Comparison of approaches

• Learning approaches explanation of behaviour:

  • Behaviourist: behaviour is learnt from the environment, e.g. classical and operant conditioning.
  • Social Learning Theory (SLT): behaviour is learnt indirectly through observation and imitation of others; learning occurs via vicarious reinforcement and mediational processes.
• The cognitive approach's explanation of behaviour:

  • internal mental processes influence behaviour e.g. perception, attention, language etc.
  • mind as a computer
  • schemas help interpret information quickly
• The biological approach's explanation of behaviour:

  • innate internal, biological structures/processes influence behaviour: genetic, brain structures, neurotransmitters etc.
• The psychodynamic approach's explanation of behaviour:

  • unconscious desires/conflicts repressed in childhood influence behaviour
  • the tripartite structure of personality (Id, Ego, Superego)
  • resolution/fixation at psychosexual stages
• The humanistic approach's explanation of behaviour:

  • free will, individuals choose their behaviour.
  • individuals aim for self-actualisation - personal growth motivates behaviour.
• Learning Approaches: Determinsm vs Free will

  • Primarily deterministic, viewing behaviour as determined by environmental influences and classical/operant conditioning.
  • Behaviourism: environment determines all behaviour, no free will (hard determinism - environmental determinism).
  • Social Learning Theory (SLT): allows some free will by acknowledging cognitive processes and the ability to choose behaviours to imitate (soft determinism).
• Cognitive Approach: Determinism vs Free Will

  • soft determinism
  • recognises that internal mental processes guide behaviour - individuals can make choices based on their cognitive processing.
  • schemas develop via experience
  • choices are influenced by information processing constraints.
• Biological Approach: Determinism vs Free Will

  • biologically deterministic, no free will
  • behaviour is strongly influenced by biological structures (e.g. genes, neurotransmitters etc.)
• Psychodynamic Approach: Determinism vs Free will

  • Psychic determinism
  • behaviour is driven by unconscious forces, early experiences, and unresolved conflicts.
  • Freud argued that free will is an illusion and that behaviour is beyond conscious control, determined by the Id, Ego, and Superego’s conflicts.
• Humanistic Psychology: Determinism vs Free Will

  • emphasises free will, viewing individuals as active agents capable of making choices and taking responsibility for their actions.
  • people are not controlled by biology or environment but are motivated by the drive towards self-actualisation.
• Learning Approaches: Nature vs. Nurture

  • Emphasises nurture.
  • Behaviourism argues we are born as blank slates and learn through environmental conditioning (classical and operant).
  • Social Learning Theory (SLT) highlights learning from others via observation, imitation, and vicarious reinforcement.
• Cognitive Approach: Nature vs. Nurture

  • Interactionist.
  • Mental processes are rooted in biology (e.g., brain structure), but experiences shape how we think (schemas).
• Biological Approach: Nature vs. Nurture

  • Strongly supports nature.
  • Behaviour is caused by biological factors, e.g. genetic inheritance, neurotransmitters, brain structures, and hormones.
• Psychodynamic Approach: Nature vs. Nurture

  • Interactionist, leaning towards nature.
  • Believes in innate drives (e.g., sex, hunger, thirst, etc.), but also highlights the influence of childhood experiences (nurture).
• Humanistic Approach: Nature vs. Nurture.

  • Interactionist.
  • People have an innate drive to self-actualise (nature), but achieving this depends on the environment (e.g., unconditional positive regard from parents).
• Learning Approaches: Scientific Methods and Evidence

  • Highly scientific - use of standardised procedures and high control over variables.
  • Behaviourism uses controlled lab experiments (e.g., Pavlov’s dogs, Skinner’s box) to study observable behaviour.
  • SLT combines experimental and observational methods (e.g., Bandura's Bobo doll study).
• Cognitive Approach: Scientific Methods and Evidence

  • Scientific.
  • Investigates internal mental processes using lab experiments and theoretical/computer models.
  • Uses brain scanning technology (e.g., fMRI, PET scans) – part of cognitive neuroscience.
• Biological Approach: Scientific Methods and Evidence

