approaches in psychology

• Cognitive approach assumptions

  1. internal mental processes should be scientifically studied
  2. mind works like a computer
  3. mental processes occurring between a stimulus and a response must be acknowledged
• idiographic: the way to view individuals as unique
• nomothetic: the way to view individuals by general laws
• humanistic approach assumptions

  1. every individual is unique and should be treated as such
  2. individuals possess free will
  3. people should be viewed holistically
  4. the scientific method is not appropriate to measure behaviour
• free will: the ability to make conscious choices about our behaviour
• determinism: there is no choice about our behaviour
• nature: people are born with predispositions and pre-programmed behaviours
• nurture: people are born without any innate mechanisms, behaviour is determined by experiences
• interactionist: a theory that suggests that behaviour is influenced by the interaction between the individual and their environment
• holism: viewing individuals as a whole
• reductionism: reducing behaviour down to a single explanation
• Biological approach key debates in psychology:

  Biologically deterministic

  Biologically reductionist

  Nature

  Nomothetic

  Scientific
• Behaviourist approach key debates in psychology:

  Environmentally deterministic

  Environmentally reductionist

  Nurture

  Nomothetic

  Scientific
• Social Learning Theory key debates in psychology:

  Soft determinism

  Environmental Reductionism

  Nurture

  Nomothetic

  Scientific
• Cognitive approach key debates in psychology:

  Soft determinism

  Reductionist

  Nature and Nurture

  Nomothetic

  Scientific - unobservable mental processes
• Psychodynamic approach key debates in psychology:

  Psychic determinism

  Reductionist and holistic

  Nature and nurture

  Nomothetic and idiographic

  Unscientific
• Humanistic approach key debates in psychology:

  Free will

  Holistic

  Nature and nurture

  Idiographic

  Unscientific
• Soft determinism: acknowledges that determinism exists but in some circumstances there is an ability to choose
• Psychodynamic Approach assumptions:

  • origins of behaviour lie in the unconscious mind
  • instincts motivate behaviour - Eros and Thanatos
  • early childhood experiences influence behaviour
• Eros: the drive to create life
• Thanatos: The drive or desire to die
• Id: the unconscious part of the personality = pleasure principle
• Ego: the mediator between the id and the superego = reality principle
• Superego: the moralistic part of the personality learnt from parents = morality principle
• Social Learning theory assumptions:

  • behaviour is learnt from the environment
  • behaviour is learnt from observation of others and their punishment / reinforcement
  • observed behaviour is imitated
• Behaviourist Approach assumptions:

  • behaviour is learnt from experience
  • observable behaviour is measured scientifically
  • there is no genetic influence - tabula rasa
  • same laws with non-humans
• Biological Approach assumptions:

  • people are biological organisms
  • human behaviour is controlled by biological factors; genetics, CNS, biochemistry
• Scientific method:

  Falsifiable = cannot be proved wrong

  Objective = all sources of bias are minimised

  Replicable = can be repeated

  Empirical = careful observation

  Systematic = carried out in an orderly way
• introspection: the process of investigating internal events by examining thoughts and feelings
• Wundt's contribution to psychology:

  • 1879 - set up the first experimental psychology lab
  • founded the institute of experimental psychology (Leipzig Uni)
  • wrote the first psychology textbook
  • devised introspection