Evaluation Approaches

• An issue with Wundt and his method of introspection is the subjectivity of the method.Even though he attempted to make it objective,using trained therapist to carry out the procedure with p’s,it still relied on p’s reporting their own thoughts,feelings,which are unobservable constructs.This makes it difficult for us to gather reliable theories on human behaviour.Therefore,making Wundt's contribution to psychology becoming a science questionable.
• But,introspection still useful in scientific Psychology.Researchers used introspective methods as a way of making ‘happiness’ a measurable phenomenon by giving a group of teenagers beepers that went off during random times in the day,surprising p's and requiring them to write down their thoughts and feelings in the moment before the beep.Most of the entries indicated the teens were unhappy,but researchers found that when their energies were focused on a challenging task,were more upbeat.So,introspection can be argued to have some explanatory power as having a place in scientific Psychology.
• Classical evaluation

  A strength of classical conditioning is that it has real world application.Classical conditioning has led to the treatment for reduction of anxiety associated with phobias by using systematic desensitisation.This therapy eliminates the learned anxious response that is associated with a feared object or stimulus by replacing the controlled response with relaxation.Therefore CC is a strong explanation of human behaviour.
• However,we cannot use CC to explain learning behaviour in all species,as different species have different capabilities to learn to survive.Seligman put forward the ‘biological preparedness’ theory,where animals are prepared to learn associations that are significant in terms of their survival needs,yet unprepared to learn associations that are not significant in this respect.This would mean that our ‘conditioned response’ of fear towards an ‘ancient fear’ objects such as snakes,spiders etc wasn’t actually conditioned it was innate.Therefore,CC is a weak explanation of human behaviour.
• Operant Evaluation

  A strength of Operant conditioning is that it has real world application.The token economy system is based on the principle that behaviour that is rewarded is more likely to be repeated.Thorndike’s law of effect.The tokens act as a positive reinforcer as they allow people to exchange them for something that is desired.The primary reinforcer is the reward,the secondary is a token and the punishment is token being taken away.This suggests getting tokens and rewards encourages desirable behaviour.Therefore,OC is a strong explanation of human behaviour
• Operant

  Another strength of OC when explaining behaviour is that it has research support.Hobbs and Holt conducted a study which involved delinquent boys.They found that when they were introduced to the economy system in three juvenile delinquent centres there was a significant increase in desired behaviours.This suggests that OC has high ecological validity as it is effective in the real world.Therefore OC is a strong explanation of human behaviour.
• Overall Evaluation - behavioural approach

  In contrast to behaviourisms,the biological approach has shown empirical(scientific) evidence that levels of testosterone are responsible for levels of aggression;the more testosterone someone is given the more aggressive they are.Neither classical or operant conditioning can explain why aggression increases when you increase this hormone.Therefore,the behaviourist approach may be an incomplete explanation of human behaviour.
• The SLT can be supported by Bandura’s research,the Bobo doll experiment.Bandura carried out an experiment where children would observe aggressive and non-aggressive models and then tested if they would imitate that behaviour.The aggressive adult model would strike the doll with a mallet accompanied by verbal remarks.Bandura found that the children who observed aggressive behaviour reproduced a lot of this physical and verbal aggression.This suggests children imitate the behaviour they see from an adult role model.Therefore,SLT is a strong explanation of human behaviour.
• A strength of SLT is that it has useful applications.The principles of SLT have increased understanding of human behaviour,including criminal behaviour.Akers suggested that the probability of someone engaging in criminal behaviour increases when they are exposed to  models who commit criminal behaviour.This suggests they identify with these models and commit criminal behaviour because the role models they follow do.Therefore,SLT is a strong explanation of human behaviour.
• Another strength of SLT is that there is research support for identification.Fox and Bailenson found evidence for using computer generated ‘virtual’ humans engaging in exercise or just loitering and not exercising.P’s who viewed the model that looked like them exercising engaged in more exercise in the 24 hours following the experiment than those who viewed their model not exercising or the ones who looked dissimilar to their model.This suggest greater identification with a model leads to more learning as it is easier for them to visualise.Therefore,SLT is a strong explanation of behaviour.
• However,behaviourist approach might be a stronger explanation to behaviour.The behaviourist approach focuses on observable events and explains learning through classical and operant conditioning.This is shown through pavlov's dogs associating the bell with food and skinners rats learning that the lever gives them food or the lever stops electric shocks.However,the SLT is a mental process which we can’t see so we can’t determine cause and effect as there is no visual process.Therefore,SLT lacks internal reliability as an explanation of behaviour.
• cognitive neuroscience

  One advantage of this new approach is that it is more scientific and objective than previously possible.fMRI and PET scans - Raine found that psychopaths and violent killers have lower prefrontal cortex activity.This shows that cognitive neuroscience has given further insight into why people commit crimes,increasing its external validity.
• cognitive neuroscience