  • Highly scientific.
  • Relies on brain scans, drug trials, and twin studies.
  • Allows for objective, precise, and replicable measurements of biological variables.
• Psychodynamic Approach: Scientific Methods and Evidence

  • Not scientific.
  • Based on subjective interpretations, case studies (e.g., Little Hans) and dream analysis.
  • Concepts like the unconscious mind are not falsifiable and lack empirical support.
• Humanistic Approach: Scientific Methods and Evidence

  • Not scientific - rejects scientific research; emphasises subjectivity
  • Prefers qualitative methods (e.g., interviews) to understand subjective experiences.
  • Lacks objectivity and falsifiability, but values rich detail and meaning.
• Learning Approaches: Approach to Treatment

  • Behavioural therapies (e.g., systematic desensitisation) are used to treat phobias
  • SLT is applied in Token economies which involve rewards, learning social skills and vicarious reinforcement.
• Cognitive Approach: Approach to Treatment

  • Led to Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
  • Seeks to challenge and change irrational thoughts
  • CBT has been highly effective in treating disorders like depression and anxiety
• Biological Approach: Approach to Treatment

  • Biological treatments focus on medication (antidepressants, antipsychotics) or surgery in severe cases.
  • Drug therapies are based on understanding neurotransmitter imbalances and aim to correct these imbalances, e.g. SSRIs to treat depression and OCD.
• Psychodynamic Approach: Approach to Treatment

  • Developed psychoanalysis, which aims to uncover unconscious conflicts and unresolved childhood issues.
  • Techniques such as dream analysis, hypnosis, etc. are used to gain insight into unconscious motivations and work through repressed conflicts.
• Humanistic Psychology: Approach to Treatment

  • Influential in counselling psychology through client-centred therapy, which focuses on empathy, unconditional positive regard, and helping clients achieve congruence.
  • This approach promotes self-acceptance and personal growth.
• Learning Approaches: Reductionism vs. Holism

  • Highly reductionist – breaks down complex behaviour into stimulus-response associations.
  • SLT less reductionist as it acknowledges mental processes (e.g., mediational processes).
• Cognitive Approach: Reductionism vs. Holism

  • Machine reductionism – likens human mind to a computer, reducing mental processes to input, processing, and output.
• Biological Approach: Reductionism vs. Holism

  • Biological reductionism – reduces behaviour to biological factors of genetics, neurotransmitters, and brain structure.
• Psychodynamic Approach: Reductionism vs. Holism

  • Interactionist: interaction of unconscious processes, biological drives and early experience.
  • Reductionist – simplifies personality into Id, Ego, and Superego and focuses on repressed conflicts.
• Humanistic Approach: Reductionism vs. Holism

  • Holistic – emphasises the whole individual, subjective experiences, and personal meaning.
  • Acknowledges complexity of human behaviour.
• Learning Approaches: Idiographic vs. Nomothetic

  • Nomothetic – creates general laws of learning through controlled studies (e.g., Skinner, Bandura).
  • Behaviourist: all learn from the environment through conditioning (consequences).
  • SLT: all learn from observation, imitation and vicarious reinforcement.
• Cognitive Approach: Idiographic vs. Nomothetic

  • Mainly nomothetic – studies general laws of information processing, same mental processes in everyone.
  • Some use of case studies (e.g., KF, HM, Phineas Gage) for idiographic insight.
• Biological Approach: Idiographic vs. Nomothetic

  • Nomothetic – aims to find general biological laws (e.g., twin studies, brain scans).
• Psychodynamic Approach: Idiographic vs. Nomothetic

  • Idiographic – relies on case studies (e.g., Little Hans); focuses on the individual’s subjective childhood experiences.
• Humanistic Approach: Idiographic vs. Nomothetic

  • Strongly idiographic – rejects creating general laws of behaviour.
  • Focuses on unique individual experiences and personal growth.