behaviourist approach: assumptions - 'tabularosa' born as a blank slate, our behaviour is shaped by our environment
classical conditioning - Pavlov, we learn by associating two stimuli together
operant conditioning - Skinner, behaviour is shaped by its consequences
evaluation:
strength:
skinner's research is well-controlled, establishes cause and effect - scientific credibility.
realworld application: token economy systems in prisons
weakness:
ethics, can be considered unethical to test on animals
social learning theory: behaviour is learned by observation
vicarious reinforcement: imitation based on whether someone is rewarded or punished
Attention - extent to which we notice behaviours
Retention - how well is it remembered
motor reproduction - ability to perform
motivation - will to perform it
1,2 - learning behaviour but 3,4 -performance behaviour
identification: more likely to imitate those they identify with,
model: someone who posses similar characteristics
Bandura bobo doll: recorded behaviour of young students who watched adults aggressively hit a doll
social learning theory evaluation:
strength:
real-world application as it explains cultural differences in behaviour regarding social norm - explanation for behaviour
weakness:
demand characteristics as it was in a controlled lab study
implies that we have free will to make decisions, contradicts behavioural approach saying we dont have free will on our behaviour
cognitive approach: internal mental processes, how our thoughts and perceptions affect our behaviour
schema: information that is developed through experience
computer model: information processing approach, comparison of human minds like a computer
emergence of cognitive neuroscience: use of PET and fMRI scans to underpin cognitive processes in specific areas of the brain - frontal lobe, broca's area
cognitive approachevaluation:
strength:
credible scientific basis, controlled method of study making it scientific and reliable
practical application, AI and robot production
weakness:
machine reductionism, human mind and computers to be compared as it ignores human emotion and motivation
biological approach: our behaviour is innate and down to biological structures.
synaptic transmission: neurochemicals, excessive dopmaine can lead to schizophrenia and low levels of serotonin can lead to OCD
genetic basis: twin studies, concordance rates (extent to which twins share the same characteristics) MZ share 100%, DZ share 50%
genotype: genetic make-up, phenotype: physical and behavioural characteristics
biological approach evaluation:
strength:
real-world application: promoted treatment of clinical depression using antidepressants
scientific methods: EEG's and fMRI - reliable
weakness:
deterministic, implying we cannot excuse our behaviour - criminals, legal justice system
psychodynamic approach: mind is majority made up of unconscious - repressed memories or biological drives
id: devil, pleasure principle and wants instant gratification, selfish - present at birth
ego: mediates between the two, reality principle, reduce conflict in decision making
superego: angel, morality principle, moral standards
psychodynamic approach; psychosexual stages:
oral (0-1years) - pleasure focus on mouth, lead to oral fixation
anal (1-3years) - pleasure focus on anus, withholding faeces, leads to anal retentive (obsessive) or anal expulsion (messy)
phallic (3-6years) - pleasure focus on genitals,
latency - earlier conflicts are repressed
gentials - sexual desires become conscious, cannot form relationships
psychodynamic approach evaluation:
strength:
production of psychoanalysis, therapy - real world application
weakness:
psychoanalysis, those with schizophrenia cannnot articulate thoughts properly
deterministic, 'slip of the tongue' is down to unconscious forces
humanistic approach: idea that we have free will to make our own decisions
maslow's hierarchy of needs: motivate our behaviour to reach self-actualisation
can only reach the top if you pass through each stage
Rogers: congruence: when self-concept and ideal self match
self-centered client treatment to overcome congruence
conditions of worth: when parents place limits or boundaries of love on their children
humanistic approach evaluation:
strength:
holistic, looks at an individual as a whole taking into account their emotions and wishes.
free will, we have the ability to make our own choices and base it off what we want to achieve
weakness:
culturally-biased, US would have an individualist tendencies, whereas other countries that wouldnt have this would not adopt the approach
Wundt and introspection: aim to analyse the nature of human consciousness
develop theories about mental processes - language and perception, broken up into basic structures = introspection