Comparison of approaches

• what are the five comparisons that are looked at for each approach?

  Views on development,

  Nature vs nurture

  Reductionism

  Determinism

  Explanations and treatment of abnormal/Atypical behaviour
• What is the Psychodynamic view on development?

  The psychodynamic approach presents the most coherent theory of development, tying its concepts and processes to specific (psychosexual) stages that are determined by ages. Freud saw very little development once a child enters the genital stage in teen years.
• what is the cognitive approach in development?

  Stage theories of child development, particularly the idea of concept formation (schema) as the child gets older.
• what is the Biological view on development?

  Genetically determined maturational changes influence child's behaviour e.g. cognitive/intellectual development
• what view do humanistic psychologists have on development?

  the self develops throughout life and childhood is a particularly important period and child's relationship with their parents is important in terms of unconditional positive regard.
• What is the behaviourist and SLT view on development?

  Processes that underpin learning are continuous and happen at any age
• what view does biological approach have on nature vs nurture?

  behaviour is a result of a genetic blueprint we inherit from our parents
• what view does the behaviourist and SLT have on nature vs nurture?

  Believes babies are born blank slates at birth. All behaviour comes about through learned experiences, associations and reinforcements. SLT is as behaviourism but with additional processes of observation and imitation.
• what view does the Psychodynamic Approach have on the nature nurture debate?

  Nature and nurture = behaviour driven from biological drives and instincts (nature) but relationships with parents affect later development (nurture)
• what view does the Humanistic Approach have on nature /nurture?

  Nurture - believe parents, friends and society have a wider impact on the self
• what view does the cognitive approach have on nature /nurture?

  processing abilities and schema are innate but these are constantly refined through experience
• which approaches are reductionist?

  behaviourism, biological, cognitive approach
• which approach is holistic?

  Humanistic
• what view does the Psychodynamic Approach have on Reductionism?

  Reduces behaviour to the influence of biological drives and instincts

  however sees personality as a dynamic interaction between three parts of the personality - seen as holistic interaction
• what view does the SLT have on the Reductionism?


  Reduces learning to key processes but also emphasise cognitive processes that mediate learning and how these interact with external influences.
• which approaches are deterministic?

  Biological, behaviourist, Psychodynamic
• which approach advocates free will?

  humanistic approach
• what view on determinism do cognitive psychologists take?

  We are the 'choosers' of our own behaviour but only within the limits of what we know - soft determinism
• what view on determinism does SLT have?


  reciprocal determinism, as well as being influenced by our environment we also exert some influence on it through the actions we choose to perform
• what approach do behaviourists have on treatment of Atypical behaviour?

  Abnormality arises from faulty or maladaptive learning. Behavioural therapies take a symptom-based approach to the unlearning of behaviour such as systematic desensitisation.
• what approach does SLT take on Atypical behaviours?

  little application to treatment

  principles of modelling and observational learning to explain negative behaviours I.e. aggression from influence of dysfunctional role models
• what approach does the Psychodynamic Approach have on Atypical behaviours?

  Anxiety disorders come from unconscious conflict, childhood trauma and overuse of defence mechanisms

  Use psychoanalysis as a therapy

  Not useful for everyone as need to reflect on emotions

  Psychoanalysis aims to get people in touch with their unconscious thoughts
• what view does cognitive approach have on Atypical behaviours?

  Uses cognitive therapy (CBT) to identify and eradicate faulty thinking which causes maladaptive behaviour
• what approach does the Humanistic psychologists have on Atypical behaviour?

  Humanistic therapy/counselling based on Roger's philosophy to close the gap between self concept and ideal self to stimulate personal growth
• what approach does the Biological Approach have on Atypical Behaviour?

  drug therapy regulates chemical imbalances in the brain
• what are the five comparisons that are looked at for each approach?

  Views on development,

  Nature vs nurture

  Reductionism

  Determinism

  Explanations and treatment of abnormal/Atypical behaviour
• what is the Psychodynamic view on development?

  Psychosexual stages which stop after the genital stage in the teen years
• what is the cognitive approach in development?

  Stage theories of child development particularly the idea of concept formation (schema) as the child gets older. E.g. gender children form complex concepts as they get older on schemas
• what is the Biological view on development?

  Genetically determined maturational changes influence behaviour e.g. child's physiological status which influence psychological and behavioural characteristics
• what view do humanistic psychologists have on development?

  the self develops throughout life and a child's relationship with their parents is a key pay off physiological health
• what is the behaviourist and SLT approach to development?

  processes that underpin learning are continuous and happen at any age
• what view does biological approach have on nature vs nurture?

  'Anatomy is destiny' - behaviour is a result of a genetic blueprint we inherit from our parents
• what view does the behaviourist and SLT have on nature vs nurture?

  Babies are born 'blank slates' at birth. All behaviour comes about through learned associations and reinforcements. Social learning theory is same as behaviourism but with additional processes of observation and imitation.
• what view does the Psychodynamic Approach have on the nature nurture debate?

  behaviour driven from biological drives and instincts but relationships with parents affect later development
• what view does the Humanistic Approach have on nature /nurture?

  Nature - Regards parents, friends and wider society as having a critical impact on the person's self-concept.
• what view does the cognitive approach have on nature /nurture?

  Nature and Nurture - Recognises many of our information-processing abilities and schema are innate but these are constantly refined through experience
• which approaches are reductionist?

  behaviourism, biological, cognitive approach
• which approach is holistic?

  Humanistic
• what view does the Psychodynamic Approach have on Reductionism?

  behaviour is due to the influence of sexual drives and instincts

  however argues personality is a dynamic interaction between three parts of the personality - seen as holistic
• what view does the SLT have on the Reductionism?

  reduces learning to key processes but also emphasise cognitive processes that mediate learning and how these interact with external influences