Approaches

• Behaviourism AO3 #1


  P: A weakness of the behaviourist appoach is that some of its key studies didn't use humans.

  E: Both Pavlov's dog study and Skinner's rat study used animals to test the assumptions of both classical and operant conditioning.

  E: This is a weakness because it reduces the ecological validity of the approach for human psychology as results may not be the same for humans as it is for animals.

  CA: However, some psychologists may argue that animals, especially mammals such as dogs and rats, have brains that function similarly to humans and therefore research could somehwat be applied to humans, increasing its internal validity.

  C: Although, this can be seen as a reductionist view which makes the approach less valid at explaining human behaviour, therefore reducing the applicability of the behaviourist approach.
• Behaviourism AO3 #2


  P: A strength of the Behaviourist approach is that many of its key principles are used in schools and prisons.

  E: For example, positive reinforcement is used in order to increase the frequency of desired behaviours such as obedience and punishments are also given in order to stop undesirable behaviours.

  E: This is a strength of the behaviourist approach as it increases the utility of the approach as its assumptions are being used in the real world effectively.

  CA: However, some psychologists may argue that conditioning works to remove free will from a person's behaviour patterns and are also not wholly effective at reinforcing behaviour, hence identifying that the principles lack integrity.

  C: Despite this, these principles demonstrate that the approach holds much ecological validity as they are used on such a wide scale globally.
• Behaviourism AO3 #3


  P: Another strength of the behaviourist approach is that studies were conducted in a lab setting.

  E: This meant that extraneous variables can be controlled for and a clear cause and effect can be established.

  E: This is a strength because it resulted in a more controlled and internally valid study.

  CA: However, some psycholgoists may argue that lab studies have the potential for demand characteristics which could cause the participnats the alter their behaviours, therefore reducing the ecological validity fo the study.

  C: Despite this, this is still an advantage of the approach as it makes the studies easier to be replicated which makes the approach more reputable.
• SLT AO3 #1


  P: A strength of SLT is that it is effectively applied to the media

  E: For example, mediational processes, a key feature of SLT, is often used in adverts in order to influence people to buy a product

  E: This is a strength because it demonstrates that SLT is globally applicable which increases its credibility.

  CA:However, some psychologists may argue that mediational processes oversimplify the complex dynamics involved in advertising, such as the important role of emotions in advertising which aren't fully addressed by the mediational processes

  C: Despite this, it is evident that meditaional processes play a key role in many adverts which increases the utility and applicability of SLT
• SLT AO3 #2


  P: Another strength of SLT is that it explains cultural differences in behaviour.

  E: For example, SLT acknowledges that people are affected by their environment through practices such as modelling and therefore culture has an impact on learnt behaviour, such as greeting customs.

  E: This is a strength because it shows that SLT is not ethnocentric as it considers other cultures which makes the approach more applicable.

  CA: However, some psychologists may argue that cultural differences in behaviour may not solely be attributed to the principles of modelling and observational learning, and that historical context and cultural norms play a big role in shaping cultural differences.

  C: Despite this, SLT clearly displays that it can be applied to a variety of cultures, making it a far more reliable approach.
• SLT AO3 #3


  P: A weakness of SLT is its reliance on lab studies

  E: An example of this is Bandura's Bobo doll study which observed the actions of children towards a doll after watching an adult interact with the doll in order to test vicarious reinforcement.

  E: This is a weakness of SLT as lab studies can lack ecological validity, meaning that the results may not be repeated in real life situations. This makes SLT less valid.

  CA: However, some psychologists may argue that lab studies have high levels of internal control over extraneous varibales which allow for studies to have a clear focus on the effect of the independent variable.

  C: Despite this, lab studies are a weakness of SLT as the potential for demand characteristics obscure the accuracy of participants behaviour within the study. This greatly decreases the effectiveness of a study and hence the utility of the SLT approach.
• Cognitive AO3 #1


  P: A strength of the cognitive approach is that there is supporting evidence for schemas.

  E: Bugelski and Alampay's research using the 'ratman' identified that priming schemas with certain stimuli causes participants to interpret the same image as either a face or an animal.

  E: This is a strength of the cognitive approach because it offers evidence for schemas which therefore increases the reliability of the approach.

  CA: However, some psychologists may argue that because Bugelski and Alampay used artifical stimuli, the results may not reflect responses to natural stimuli in everyday life.

  C: Despite this, it is still a strength of the approach as it increases trust in the concept of the schema, encouraging psychologists to use the approach to explain behaviour.
• Cognitive AO3 #2


  P: Another strength of the cognitive approach si that it uses scientific methods to study mental processes

  E: For example, cognitive neuroscience and lab studies are both used to produce theories for the cognitive approach

  E: This is a strength as these theories can be supported by empirical research which is therefore more reliable.

