PSYCH PAPER 2

• What is introspection?


  A method where subjects analyse their own thoughts and feelings in relation to a stimulus (studies sensation and perception) using a standardised procedure
• What are the limitations of introspection?


  Subjective, unfalsifiable
• How did Wundt attempt to make introspection scientific?

  He used standardised procedures in a controlled environment
• What features make something a science? (5)

  Hypothesis testing, Objectivity, Replicability, Falsifiability, Empirical
• Which approaches take the most scientific (nomothetic) approach to psychology?

  Behaviourist, Cognitive, Biological
• Which approaches take the least scientific approach to psychology?

  Humanistic, Psychodynamic
• What are the assumptions of the behaviourist approach? (3)

  All behaviour is learnt, Animals and humans learn in the same way, We a born a blank slate
• How would you describe the research methods used by the behaviourist approach?

  Use experimental method, with animals as subjects, looking for quantifiable behaviour
• What is generalisation in Classical conditioning?

  When stimuli similar to the original CS produce the same response
• What is extinction in classical conditioning?


  Where the CR stops being produced by the CS
• How would you explain the difference between classical and operant conditioning?

  Classical conditioning is learning by association, operant conditioning is learning by reinforcement
• List the three types of reinforcement key to explaining operant conditioning.

  Positive reinforcement, Negative reinforcement, Punishment
• Outline positive reinforcement in operant conditioning.

  Behaviour is more likely to be repeated as a result of reward
• Outline negative reinforcement in operant conditioning.

  Behaviour is more likely to be repeated as a result of removing a negative stimulus
• Outline punishment in operant conditioning.

  Behaviour is less likely to be repeated as a result of addition of a negative stimulus
• What is the strength of the behaviourist approach?

  Lots of experimental evidence à scientific credibility, Application to treatment of phobias and modification of problematic behaviour (dealing with offending)
• What are the problems with the behaviourist approach?

  Generalising from animal studies, Ethical issues associated with animal research, Reductionist & Deterministic
• Which side of the nature nurture debate is the behaviourist approach on?

  Nurture
• What is the name given to psychologists who subscribe to the behaviourist approach?

  Empiricists
• What is the learning approach developed by Bandura called?

  Social learning theory
• What are the assumptions of Social Learning theory?

  The same as the behaviourist approach + addition of the importance of role models
• Describe the key idea behind SLT.

  We learn a lot of behaviour through role models using cognitive mediational processes.
• Explain the role of modelling and where our role models come from in SLT.

  We observe and imitate a role model, this requires us to identify with that role model. This is more likely if they are the same gender as ourselves, considered attractive, or are of higher social status.
• Describe vicarious reinforcement in SLT.

  We learn by seeing others rewarded for a behaviour and then imitate those behaviours that are rewarded.
• What are the 4 mediational processes in SLT?

  Attention, Retention, Motor reproduction, Motivation
• Describe how the 4 mediation processes in SLT relate to learning and performing behaviours we have observed.


  Learning = attention - see the behaviour, and retention - remember the behaviour and it's consequences, Performance = motor reproduction - the ability to reproduce the behaviour, and motivation - whether we want to perform the behaviour or not (largely based on whether we saw it reinforced or not)
• Outline the procedure for Bandura's original research which formed the basis of SLT.

  Studied learnt aggression, 36 boys and 36 girls, matched pairs design, 3 conditions, 1) Adult hits BoBo doll, 2) Adult ignores BoBo doll and plays nicely with other toys, 3) No adult models, Children put into play room and observed for 20 minutes
• Outline the findings of Bandura's original research for SLT.

  Children exposed to aggressive role models also played aggressively, children with non-aggressive role models also played non-aggressively. Children without a role model were slightly more aggressive in their play than the non-aggressive children.
• What conclusion was drawn from Bandura's original research for SLT?

  Aggressive behaviour is learnt through imitation of role models.
• As well as his original BoBo doll study, what other versions did Bandura conduct?

  Children saw the adults playing aggressively/non-aggressively on TV. Children saw fantasy characters playing aggressively/non-aggressively.
• What conclusions was Bandura able to draw from his extra variations of the BoBo doll study?

  The role model does not have to be physically present for imitation to occur. Imitation is more likely when the role model was same gender as the observer, but this is not essential.
• What are the strengths of Bandura's BoBo doll study?


  Well controlled, so high reliability and replication
• What are the weaknesses of Bandura's BoBo doll study?

  Low ecological validity, Hard to generalise (all children from same school), Possible demand characteristics
• Which two approaches is Bandura trying to combine in SLT?

  Behaviourist and Cognitive
• What are the implications of SLT?

  Need to look carefully at role models provided for children - need for male teachers, look at the media, behaviour of those in high profile positions needs to recognise influence it can have (could link to criminal behaviour)
• What are the strengths of SLT?

  Less reductionist than behaviourism - recognises a role for cognitive processes, Has experimental evidence, Can explain cultural differences
• What are the weaknesses of SLT?

  Ignores biological factors (still reductionist), Basis in lab studies
• What are the key ideas underlying the cognitive approach?

  Behaviour results from cognitive processes e.g. perception, language, attention, memory, Inferences about processes can be made from examining resulting behaviours, Mind functions like a computer, Schemas
• What types of research methods would cognitive psychologists use?

  Lab, field and natural experiments, Occasionally introspection, Some use of brain imaging in cog. neuroscience
• Describe the cognitive computer analogy.

  Information enters through senses, like computers use a keyboard, Signals are passed through the brain (neurons) like wires in computers, The brain acts like the central processor in a computer, encoding and storing information, Information is passed back out of the brain for action (retrieval) like output to a computer monitor