Comparing approaches

• Views on development - Biological approach

  Maturation is an important principle whereby genetically determined changes in a child's physiology influences psychological and behavioural characteristics
• Views on development - Behaviourism

  Behaviourists don't offer coherent stage theories of development but instead see the processes that underpin learning as continuous at any age e.g. conditioning
• Views on development - SLT

  Same as behaviourism
• Views on development - Cognitive

  Stage theories have contributed to our understanding on child development e.g. children form increasingly complex concepts and develop and more intricate schema as they get older
• Views on development - Psychodynamic

  Concepts and processes are tied to specific psychosexual stages that are determined by age. Yet there is very little further devlopment on what happebs afte the genital stage.
• Views on development - Humanism

  Development of the self is on going through out life, however childhood is particularly important as a child's relationship with their parents is important in terms of unconditional positive regard.
• Nature vs Nurture - Biological approach

  Behaviour is the result of a genetic blue print that we inherit from our parents (genotype) although the way it is expressed is influenced by our environment (phenotype).
• Nature vs Nurture - Behaviourism

  Babies are characterised as 'blank slates' and suggest that all behaviour comes from learned association, reinforcement, and punishment.
• Nature vs Nurture - SLT

  The same as behaviourism however behaviour instead stems from observation and imitation.
• Nature vs Nurture - Cognitive

  Many of our information processing abilities and schema are innate however they are constantly refined and altered through experience.
• Nature vs Nurture - Psychodynamic

  Behaviour is driven by biological drives and instincts, motivated by the unconscious. However, relationships with parents play a fundamental role in future development.
• Nature vs Nurture - Humanism

  Relationships with parents, friends, and wider society have a critical impact on self concept.
• Reductionism - Biological approach

  Reductionist as human behaviour and psychological states are explained through genes and neurons.
• Reductionism - Behaviourism

  Reductionist as complex behaviour is broken up into stimulus response units for ease of testing within a lab.
• Reductionism - SLT

  Somewhat reductionist as complex learning is reduced to key processes ,such as imitation and modelling, however emphasis is also placed on cognitive factors that mediate learning and how these interact with external influences.
• Reductionism - Cognitive

  Accused of machine reductionism by presenting people as information processing systems and ignoring the influence of emotion on behaviour.
• Reductionism - Psychodynamic

  Much of our behaviour is reduced to the influence of sexual drives and biological instincts but personality is a dynamic interaction between the 3 parts of the personality which is seen as a holistic view.
• Reductionism - Humanism

  This is a holistic approach as all aspects of the individual, including the effects of interaction with others and wider society, is investigated and taken into account.
• Determinism - Biological approach

  Genetic determinism as they assume much of our behaviour is directed by innate influences.
• Determinism - Behaviourism

  All behaviours are environmentally determined by external influences that we are unable to control.
• Determinism - SLT

  Bandura put forward the notion of reciprocal determinism - as well as being influenced by our environment we also exert some influence upon it through the behaviours we choose to perform.
• Determinism - Cognitive

  Soft determinism - suggests that we choose our own thoughts and behaviours however these choices only operate within the limits of what we know and have experienced.
• Determinism - Psychodynamic

  Psychic determinism - the unconscious forces that drive our behaviour are the ultimate cause of behaviour and that these are rationalised by our conscious mind.
• Determinism - Humanism

  Humans have free will and operate as active agents who determine their own development.
• Explanation/treatment of abnormality - Biological approach

  Treat mental disorders through the development of drug therapy which regulates chemical imbalances in the brain e.g. SSRIs
• Explanation/treatment of abnormality - Behaviourism

  Abnormality arises from maladaptive or faulty learning in the sense that inappropriate or destrutive patterns have been reinforced. Therapies such as systematic desensitisation aim to condition new, healthy responses.
• Explanation/treatment of abnormality - SLT

  Relatively little application to treatment but the principles of modelling and observational learning have been used to explain how negative behaviours may have been learned through the influence of dysfunctional role models.
• Explanation/treatment of abnormality - Psychodynamic

  Anxiety disorders emerge from unconscious conflict, childhood trauma and the overuse of defense mechanisms. Psychoanalysis has had the same success as therapy but is not appropriate for everyone due to time and emotional dedication. Those with severe depression, for example, may not have the motivation to attend such sessions.
• Explanation/treatment of abnormality - Humanism

  Humanistic therapy/counselling based on Rogers' philosophy that closing the gap between the self concept and the ideal self with stimulate personal growth.