approaches evaluation

• origins of psychology 1

  • wundts methods were unreliable - based on non observable responses. processes of memory or perception were considered to be unobservable constructions - was a lack of reliability in his methods and experimental methods were not easily reproducible 
  • strength in scientific approach to psychology - as it relies on  belief in determinism they - able to establish causes of behaviour  through use of replicable methods. scientific knowledge is self- corrective as  psychologists are always repeating each other’s experiments
• origins of psychology 2

  • limitations of a scientific approach to psychology - by focusing on controlling observations contrived situations are created that tell us little about how people act in more natural environments.
• behaviourist approach 1

  • strengths of classical conditioning - has led to the developments of treatments for the reduction of anxiety associated with phobias e.g. systematic desensitization.This works by eliminating the learned anxious response and replacing it with another of relaxation.
  • Strengths  of operant conditioning explanations- Skinner’s research was done through experimental methods with controlled conditions.By manipulating the IV we(consequences of behaviour) he was able to accurately measure the effects on the DV(rat’s behaviour).
• behaviourist approach 2

  • Limitations of operant conditioning explanations- Skinner’s  research involved the study of animals rather than humans meaning that the results tell us little about human behaviour.Critics reject  Skinner’s disregard for free will.
• social learning theory 1

  • Underestimates the role of biological influences-The boys in the experiment were more aggressive then the girls which can be explained by hormonal factors such as testosterone which is linked to aggressive behaviour.SLT doesn’t account for this important influence on behaviour.
  • Problem of causality-Siegel and McCormick suggested that young people who possess deviant attitudes would seek out peers with similar attitudes and behaviours.So the cause of delinquency may not be due to role models but the possession of deviant attitudes before associating with deviant peers.
• social learning theory 2

  • Explains cultural differences in behaviour-SLT accounts for how children learn from others around them and media.This can explain how cultural norms can be transmitted through societies.
  • Useful application-to increase understanding on human behaviour such as criminal behaviour
• cognitive approach 1

  • Applications of the cognitive approach-has been applied to social psychology and social cognition and has helped psychologists understand how we form impressions of other people.It has also been applied to artificial intelligence.
  • Scientific and objective methods-research supporting the cognitive approach has taken place in highly controlled settings and been rigorously evaluated to reach accurate conclusions on how the mind works.
• cognitive approach 2

  • Ignores  emotion and motivation-the cognitive approach explains how cognitive processes take place but not why they take place.The lack of focus on motivation may be explained by the over dependence on information processing analogies,as motivation can not be applied to a computer.
• biological approach 1

  • Scientific methods of investigation-precise and highly scientific methods are used to study biological and genetic basis of behaviour e.g fMRIs and drug trials - neural and biological processes can be measured accurately  without bias - biological approach is based  on reliable data.
• biological apporach 2

  • Determinist view of behaviour-the biological approach is deterministic as it sees behaviour to be controlled by internal ,biological causes over which there is no control.This has implications in legal system e.g one of the rules of law is that criminals are seen as morally and legally responsible for their actions.
• psychodynamic approach 1

  • psychoanalysis is a gender biased approach - freuds views on women and female sexuality were less developed than his views on male sexuality - remained ignorant on female sexuality and how it differed from male sexuality. Dismissing women and their sexuality is problematic beacuse his theories are still so influential today.
• psychodynamic approach 2

  • The case study method-Freud’s interpretations were highly subjective and critics have said that it is not possible to make universal claims about human nature based on studies of such a small number of people who were psychologically abnormal.
  • psychoanalysis a pioneering approach - new methodological procedures for gathering evidence was based on observations of behaviour rather than relying on introspection. freud and his followers were first to show potential of psychological rather than biological treatments for disorders e.g depression and anxiety.
• humanistic approach 1

  • unrealistic - humanistic psychology represents an over idealised and unrealistic view of human nature. critics argue that humans are not as good and 'growth orientated' as humanists suggest. - approach doesnt recognise people's capacity for pessimism and self-destructive behaviour.
• humanistic approach 2

  • research for conditions of worth - individuals who experience conditional positive regard are likely to display more 'false self behaviour' doing things to meet others expectations - harter discovered that teenagers who feel they need to fulfil certain conditions to gain approval end up not liking themselves, lose touch with their own true self and develop depression
• humanistic approach 3


  humanistic research methods - evaluating humanistic approach scientifically is difficult because most evidence used to support approach fails to establish causal relationship between variables. experimental methods make it impossible to verify results of counselling. psychologists argue that without experimental evidence, evaluation of a therapy becomes very difficult