approaches

• what is the cognitive approach

  -direct contrast to behaviourist

  -argues that internal mental processes should be studied scientifically

  -study indirectly by making inferences abt people's minds
• the role of schema- cognitive approach

  -schema: persons beliefs or experiences

  -babies born with simple motor schema for innate behaviours

  -get older= schema more detailed

  -allows us to process info quickly to not get overwhelmed
• theoretical and computer models- cognitive approach


  - information processing approach: info flows in stages (multi store model)

  -based on the way computers function

  - mind is likened to a computer and applied to artificial intelligence
• the emergence of cognitive neuroscience- cognitive

  -scientific study of influence of brain structures on mental processes

  -broca: broca's area

  -fMRIs and PET scans can observe mental processes

  -all led to development of mind mapping techniques (brain finger painting)

  -used to analyse brain wave patterns of eyewitnesses to see if lying in court
• strength of cognitive approach

  -scientific methods: able to infer cognitive processes, lab studies for reliable data

  -real world application: important for AI which revolutionise the future, applied to treatment of depression and reliability of eyewitness testimony
• Weakness of cognitive approach

  Machine reductionism: similarities between humans and computers, but ignores human emotion and motivation (eg human memory can be effected by emotional factors for example anxiety on eyewitness)
• what is the biological approach

  everything looks psychological is first biological so we need biological structures to understand human behaviour

  -contrast to cognitive approach
• neurochemical basis of behaviour- biological approach


  actions of chemicals on the brain- our thought relies on chemical transmission which occurs using neurotransmitters.

  -imbalance of neurochemicals in the brain can cause mental illness
• genetic basis of behaviour- biological approach

  -twin studies: analysing concordance rates (extent to twins sharing same characteristics)

  - if characteristic is genetic we expect all identical twins too be concordant (100% same genes)

  - nonidentical share 50% of the same genes
• genotype and phenotype- biological approach

  -genotype= actual genetic makeup

  -phenotype= the way genes expressed through physical, behaviour and psychological differences

  -human behaviour depends on interaction between inherited factors and environment
• evolution and behaviour in the biological approach

  -darwin: natural selection (genetic behaviour that enhances survival will continue for generations)

  -farmers select animal that's desirable to breed
• strength of biological approach

  -real world application: increased understanding of neurochemical processes with the use of psychoactive drugs.

  -scientific methods: precise and highly objective (fmris and eegs)
• Limits of Biological Approach

  biological determinism: sees human behaviour as governed by internal, genetic causes that we can't control. could a violent criminal excuse there actions by claiming behaviour is crime gene
• What is the psychodynamic approach?

  frued: conscious mind is tip

  of the iceberg, the unconscious contains threatening and disturbing memories that have been repressed- accessed through dreams or slip of tongue.
• the structure of personality- psychodynamic


  frued: tripartite of 3 parts:

  -ID: pleasure principle, drive of unconscious drive and instincts, only present at birth, selfish and wants gratification

  -EGO: reality principle, mediator, develops at 2, reduces conflict between id and superego

  -SUPEREGO: morality principle, formed at phallic stage, sense of right and wrong,
• psychosexual stage- psychodynamic


  child development occurs in 5 stages, marks a different conflict the child has to resolve- anything unresolved leads to fixation where the child becomes stuck and carries to adult life
• defence mechanisms- psychodynamic


  -ego balancing conflicting demands of id and superego, unconscious and ensures ego can prevent us from being overwhelmed by temporary threat or trauma.

  -can involve distortion of reality as they are psychologically unhealthy
• strength of the Psychodynamic Approach


  -real world application: introduced psychotherapy. frued brought new therapy (psychoanalysis). range of techniques to access the unconscious and helps to bring to conscious mind so they can deal with it

  
  

  -explanatory power: explains human behaviour and used to explain a wide range of phenomena like personality development, abnormal behaviour, moral development and gender identity.
• Limitation of the psychodynamic approach


  Freud's concepts cannot be scientifically tested.

  
  

  E.g. id, Oedipus complex, defence mechanisms etc. all occur in the unconscious and so cannot be directly observed and measured.

  
  

  A lack of empirical evidence limits the approach's reliability and validity which in turn reduces psychology's status as a science.
• what is the humanistic approach


  An approach to understanding behaviour that emphasises the importance of subjective experience and each person's capacity for self-determination.
• Free will - humanistic approach


  -humans can make choices and are not determined by biological or external factors

  -claims humans are self determining and have free will unlike other approaches (biological)

  -we are active agents who have the ability to determine our own development
• Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs- humanistic approach

  physiological needs, security needs, love and belonging, esteem needs, self actualisation
• self actualisation- humanistic approach


  highest level of hierarchy- when a baby is first focused on physiological needs.

  personal growth is essential part of being human.

  psychological barriers that can prevent reaching a goal
• the self, congruence, conditions of worth - humanistic


  -rogers: for personal growth to be achieved people need to have congruence with their ideal self.

  -if too big gap between two selves then incongruence and self actualisation not possible

  -client-centered therapy to reduce gap to cope with everyday problems (many issues from childhood as lack of positive regard and conditional love)
• strengths of humanistic approach


  -not reductionist: rejects attempt to break into smaller parts, advocate holism and person can only be understood considering whole person- more validity

  -positive approach: optimistic, free to work towards achievement and in control (contrast to freud being slaves to our past)
• Limitations of humanistic approach


  -cultural bias: individual freedom, autonomy, personal growth all associated with individualist cultures as collectivist cultures (India) emphasize needs of group, community and interdependence. so doesn't apply to all context
• what are the comparisons of approaches


  -views on development

  -nature vs nurture

  -reductionism

  -determinism
• Views on development-comparisons

  -psychodynamic; stages determined by age

  -cognitive; increasing schema as we get older

  -biological; genetically determined changes in childs physiological status

  -humanistic; self development through life

  -behaviourists&social learning; development continous throughout life
• nature vs nurture- comparisons


  -behaviourist; blank slate and learn through reinforcement

  -biological; genetic blueprint and genetics but way its expressed is influence by environment

  -humanistic; parents, friends can have impact on self concept

  -cognitive; info and schema innate but refined through experience
• reductionism- comparisons

  -behavourism- reductionist; breaks up complex behaviour to be tested

  -biological- reductionist; psychological state at level of gene

  -psychodynamic-holistic; influence of sex drives

  -humanistic- holistic; all aspects of individual and wider society
• determinism- comparisons

  -all behaviour has internal or external causes

  -behaviourist; external influences

  -biological; internal; genetics

  -psychodynamic- internal

  -social learning- reciprocal eg both

  -humanistic- internal; free will