  CA: However, some psychologists may argue that the cognitive approach also uses inferences to study interal mental processes which are not scientific and cannot be physically proven.

  C: Despite this, scientific methods of research increase the validity of the approach by supporting the theories and assumptions.
• Cognitive AO3 #3


  P: Another weakness of the approach is that it advocates for machine reductionism.

  E: This means that in the use of computer models, it can be argued that the approach reduces human thought and personality to that of a computer.

  E: This is a weakness because it reduces the applicability of the approach as people view it as incomplete or unreliable due to its reductionist views.

  CA: However, some psychologists may argue that the computer model simplifies human thought processes because they are far too complex to be studied individually and therefore must be broken down to allow psychologists to suggest ideas on human thought processing.

  C: Despite this, machine reductionsim is still a weakness of the approach because it decreases the utility of the approach due to its ethical concerns and therefore weakens its applicability.
• Biological AO3 #1


  P: A weakness of the biological approach is that it ignores the role of the environment

  E: The main argument for this is the evolutionary theory put forward by Darwin which uses the example of giraffes with long necks being able to obtain more food and therefore becoming more common over time as the giraffes with shorter necks died out.

  E: This is a weakness of the biological approach because it disregards the influence of the environment on behaviour and characteristics, making it a less reliable approach.

  CA: However, some psychologists may argue that the evolutionary theory does consider the environment as giraffes evolved to have long necks due to environmental pressures such as tall trees.

  C: Despite this, on the whole the biological approach is seen as a nomothetic approach which can make the approach less applicable as people may view the approach as too general.
• Biological AO3 #2


  P: Another weakness of the biological approach is the ethical implications on the justice system.

  E: This means that if a criminal was genetically predisposed to commit a crime, they could plead not guilty in court as the crime was not committed of their own free will.

  E: This is a weakness of the biological approach as it creates many complications surrounding the legitimacy of criminals with genetic conditions which encouraged them to commit crimes, which makes the approach less trusted.

  CA: However, some psychologists may argue that it raises awareness for the implications of genetic predispositions and allows us to target and prevent criminal behaviour.

  C: Despite this, the biological approach clearly causes contradictions within the justice system which may make it harder to convict criminals for their crimes, which could make the approach unpopular among some.
• Biological AO3 #3


  P: A strength of the biological approach is that it has led to the development of drug treatments.

  E: For example, SSRIs are a type of antidepressant which can be administered to people with OCD and depression to increase the concentration of serotonin present within the brain

  E: This is a strength of the biological approach as it shows that it has practical applications which are proven to be effective, making the approach more valid.

  CA: However, some psychologists may argue that many drug treatments have significant side effects and treat symptoms instead of the disorder itself.

  C: Despite this, drug treatments have proven to be and time and cost effective method of managing many psychological disorders and therefore demonstrate the applicability of the biological approach in psychological treatments.
• Psychodynamic AO3 #1


  P: A strength of the psychodynamic approach is that it led to psychoanalysis.

  E: Psychoanalysis was the first way of treating mental disorders aside from drug treatments by examining and releasing unconscious thoughts, memories and desires.

  E: This is a strength of the psychodynamic approach as it shows the real life applicability of the approach and also how it set the ground for further talking therapies such as CBT.

  CA: However, some psychologists may argue that psychoanalysis is inappropriate and even harmful for individuals with more serious disorders such as schizophrenia as it distorts reality. Therefore psychoanalysis cannot be applied to all mental disorders.

  C: Despite this, psychoanalysis is still a strength of the approach as it was the first attempt at psychological treatment, thus increasing the value of the approach in the psychological world.
• Psychodynamic AO3 #2


  P: Another strength of the psychdynamic approach is that there is supporting evidence for the Oedipus complex in the Little Hans case study

  E: Freud claimed after speaking with Hans that his phobia of horses was due to the displaced fear of his father

  E: This is a strength of the approach because it provides evidence of the Oedipus complex and the behaviours it can cause , increasing the validity of the approach due to the higher external validity.

  CA: Some psychologists may argue that individual case studies are not valid as evidence because they cannot be generalised which decreases its applicability in the wider world and for other patients.

  C: Despite this, the case study of Little Hans insinuates the possibility of accessing the unconscious , making the approach more reliable and useful.
• Psychodynamic AO3 #3


  P: A weakness of the approach is that there is a lack of scientific evidence to back up Freud's theories.

  E: Freud uses case studies which involve talking to the patient and don't have controlled factors or results.

