behaviour - machine reductionist

  Soft determinism
• evaluation of the humanistic approach

  What are Limitations


  Not scientific

  Short on empirical evidence

  Loose set of abstract ideas
• evaluation of the himanistic approach

  What are strengths

  holism idea that subjective experience can only be understood by considering the whole person

  Valid considers meaningful human behaviour

  Optimistic brings person back into psychology