Comparison of approaches

• Assumptions of the behaviourist approach

  • Observable behaviour
  • Behaviour is learnt
  • Rejected Wundt’s idea of introspection
• Behaviourist: Nurture

  • Characterised babies as ‘blank slates’ at birth and all behaviour is learnt through association or reinforcement.
• Behaviourist: Reductionist

  • Breaks up complex behaviour into stimulus-response units, for ease of testing in a lab
• Behaviourist: Nomothetic

  • Lab experiments are used to gather quantitative data and applied their theory to all individuals
• Behaviourist: Hard determinism

  • All behaviour is determined by the environment which we are unable to control
• Behaviourist: Scientific

  • Objective and uses experimental methods, so replicable.
  • Only focuses on observable behaviour
• SLT: Assumptions

  • Behaviour can be learnt through observation and imitation.
  • Mental processes mediate between stimulus and response (mediational processes)
• SLT: Nurture

  • Follows same principles as babies are ‘blank slates’ at birth and all behaviour is learnt through observation and imitation.
• SLT: Reductionist

  • Reduces complex behaviour down to observation and imitation.
  • However they do emphasise role of cognitive factors that mediate learning.
• SLT: Nomothetic

  • Lab studies used to gather quantitative data
• SLT: Soft determinism

  • As well as being influenced by our environment we also exert influence upon it through behaviours we choose to perform.
• SLT: Scientific

  • Objective and used experimental methods.
  • Only focuses on observable behaviours
• Biological: Assumptions

  • Looks at how biological processes and structures within the body to understand behaviour.
  • Everything psychological is first biological
  • The mind lives in our brains
• Biological: Nature

  • Behaviour is due to our physiology and as a result of genetics.
• Biological: Reductionist

  • Explains human behaviour and psychological factors through genes and neurochemical processes.
• Biological: Nomothetic

  • Lab experiments are used to gather qualitative data
• Biological: Determinism

  • Hard determinism: behaviour is genetically determined as behaviour is directed by innate influences
• Biological: Scientific

  • Scientific concepts can be empirically tested through the use of EEG and PET scans.
• Humanistic: Assumptions

  • Studies the healthy growth of individuals to reach maximum potential.
  • Focuses of subjective and unique experiences of the individuals.
  • Person-centred approach
• Humanistic: Nature/nurture

  • Nature: Humans are born with an innate drive to reach maximum potential.
  • Nurture: Places focus on the persons experiences e.g conditions of worth
• Humanistic: holistic

  • Investigates all aspects of the individual.
  • E.g hierarchy of needs, conditions of worth, the self.
• Humanistic: Idiographic

  • Case studies and unstructured interviews are used to gather qualitative data
• Humanistic: Free will

  • We act as an active agent who determines our own development
• Humanistic: unscientific

  • Argue that scientific research methods are not appropriate for studying human behaviour and experiences.
  • Focuses on subjective experiences.
• Psychodynamic assumptions

  • Behaviour has unconscious causes.
  • Childhood experiences influences adulthood behaviour and personality.
• Psychodynamic: Nature/nurture

  • Nature: behaviour is due to biological drives and instincts.
  • Nurture: Childhood experiences and upbringing also influences behaviour
• Psychodynamic: Reductionist

  • Reduces behaviour down to influences of sexual drives and biological instincts
• Psychodynamic: Idiographic

  • Case studies used, gathering qualitative data
• Psychodynamic: Hard determinism

  • Psychic determinism explains how unconscious forces drive our behaviour as well as childhood experiences.
• Psychodynamic: unscientific

  • There is great reliance upon case studies and subjective interpretation
• Cognitive: Assumptions

  • Studies internal mental processes in order to understand behaviour,
  • Makes inferences about what is going on inside peoples mind.
  • Compares the mind to a computer.
  • Believes the mind can be studied scientifically.
  • Uses theoretical models to study mental processes.
• Cognitive: Nature/Nurture

  • Nurture: Schemas are refined through experiences.
  • Nature: Thought processes are innate
• Cognitive: Reductionism

  • Presents people as information processing systems and ignores the influence of emotion on behaviour
• Cognitive: Nomothetic

  • Uses lab studies to gather quantitative data
• Cognitive: Soft determinism

  • We are choosers of our own thoughts and behaviours but these choices only operate within the limits of what we know and what we have experienced.
• Cognitive: Scientific/Unscientific

  • Partly scientific, most studies can be easily tested.
  • However because internal mental processes are largely unobservable a great deal of inferences is necessary to develop methods of cognitive processing.