Summary AQA A-level psychology revision notes - Paper 2 Approaches

Psychology Paper Two
Psychology in Context 7182/2


Approaches in Psychology

• Origins of Psychology: Wundt, introspecBon and the emergence of Psychology as a
science.
The basic assumpBons of the following approaches:

• Learning approaches: i) the behaviourist approach, including classical condiBoning and
Pavlov’s research, operant condiBoning, types of reinforcement and Skinner’s
research; ii) social learning theory including imitaBon, idenBficaBon, modelling,
vicarious reinforcement, the role of mediaBonal processes and Bandura’s research.

• The cogniBve approach: the study of internal mental processes, the role of schema,
the use of theoreBcal and computer models to explain and make inferences about
mental processes. The emergence of cogniBve neuroscience.

• The biological approach: the influence of genes, biological structures and
neurochemistry on behaviour. Genotype and phenotype, geneBc basis of behaviour,
evoluBon and behaviour.

• The psychodynamic approach: the role of the unconscious, the structure of
personality, that is Id, Ego and Superego, defence mechanisms including repression,
denial and displacement, psychosexual stages.

• HumanisBc Psychology: free will, self-actualisaBon and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs,
focus on the self, congruence, the role of condiBons of worth. The influence on
counselling Psychology.

• Comparison of approaches.

Origins of Psychology

•Wilhelm Wundt is generally considered the father of experimental psychology.
•He wrote the first textbook on psychology, “Principles of Physiological Psychology”.
•In 1875, at Leipzig University, he set up the first laboratory dedicated to experimental
psychology (IV-DV).
•In doing so, he separated psychology from philosophy and biology to become its own
science and he became the first person to be called a psychologist.

Wundt used introspecBon in his work. This is where parBcipants report all of their own
feelings, emoBons and sensaBons a_er performing simple tasks such as problem solving

,(basic maths). IntrospecBon has been heavily criBcised for being unreliable and subjecBve,
at the Bme it was an aaempt to be objecBve (free from bias)
• ReflecBon on sensaBons, feelings and images
• Wundt would ask people to focus on an everyday object or listen to a metronome and
look inwards noBcing sensaBons and feelings and images
• Breaking thoughts about an object down into separate elements
• SystemaBc reporBng of an experience of object, standardisaBon – the same experience
for all

Issues with introspecBon Influence for wider Psychology –
Psychology as a science
Despite being influenBal......experimental
psych has moved on; more scienBfic due to Discuss some of the following, linking to
modernisaBon of methods Wundt - THE PROF – theory
construcBon/hypothesis tesBng/empirical
Despite an aaempt to be objecBve, self-
methods/paradigms and paradigm
report is subjecBve and not internally
shi_s/replicable/objecBvity/ falsifiability
reliable.
Wundt showed that empirical methods
à Difficult to make generalisaBons
could be applied to mental processes.
Can refer to - AnBpsychoBcs, memory,
depression, aaachments,

, Learning approaches – behavioural

Basic assumpBon
The basic assumpBon is that people are a product of their environment. Human behavior is
observable and has been learnt. Human behavior can be compared to animal behavior.
People are born as a ‘tabula rasa’ - a blank slate.


The focus of condiBoning is learning through associaBons and reinforcements.

Classical condiBoning – AO1 Classical condiBoning – AO3 – evidence/
example
Classical condiBoning is learning through
associaBng two things together. Give an example – forming phobias,
Before condiBoning, there are many neutral aaachment OR Pavlov
sBmuli which lead to neutral responses of Pavlov’s research provides evidence for
nothing. There are also many uncondiBoned classical condiBoning. He was able to
sBmuli that lead to unlearnt natural condiBon dogs to salivate when they heard a
reacBons known as uncondiBoned bell, a previously neutral sBmulus which
responses. once led to nothing a_er condiBoning led to
During condiBoning, the neutral sBmulus is a condiBoned response.
paired with an uncondiBonal sBmulus which
leads to an uncondiBoned response.
A_erwards, the presence of the neutral Further research has provided evidence for
sBmulus has now become condiBoned and classical condiBoning also explaining
is known as a condiBoned sBmulus which behaviours in humans.
leads to a condiBoned response. For example, many phobias are thought to
be the result of earlier unpleasant learning
Before condiBoning – UncondiBoned experiences.
sBmulus (UCS) creates an uncondiBoned
For example, it can explain how infants form
response (UCR) aaachments.......
e.g. Food (UCS) à salivaBon (UCR)
e.g. Bell (NS) à no response (NR)
During condiBoning – pairing the neutral Operant condiBoning – associaBng
sBmulus (NS) with the uncondiBoned behaviour with consequences (Skinner)
sBmulus (UCS)
PosiBve reinforcement – gaining something
e.g. Bell (NS) + food (UCS) à
pleasant
salivaBon (UCR)
A_er condiBoning – CondiBoned sBmulus NegaBve reinforcement – taking away /
(CS) will create a condiBoned response (CR) avoiding something unpleasant
e.g. Bell (CS) à salivaBon (CR) (e.g. sound when not wearing seat belt)