Psych approaches

    Cards (70)

    • What is the behaviourist approach ?
      Focuses on observable behaviors and how they are learned through interactions with the environment instead of internal mental processes
    • What are assumptions about the behaviourist approach?
      . All behaviour is learned through environment
      . We are all born as a blank slate
      . Focuses on observable behaviour only
      . Animals and humans learn the same way
      .Environmental determinism
    • What is classical conditioning ?
      Learning through association.
    • Who made classical conditioning ?
      Pavlov
    • How does classical conditioning work in Pavlovs dog experiment?
      Before conditioning:
      .Food (UCS) → Salivation (UCR)

      During conditioning:
      .Bell(NS) + Food(UCS) →Salivation (UCR)

      After conditioning:
      .Bell(CS) → Salivation (CR)

      .The bell was the neutral stimulus and was associated with conditioned stimulus to become a controlled stimulus
    • Who is Wundt?
      . First ever psychologist
    • What are the evaluations of Wundts first psychology lab ?
      Pros :
      . Marked the transition of psychology into a science, separate from philosophy
      . Used standardized processes eg. Replication and reliability

      Cons:
      . Introspection is subjective - people may not accurately report their thoughts
      . Lacked scientific basis - thoughts and feelings aren’t directly observable
    • What is introspection?
      A method where individuals are asked to observe and report their own conscious thoughts and feelings in response to stimuli in their environment
    • What are the evaluations of Pavlovs research ?
      Pros :
      . Based on empirical evidence - scientific
      . Real life application -Little Albert

      Cons:
      .Reductionist -ignores mental processes
      . Animal studies may not generalise to humans
    • What is operant conditioning and who made the term up?
      . Learning through consequences – reinforcement and punishment
      . B.F Skinner
    • What is positive reinforcement?
      . Adding something positive after desired behaviour is observed
    • What is negative reinforcement ?
      Removing something unpleasant when desired behaviour is displayed
    • What was B.F Skinners experiment ?
      1. An animal is placed in the box.
      2. The animal's behavior is monitored, and specific responses (e.g., pressing a lever) are reinforced with a reward (food) or negatively reinforced by removing electric shock.
      3. The behaviour is reinforced
    • What is punishment ?
      applying something unpleasant to reduce behaviour.
    • What are the evaluations of Skinners Box ?
      Pros :
      . Practical real life applications
      . Controlled lab experiment (no extraneous variable) = high reliability

      Cons :
      . No emphasis on mental processes or biology so can’t be sure if reinforcement works
      . Low ecological validity can’t tell if rats would actually act like that in normal environment
      . Animal cruelty
      .Animal studies may not generalise to humans
    • What is social learning theory and who made the theory?
      Learning through observing, imitating others in a social context, Albert Bandura
    • What are the mediational processes for SLT?
      . Attention - individuals must pay attention to the behavior they are observing, focusing on relevant details
      . Retention - The observed behavior must be stored in memory for later recall and imitation
      . Reproduction - Individuals need to be able to physically and mentally reproduce the observed behavior
      . Motivation - An individual must be motivated by preserved rewards or attention that comes with repeating the behaviour
    • What are the assumptions for social learning theory?
      . Learning takes place indirectly ,through vicarious reinforcement
      . Learning occurs through observation and imitation of others behaviour
      . Behaviour is learned in social contexts by watching role models
      . Cognitive processes mediate the learning process
    • What is modelling ?
      Performing a behaviour for others to imitate
    • What types of models are there?
      Live - someone in the person real life eg. teachers
      Symbolic - someone the actual person doesn’t interact with in their everyday life eg.celebrity
    • What is vicarious reinforcement ?
      Learning occurs by observing the consequences of someone else’s behaviour
    • What is identification ?
      The observer associates themselves with a role model and wants to be like them
    • What did Bandura find in his study ?
      . Boys were more aggressive then girls
      . Boys were more likely to act aggressive after viewing same sex model
      . People who observed more aggressive model were more likely to show aggression themselves
    • What are the evaluation for Baduras BoBo Dolls ?
      Pros :
      .Laboratory study
      . Real life relevance eg. Banning of violent video game ,role model teachers
      Cons :
      . Doesn’t explain how behaviour originate
      . Ignores biological and internal processes
    • What are the assumptions for cognitive approach ?
      • Behaviour is the result of internal mental processes.
      • The mind is like a computer – input → process → output.
      • Thought processes can be studied scientifically via  inference.
    • What is a schema?
      Cognitive framework of beliefs based on past experiments.
    • Why can schemas be good/bad?
      . Help us process information quickly
      . Can fill in the gaps in our knowledge
      . May create distortions and stereotypes eg. Eyewitness accounts
    • What are theoretical models?
      . Simplified visual representation of cognitive processes eg. Multi-store model of memory
    • What are the evaluations of the theoretical model?
      Pros:
      . Useful for research
      . Flexible and clear
      Cons:
      . Machine reductionism
      . No biological basis
    • What is the computer system?
      . Type of theoretical model that uses computer analogies
    • What is the process of computer models?
      . Input (stimulus) ➡️ Processing (schema interpretation) ➡️
      . Output (response)
      . This process inspired AI
    • What are the evaluations of computer system?
      Pros:
      . Helped develop AI
      . Allows for simulation - can be tested
      Cons:
      . Lacks human nuance - human mental processes are far more complex
      . Not biologically grounded
    • What is cognitive neuroscience?
      . Scientific study of biological processes using fMRI , PET scans and CT scans.
    • What studies are associated with cognitive neuroscience?
      . Tulving et al used PET scans to show:
      Episodic and semantic memory is located in the prefrontal cortex
      .Provided biological proof for different types of LTM
    • What is cognitive neuroscience used for?
      . Understand biological mechanism behind mental disorders eg. Levels of serotonin relating to OCD
    • What are the positive evaluations of the cognitive approach?
      Pros:
      . Objective and scientific - uses advance technology eg PET and fMRI scans
      . Real life application -help diagnose and treat mental health conditions
      . Supports cognitive theories -brain scans support multi-store model of memory
    • What are the negative evaluations of cognitive approach ?
      Cons:
      . Biological processes ignored - hormones and genetics could affect brain scans
      . Low ecological validity - lab setting
      . Machine reductionism
      . Ignores individual difference - establishes universal way of thinking for all humans
    • What are the assumptions about the biological approach ?
      . Genes influence behaviour
      . Biological treatments can treat psychological disorders
      . All behaviour has a biological basis
    • What are genes and their influence?
      . Segments of DNA that code for certain characteristics eg physical and psychological traits
    • How does the brain and neurochemistry affect behaviour?
      . Neurotransmitters are chemical signals that regulate thought ,mood and emotions
      . Imbalances in neurotransmitters are linked to various mental illnesses
      . Specific brain regions are responsible for certain functions
      . Understanding of neurochemistry can help develop drug treatments
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