Comparing approaches

• Hard determinism approaches

  • Behaviourist
  • Biological
  • Psychodynamic
• Soft determinism approaches

  Cognitive SLT
• Free will approaches


  Humanistic
• Why is the behaviourist approach hard determinism?

  Behaviour is environmentally determined by external influences out of our control
• Why is the biological approach hard determinism?

  behaviour is biologically determined, our behaviour is directed by innate influences. This is known as genetic determinism
• Why is the psychodynamic approach hard determinism?

  Unconscious forces drive our behaviour, this is known as psychic determinism
• Why is the cognitive approach soft determinism?

  We choose our own thoughts and behaviours yet these choices can only operate within the limits of what we know and have experienced
• Why is social learning theory soft determinism?


  We are influenced by our environment but we also have an influence as we decided which behaviours we choose to perform, social learning theorists call this reciprocal determinism
• Why is the humanistic approach free will?

  This approach stands alone with its idea that human beings have free will and operate as active agents who determine their own development
• Nature approaches

  Biological
• Nurture approaches

  • Behaviourist
  • SLT
• Mostly nature approaches

  Psychodynamic
• Mostly nurture approaches

  Humanistic
• Both nature and nurture approaches

  Cognitive
• Why is the behaviourist approach nurture?

  Humans are born as tabula rasa (blank slates) behaviour is learned
• Why is social learning theory nurture?


  We are influenced by our environment, we see a behaviour and learn to imitate it
• Why is the biological approach nature?

  Behaviour is the result of innate biological factors
• Why is the psychodynamic approach mostly nature?

  Behaviour is the product of innate drives, but it is shaped by early childhood experiences
• Why is the humanistic approach mostly nurture?

  Behaviour is shaped by the environment as humans strive to achieve self-actualisation
• Why is the cognitive approach both nature and nurture?

  We are influenced by our environment, we see a behaviour and learn to imitate it
• Scientific approaches

  Behaviourist Biological
• Mostly scientific approaches

  • Cognitive
  • SLT
• Not scientific approaches

  • Psychodynamic\Humanistic
• Why is the behaviourist approach scientific?

  Uses scientific methods of investigation
• Why is the biological approach scientific?

  Promotes the use of scientific methods of investigation
• Why is the cognitive approach mostly scientific?

  Uses scientific methods however researchers are unable to directly observe cognitive processes and so have to use inferences
• Why is social learning theory mostly scientific?

  Utilises scientific methods but also takes into account mediational processes which cannot be directly observed
• Why is the psychodynamic approach not scientific?

  Examines many concepts and theories but cannot be empirically tested, relies on subjective interpretations
• Why is the humanistic approach not scientific?

  Rejects scientific methods and is therefore unable to provide empirical evidence to support its claims
• Environmental reductionist approaches

  BehaviourismCognitive
• Biological reductionism approaches

  Biological
• Holistic approaches

  Humanistic
• Biological and holistic approaches

  • SLT
  • Psychodynamic
• Why is the behaviourist approach environmentally reductionist?

  Behaviour is broken down into simple stimulus-response associations
• Why is cognitive approach environmentally reductionist?

  Behaviour is investigated in terms of isolated variables
• Why is the biological approach biologically reductionist?


  Behaviour is broken down into biological structures/processes
• Why is the humanistic approach holistic?


  Focuses on understanding all aspects of human experience and interactions
• Why is social learning theory both reductionist and holistic?


  This approach shares elements of both behaviourist and cognitive approach
• Why is the psychodynamic approach both reductionist and holistic?

  Behaviour is reduced to innate drives, while taking into account the multiple aspects of human behaviour
• ideographic approaches

  Humanistic