  E: This is a weakness because it makes his theories less valid as they lack empirical evidence, making them less likely to be used by psychologists.

  CA: However, some psychologists may argue that as many of his concepts occur at an unconscious level, it would be difficult if not impossible to test them.

  C: Despite this, as his studies were mainly of individuals it is difficult to apply his theories universally.
• Humanist AO3 #1


  P: A weakness of the humanistic approach is that it rejects scientific methods.

  E: Humanists prefer to use qualitative methods, such as unstructured interviews and case studies.

  E: This is a weakness because it results in a lack of empirical evidence which makes the approach less valid as the concepts dont have sufficient proof.

  CA: On the other hand, humanists would argue that being a human is a subjective experience so therefore relies solely on personal experience.

  C: Despite this, the lack of scientific research means that the approach has only been applied to limited areas due to the lack of trust which clearly illustrates that the approach is made less useful and valid by the lack of scientific evidence.
• Humanist AO3 #2


  P: A strength of the humanistic approach is that it has led to client-centred therapy being used widely.

  E: Client-centred therapy focuses on an individual's personal discovery and provides unconditional positive regard.

  E: This is a strength because it shows that an aspect of the humanistic approach is highly applicable and has had a positive impact on the treatment of mental disorders.

  CA: However, it can be argued that client-centred therapy is not effective foe certain mental disorders such as schizophrenia as the disorder distorts reality, making personal discovery ineffective.

  C: Despite this, client-centred therapy and the outlook it provides on treatment of a client are a strength of the humanistic approach as it has transformed the modern idea of therapy and therefore strengthens the validity of the approach.
• Humanist AO3 #3


  P: Another weakness of the approach is that it is ethnocentric.

  E: For example, many of the main ideas such as individual freedom, autonomy and personal growth are readily associated with Western individualist cultures such as the USA.

  E: This is a weakness of the approach as it decreases its applicability around the world as it doesnt consider how cultural values could impact behaviours.

  CA: However, some psychologists may argue that Maslow's hierarchy of needs demonstrates the universality of human needs and experiences and focuses on the fundamental aspects of human nature.

  C: Despite this, the humanistic approach is evidently ethnocentric as many of its key ideals align closely with Western cultures and are not applicable to other cultures, making the approach less valid as it doesnt consider all cultures.
• Wundt AO3 #1


  P: A weakness of Wundt's role in developing psychology as a science is that not all approaches use scientific methods, therefore the subject is not fully scientific.

  E: For example, the Humanist approach rejects science entirely and relies on interviews, case studies, and other qualitative methods which lack empirical value.

  E: This is a weakness because it shows that Wundt's role was limited as not all approaches value scientific methods.

  CA: However, some psychologists may argue that Wundt established intorspection which is a scientific methd which is still used widely today in cognitive psychology to research into human behaviour, which highlights modern psychology being a science.

  C: Despite this, Wundt's role in establishing psychology as a science is limited because some psychologists such as Skinner argue that introspection isn't scientific as results are subjective and can't be guaranteed as accurate.
• Wundt AO3 #2


  P: A strengt of Wundt's role is that introspection and 'think aloud' studies are used in research today.

  E: A key study by Griffiths (1994) asked gamblers to 'think aloud' when they played at a fruit machine which enabled them to identify that gamblers have an entirely different thinking style than non-gamblers. 'Think aloud' studies are alos used in a lot of qualitative research today and can provide useful information

  E: This is a strength because it shows that Wundt's key scientific method is still used today which emphasises his impact in the development of psychology.

  CA: However, some psychologists such as Freud may argue that introspection isn't effective as unconscious thoughts can't be detected by the conscious mind and therefore introspection lacks internal validity.

  C: Despite this, Wundt's role is important as not only is introspection still used widely by psychologists today, but other scientific methods such as control over variables which shows Wundt's influence and applicability to psychology as a science.
• Wundt AO3 #3


  P: A weakness of Wundt's role in the development of psychology is that the method of introspection relies on self-report, which could be biased due to the subjective nature.

  E: Introspection requires the participant to share all thoughts out loud, however it is very likely that a participant may not include thoughts that people may view as socially unacceptable. This is known as social desirability bias.

  E: This is a weakness of Wundt's role as it undermines his scientific method as unscientific and unreliable.

  CA: However, some psychologists may argue that Wundt encouraged researchers to use triangulation methods by replicating observations across multiple participants to enhance the validity and reliability of their findings and so the method of introspection is not entirely unreliable.

  C: Despite this, it is still a weakness of Wundt's role in developing psychology as introspection being seen as unreliable made Wundt's establishment of psychology as a science weaker.