  Furthermore,current research is identifying areas implicated in cognitive problems.This is allowing for more and earlier interventions/treatments for mood disorders such as depression.The development of drug therapies such as SSRIs and CBT, meaning cognitive neuroscience has helped in improving mental health, increasing its ecological validity. 
• A strength of the cognitive approach is that it has led to a number of real world applications.The cognitive approach has been used to explain how much of dysfunctional behaviour shown by people can be traced back to faulty thinking processes.This has led to the successful treatment of people suffering from depression and OCD. Therefore,the cognitive approach can be praised for having some external validity,in that it can be applied to improving the wellbeing of others.
• Another strength of the cognitive approach is that it is scientific. The use of experimental methods provides researchers with a rigorous method for collecting and evaluating evidence in order to reach accurate conclusions about how the mind works. This suggests conclusions about how the mind works are based on more than common sense and introspection. Therefore,this works in adding further support for the validity of the cognitive approach of human behaviour.
• However,the cognitive approach can be criticised for being reductioninst. cognitive approach uses computer models to explain human information processing. However there is a big difference between information processing in a computer and in the human mind.Computers don't make mistakes or forget anything stored on their hard drives,humans on the other hand do. This is criticised for reductionism as the cognitive approach simplifies the complexity of the human mind down to basic computer processes. Therefore,the cognitive approach can be considered weak as an explanation of human behaviour.
• Furthermore, studies into the cognitive approach may lack ecological validity. Many studies of cognitive psychology tend to use tasks that have little in common with p’s natural everyday experiences. For example,experiments in memory use artificial test materials that are relatively meaningless in everyday life. As a result,it is unlikely we would be able to generalise these findings to real life-situations. Therefore,the cognitive approach is a weak explanation of human behaviour.
•  A strength of the biological approach is that it is scientific.Measurements can be objective as it can be performed by machines which have no vested interest in the outcome e.g. PET scans, EEGs etc, which would reduce observer bias in any findings.This suggests that we can find cause and effect relationships of both physiology and behaviour,suggesting the biological approach is an internally valid explanation of human behaviour.
• Strength of the biological approach is that it has real world applications. It provides clear predictions.Research into role of neurochemical imbalance in depression has led to development of effective drug treatments.It has led to SSRIs,inhibit the reuptake of serotonin back into the presynaptic neuron.This is said to have economic benefits as prescription drugs are a cheap and easily accessible treatment for mental health disorders,meaning people will take less time off work with paid sick leave.Therefore,biological approach,praised for external validity as an explanation of human behaviour.
• The biological approach can be criticised for being reductionist.This approach is criticised for its belief that complex behaviour can be broken down into the action of genes,neurochemicals and hormones.However we cannot fully understand a behaviour without also taking into account other factors that have an influence.Therefore,the biological approach can be argued as an incomplete explanation of human behaviour.
• There are dangers associated with genetic explanations of human behaviour through certain genes associated with criminal behaviour.Critics believe it may lead to a screening of the population to identify those who have a predisposition for criminality,which would then lead to discrimination against these people.This is dangerous as some people who have the predisposition for being a criminal may never engage in criminal behaviour. Therefore it would be unfair to label them with this.Therefore, the biological approach is a weak explanation of human behaviour.
• A strength of the Humanistic approach is that it has real world applications. In order to reduce the gap between the self-concept and the ideal self, Rogers developed client-centred therapy (CCT). An effective therapist is able to provide clients with the unconditional positive regard they had failed to receive as children, to help close the gap between the perceived self, and the ideal self, which would increase their congruence and therefore self-esteem. Therefore, the Humanistic approach can be said to have external validity as an explanation of human behaviour.
• strength of the Humanistic approach is it has been applied to businesses to help personal growth of employees. Maslow’s HoN is applied in business settings where managers are encouraged to help develop employees basic needs which will in turn help them progress to esteem needs and eventually self-actualisation. This would have positive economic implications for a business as there may be less absence due to stress, more productivity from workers, increasing the economic benefits for the company. Therefore,the humanistic approach is a strong explanation of human behaviour.
• There is also research support for Roger’s conditions of worth. Individuals who experience conditional positive regard are likely to display more ‘false self behaviour.’ Harter et al found adolescents who feel they have to fulfil certain conditions in order to gain their parents approval frequently end up not liking themselves. This is consistent with roger’s predictions,adolescents who developed a ‘false self’ were more likely to develop depression. Therefore,the Humanistic Approach is a strong explanation of human behaviour.
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  However,the Humanistic approach can be criticised for culture bias. In a later development Maslow acknowledged that for some people needs may appear different. This is from cross-cultural evidence. A study carried out in China found that belongingness needs were seen as more fundamental than physiological needs and self actualisation defined more in contributions to community. This suggests that different cultures may have different needs. Therefore, the Humanistic approach is a weak explanation of human behaviour. 
• A weakness of Freud’s theory is that it can be seen as deterministic,it explains behaviour in terms of unconscious forces and childhood events (psychic determinism) that the individual can neither escape nor explain. Because unconscious forces are the results of childhood experiences, behaviour is determined by two forces – the past and unconscious motivation – so you have no free will to choose behaviour. However, people are not completely ruled by their pasts, they can learn and choose to change their behaviour, reducing the credibility of Freud’s theory when explaining human behaviour.
• Furthermore Freud’s theory can be criticised for being unfalsifiable,meaning you cannot prove or disprove this theory as we cannot access the unconscious mind. It is unscientific in its analysis of human behaviour. Freud’s analysis of the unconscious is subjective and not open to scientific testing. All strong scientific theories should be testable as it allows them to be tested and challenged,thus demonstrating serious faults in Freud’s theory. Therefore, the Psychodynamic explanation of human behaviour can be considered weak.
• However,Freud’s theory of unconscious mind has led to a greater understanding of mental health issues,particularly through the development of the therapeutic technique of psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis has had a huge impact on the world of counselling, psychotherapy and psychiatry – PTSD treatment has developed from the acceptance of the existence of the unconscious mind, and ultimately, can trace back to childhood

  experiences to really access the ‘root cause’ of a person's mental health issues.