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Approaches in Psychology - Coggle Diagram
Approaches in Psychology
Origins of psychology
Wundt and Introspection
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Wundt's aim was to describe the nature of human consciousness in a carefully controlled and scientific environment which developed introspection
Wundt and his co-workers recorded their own conscious thoughts with the aim to break them down into basic structures
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Standardised procedures
All introspections were recorded under strict conditions with the same stimulus, e.g. ticking metronome. The same standardised instructions were given to all participants which allowed the procedure to be replicated.
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Strength of introspection: shows psychology can be conducted in a reliable controlled experimental manner. Encouraged the behaviourist to follow the same experimental approach and be more scientific. Cognitivism again used controlled conditions to discover more about how invisible internal mental processes can be understood using controlled scientific verifiable methods.
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Science: A means of acquiring knowledge through systematic and objective methods of investigating to formulate general laws of behaviour.
Psychology: The scientific study of the human mind and its functions, especially those that effect behaviour in a given context.
The learning approach
Behaviourism
Only interested in studying behaviour that is observed and measured and rely on controlled lab experiments as the best method to do this.
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Behaviourists believe that the same process that governs learning is the same for all species and therefore animals can replace humans as experimental subjects
Real-life application: Principles of conditioning have been applied to a broad range of real-world behaviours and problems, e.g. token economies. Operant conditioning is the basis of the token economy system and has been used successfully in institutions such as hospitals. Desired behaviour is immediately rewarded with a token which can be exchanged for a privilege. This act of positive reinforcement can help patients keep parallel with expected behaviours in the real world and will make leaving the hospital easier.
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Social learning theory
Bandura suggested that learning also takes place in a social context through observing and imitation of others' behaviours
Bandura's research 1 - Children watched either an adult behave aggressively towards a Bobo doll or an adult behaving non- aggressively towards Bobo doll. When the children had their own Bobo doll to play with, the children who had watch the aggressive video were more likely to be aggressive toward the doll.
Bandura's research 2 - Children watched a video of an adult behaving aggressively towards Bobo. Group 1 saw the adult being praised, Group 2 saw the adult being punished and Group 3 saw the aggression without any consequences. Children from Group 1 was most aggressive followed by Group 3 and then Group 2.
Vicarious reinforcement: Observation of other people's behaviour and acknowledging the consequences. Behaviour that is seen to be rewarded is more likely to be imitated than behaviour that is punished.
Mediational processes
- Motor reproduction - the ability of the observer to perform the behaviour
- Attention - The extent the behaviour is noticed
- Retention - How well the behaviour is remembered
- Motivation - the will to perform the behaviour, often determined by the behaviour being rewarded or punished
The learning and performance behaviour do not need to occur together. The observer may store the observed behaviour and reproduced it later.
Identification: People (especially children) are likely to imitate the behaviour of people who they identify with, role models. This is called modelling.
People are seen as role models if they share similar characteristics to the observer and are often attractive and have high status.
SLT emphasises the importance of cognitive factors in learning: Takes thought processes into account and the role they play in deciding whether to imitate behaviour. It provides a more comprehensive account of human learning by recognising the role of mediational processes. E.g. SLT is more able to explain more complex social behaviours through vicarious reinforcement than models based of simple reinforcement.
However, it can't account for how we develop a range of behaviours such as thoughts and feelings. We have cognitive control over our behaviour and therefore just because we have experienced something doesn't mean we have to reproduce it.
Over reliance on lab studies: Many of Bandura's theories came through observation of children's behaviour in lab conditions. These studies are often critisised for creating an environment where participants may respond to demand characteristics. The main purpose of Bobo was to hit it and therefore children may have been behaving as they thought was expected. Children often seek praise from adults. Therefore, the research may reveal less about learning through observation.
The cognitive approach
The cognitive approach argues that internal mental processes (memory, perception and thinking) should be studied scientifically.
Internal mental processes are 'private' and cannot be observed, therefore cognitive psychologists make inferences on the basis of people's behaviour.
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Schema
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They act as a mental framework for interpretation of incoming information received by he cognitive system and can act as a mental shortcut that prevents being overwhelmed by environmental stimuli.
Babies are born with a simple motor schema for innate behaviours, e.g. sucking
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Cognitive neuroscience: the scientific study of biological structures that influences cognitive processes
Advances in brain scanning technology has meant scientists are able to describe the neurological basis of mental processing, e.g Tulving et al was able to show that episodic and semantic memory are located on opposite sides of the prefrontal cortex in the brain.
Scanning techniques: they have provided useful in establishing the neurological basis of mental disorders such as OCD.
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The biological approach
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Darwin (1859): The Theory of Natural Selection - any genetically determined behaviour that enhances survival and reproductions will be passes onto future generations
These genes are described as adaptive and give the possessor advantages, for example they are more likely to survive, reproduce and pass on these adaptive traits to offspring.
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Real-life application: Understanding of biochemical processes in the brain has led to development of psychoactive drugs (treat depressions, OCD). Although they don't work for all, they have revolutionised treatment for many. Patients who find it too much of a challenge to travel to therapy are able to access treatment from home. This may help them get into an easier mental state to seek non medicinal treatment.
Determinist view of behaviour: Sees human behaviour governed by internal, biological causes which people have no control over. This contradicts the legal system which holds offenders accountable for their actions. Discovering a 'criminal gene' could complicate the whole system. This research could have possible negative implications for wider society as criminals may be able to excuse their behaviour.