Approaches

• What does Descartes' dualism suggest about the mind and body?

  They interact in different ways to produce different behaviours and thoughts
• Who suggested the concept of dualism in the 17th century?

  Descartes
• What is the IB definition of psychology?

  The scientific study of behaviour and mental processes and how these are affected by internal and external factors
• How is science defined according to the study material?

  As the pursuit and application of knowledge and understanding of the natural and social world, following a systematic methodology based on evidence
• What are the features of science?

  • A universal paradigm
  • Theory construction
  • Hypothesis testing
  • Deduction
  • Falsification
  • Replicability
  • Objectivity
  • Empirical method
• When did Wundt set up his first laboratory?

  In 1879
• What is introspection?

  A means of learning about one’s own currently ongoing mental states or processes
• What are the three conditions of introspection?

  The mentality condition, the first-person condition, and the temporal proximity condition
• What does the mentality condition aim to generate?

  Beliefs about mental states and events
• What is structuralism in psychology?

  A process where Wundt isolated conscious thoughts into basic structures of thoughts, processes, and images
• How did Wundt ensure reliable data in his experiments?

  By using the same stimulus each time under standardised conditions
• What was Skinner's view on introspection?

  He disagreed with its subjective nature
• What is radical behaviourism according to Skinner?

  That private events could be measured and quantified in the same way as observable behaviour
• What method did Skinner use for his research?

  The laboratory experiment method
• What does operant conditioning involve?

  Learning where behaviour is acquired and maintained based on its consequences
• What is positive reinforcement?

  When a behaviour is followed by a reward, increasing the likelihood of that behaviour being repeated
• What is negative reinforcement?

  When a behaviour is performed to avoid negative consequences
• What did Skinner's Box demonstrate?

  The mechanisms of positive and negative reinforcement

  
• What is classical conditioning?

  A type of learning that occurs through associations made between the unconditioned stimulus and the neutral stimulus

  
• What happens during extinction in classical conditioning?

  The conditioned stimulus is no longer paired with the unconditioned stimulus, leading to the disappearance of the conditioned response
• What is spontaneous recovery?

  When the individual carries out the conditioned response some time after extinction has occurred
• What is generalisation in classical conditioning?

  When slight changes in the conditioned stimulus still produce the same conditioned response
• What is the difference between classical and operant conditioning?

  Classical conditioning involves associations between stimuli, while operant conditioning involves consequences of behaviour
• What are the stages of social learning theory?

  1. Observer identifies with a desirable role model
  2. Role model displays a specific behaviour
  3. Observer imitates the behaviour
  4. Likelihood of imitation increases if the role model is vicariously reinforced
• What is vicarious reinforcement?

  A type of indirect learning that occurs when an observer sees their role model being rewarded for a behaviour
• What are mediational processes in social learning theory?

  Cognitive processes that mediate between stimulus and response
• What are the four mediational processes?

  Attention, retention, motor reproduction, and motivation
• What was the aim of Bandura's Bobo Doll study?

  To investigate whether children would imitate aggressive behaviour observed in role models
• What did Bandura's study find regarding children who observed aggressive role models?

  They behaved more aggressively towards the Bobo doll
• What is a limitation of Bandura's Bobo Doll experiment?

  It may lack internal validity due to demand characteristics
• How does social learning theory differ from behaviourism?

  SLT acknowledges the role of cognitive processes in learning
• What is a criticism of social learning theory regarding gender differences?

  It ignores biological differences that may influence behaviour
• What is the significance of the cognitive processes in social learning theory?

  They provide insight into how humans make decisions and imitate behaviours
• What are the strengths of the behaviourist approach?

  • Scientific rigour through objective methods
  • Real-life applications in therapy and behaviour modification
• What are the weaknesses of the behaviourist approach?

  • Environmental determinism limits understanding of human behaviour
  • Ethical concerns regarding animal research and psychological harm
• What are the applications of classical and operant conditioning?

  • Treatments for mental disorders
  • Token economies for behaviour modification
• What is the role of identification in social learning theory?

  • Observer relates to a role model
  • Aspires to become more like the role model
• What is the impact of media on behaviour according to social learning theory?

  • Role models can influence behaviour indirectly
  • Observed behaviours can be imitated based on media portrayals
• How does social learning theory explain the acquisition of aggressive behaviour?

  • Through observation of aggressive role models
  • Reinforcement of aggressive behaviours through rewards
• What is the significance of the cognitive approach in psychology?

  • Focuses on mental processes
  • Provides a more comprehensive understanding of behaviour