Comparison of Approaches

• Psychodynamic approach:

  • scientific - the approach is unfalsifiable and subjective as it measures the unconscious
  • useful - practical applications of psychoanalysis
  • determinism - psychic determinism (hard determinism)
• Behaviourist approach:

  • scientific - the studies were set in a lab environment (better control of variables). Also, there is operationalisation of dependent variables
  • useful - practical applications in understanding how to gain and maintain phobias, as well as token economies and systematic desensitisation
  • determinism - environmental determinism (soft determinism)
• Cognitive approach:

  • scientific - uses empirical evidence however, inferences are subjective
  • useful - has practical applications (led to the development of CBT for depression)
  • determinism - we have some free will as internal mental process/schemas influence our behaviour (soft determinism)
• Humanistic approach:

  • scientific - subjective experience is more important than objective measures. However, this cannot be generalised as every individual is unique
  • useful - has economic implications (improves satisfaction and productivity in workers) and has also led to client-centred therapy (unconditional positive regard)
  • determinism - everyone has free will
• Social learning theory:

  • scientific - empirical evidence (from lab experiments). The behaviours are observable
  • useful - reduces aggression in society (age restrictions to reduce exposure to aggressive role models)
  • determinism - mediational processes allow us to make a decision (soft determinism)
• Biological approach:

  • scientific - empirical evidence from twin studies
  • useful - drug treatments for schizophrenia (reducing dopamine)
  • determinism - biological determinism (hard determinism)