comparing approaches

• How many approaches are covered in the study material?

  Six approaches
• What is a notable similarity among the six approaches discussed?

  They share assumptions about human behaviour and methods to investigate it
• What should you focus on when writing compare and contrast essays about the approaches?

  You should identify similarities and differences between each approach
• What common problem do students face when asked to refer to another theory or approach in exams?

  They describe a different approach without making comparisons
• What is the solution to the common problem faced by students in exams?

  • Structure comparisons around key debates
  • Use research methods as a basis for pointing out similarities and differences
• What are the key debates to consider when comparing psychological approaches?

  1. Free will vs determinism
  2. Nature vs nurture
  3. Reductionism vs holism
  4. Idiographic vs nomothetic
• What does the nature debate suggest about human behaviour?

  It suggests that behaviour is a product of genetics and innate biological factors
• What does the nurture debate imply about human behaviour?

  It implies that behaviour is learned through interactions with the environment
• What is the interactionist approach in the context of nature vs nurture?


  It is a combination of both nature and nurture influences on behaviour
• What does determinism assume about behaviour?

  It assumes that all behaviour is a product of cause and effect
• What does free will suggest about human behaviour?

  It suggests that behaviour is unpredictable and not constrained by other factors
• What is reductionism in psychology?

  It is the approach of breaking down behaviour into simple components
• What does holism argue about behaviour?

  It argues that behaviour is too complex to be broken down into parts
• What is the idiographic approach in psychology?

  It studies individuals and the uniqueness of their behaviour
• What is the nomothetic approach in psychology?

  It aims to make general laws or theories applicable to all people
• What are the implications of the idiographic approach?

  • Allows for greater understanding of individuals
  • Provides deep insight into behaviour
  • Limits generalizability of results
• What are the implications of the nomothetic approach?

  • Allows for testable predictions
  • Facilitates comparison of groups
  • Aligns with scientific principles of psychology
• What is the comparison of the Behaviourist approach regarding free will and determinism?

  Behaviourists are determinists, believing behaviour is controlled by stimulus-response conditioning
• What does the Behaviourist approach say about nature and nurture?

  It emphasizes nurture, stating humans are born as a tabula rasa
• How does the Behaviourist approach view reductionism?

  It views behaviour as reductionism, breaking it down into simple stimulus-response associations
• What is the Behaviourist approach's stance on scientific methods?

  It utilizes scientific methods of investigation
• What is the Cognitive approach's view on determinism?

  Cognitive approach is determinist, controlled by mediational processes
• How does the Cognitive approach view nature and nurture?

  It sees behaviour as a product of information processing modified by experience
• What is the Cognitive approach's stance on reductionism?

  It investigates behaviour in terms of isolated variables
• What is the Cognitive approach's stance on nomothetic methods?

  It attempts to establish general laws of cognitive processing
• How does the Biological approach view determinism?

  It is determinist, controlled by internal biological factors
• What does the Biological approach say about nature?

  It states that behaviour is the result of innate biological factors
• How does the Biological approach view reductionism?

  It breaks behaviour down into biological structures and processes
• What is the Biological approach's stance on nomothetic methods?

  It creates universal laws based on shared physiologies
• What is the Social Learning Theory's view on determinism?

  It is determinist, controlled by environmental forces
• How does the Social Learning Theory view nurture?

  It emphasizes nurture, stating behaviour is learned via conditioning
• What is the Social Learning Theory's stance on reductionism?

  It shares elements of both the behaviourist and cognitive approaches
• What is the Psychodynamic approach's view on determinism?

  It is determinist, with behaviour determined by unconscious drives
• What is the Social Learning Theory's stance on nomothetic methods?

  It attempts to establish general laws of behaviour
• How does the Psychodynamic approach view nature?

  It is mostly nature, with behaviour shaped by innate drives
• What is the Psychodynamic approach's stance on reductionism and holism?

  It incorporates both reductionism and holism in understanding behaviour
• What is the Humanistic approach's view on free will?

  It believes in free will, stating humans control their own environment
• What is the Psychodynamic approach's stance on nomothetic and idiographic methods?

  It attempts to establish general laws while considering unique experiences
• How does the Humanistic approach view nurture?

  It is mostly nurture, as behaviour is shaped by the environment
• What is the Humanistic approach's stance on holism?

  It focuses on understanding all aspects of human experience