APPROACHES

The Behaviourist Approach:oPsychology should be the study of observational behaviour in a scientific way.oAll human behaviour is learnt.oThere are two basic laws of learning- Classical and operant conditioning.oThere is no distinction between human and animal forms of learning.oBehaviour should be studied under controlled conditions.

Social Learning Theory:oBehaviour is learned through observation and imitation.oModelling- some people are more likely to be imitated.oBehaviour that is reinforced is more likely to be imitated.oMediating cognitive factors.oUse of lab experiments.

The Psychodynamic Approach:oThe role of the unconscious.oThe tripartite structure of personality.oPsychosexual stages of development.oDefence mechanisms.oUse of case studies.

The Humanistic Approach:oEach person is unique.oSelf-actualisation.oClient-centred therapy.oUnconditional positive regard.oHolistic approach.

The Biological Approach:oAll thoughts, feelings and behaviour have a biological cause.oOur behaviour and characteristics are a result of our genetic make-up.oThe mind and the brain are the same.oThe genes have evolved to adapt to the environment.oScientific methods of investigation.

The Cognitive Approach:oThe human mind is like a computer.oMental processes can be described and investigated using ‘models’.oA person’s knowledge and beliefs influence their behaviour and experience.oThe cognitive system has limited capacity.oUse of the experimental method.

The Cognitive Approach:

The human mind is like a computer.

Mental processes can be described and investigated using ‘models’.

A person’s knowledge and beliefs influence their behaviour and experience.

The cognitive system has limited capacity.

Use of experimental method.

The cognitive approach has investigated many areas of interest in psychology that were neglected by behaviourists.

Cognitive psychology has many practical applications.

Scientific rigour.

Cognitive models are over simplistic.

Human minds are not like computers.

The Biological Approach:

All thoughts, feelings and behaviour have a biological cause.

Our behaviours and characteristics are a results of our genetic make-up.

The mind and the brain are the same.

The genes of humans have evolved to adapt to the environment.

Scientific methods of investigation.

Scientific.

Practical application.

Provides a strong argument for the nature side of the nature-nurture debate.

Too extreme.

Reductionist.

The mind and brain are not the same.

Deterministic.

The Humanistic Approach:

Each person is unique.

Self-actualisation.

Client-centred therapy.

Unconditional positive regard.

Holistic approach.

Human beings have ‘free will’

Practical application.

Not appropriate for all mental disorders.

Unfalsifiable (rejection of science)

Cultural bias.

The Psychodynamic Approach:

The role of the unconscious.

Defence mechanisms.

The tripartite structure of personality.

Psychosexual stages of development.

Use of the case study method.

Practical application.

Explanatory power.

Importance of childhood.

Deterministic.

Unfalsifiable.

Problems with the case study method.

Theory is outdated.

Social Learning Theory:

Behaviour is learned through observation and imitation.

Modelling: Some people are more likely to be imitated than others.

Behaviour that is reinforced is more likely to be imitated.

Mediating cognitive factors.

Use of lab experiments.

Interactionist approach.

Practical application.

Cross-cultural differences.

Advantages of lab studies.

Use of lab experiments and observational methods.

Does not account for the individual differences between people.

The Behaviourist Approach:

Psychology should be the study of observable behaviour in a scientific way.

All human behaviour is learnt.

There are two basic laws of learning- Classical and operant conditioning.

There is no distinction between human and animal forms of learning.

Behaviour should be studied under controlled conditions.

Behaviourism made a positive contribution to psychology.

Behaviourism has practical applications.

Animal research.

Treatment methods are unethical.

Animal learning may not be the same as human learning.

Reductionist.