Approaches in Psychology
The origins of Psychology
Wilhelm Wundt
- He was the first man to call himself a psychologist
- He believed all aspects of nature (including human behaviour) can be
studied scientifically.
- His aim was to study the structure of the human mind, and he believed
the best way to do this was to break down behaviours such as sensation
and perception.
- The technique he used was introspection
Introspection: The process by which a person gains knowledge about his
or her own mental and emotional states as a result of the examination or
observation of their conscious thoughts and feelings.
Introspection
- When a person gains knowledge about their mental and emotional state.
- We are able to observe and make sense of the outer world, our
introspective ability enables us to observe our inner world.
CARYY ON !!
AO1 The emergence of Psychology as a science
Empiricists believe that knowledge comes from observation and experience
alone (rather than being innate).
When empirical methods were applied to the study of humans b y Wundt,
Psychology began to emerge as a different unit. This new ‘scientific’ approach to
Psychology was based on two major assumptions:
1) All behaviour is seen as being caused
2) If behaviour is determined, then it should be possible to predict how many
humans would behave in different conditions.
The technique was used to explore these assumptions and it became known as
the scientific method.
AO1 The scientific method in psychology
- Scientific method refers to the use of investigative methods that are
objective, systematic and replicable.
- It’s objective the researcher don’t let biases influence the collection of
their data, and systematic in the way observations or experiments are
carried out in an orderly way.
- Observations can be replicated by other researchers to determine whether
the same results are obtained. If results are not replicable, then they are
not reliable and cannot be accepted as being universally true.
Evaluation:
Low population validty:
- Wundt performed his experiments on an individual and then he would test
another individual and compare the results. This would make it difficult to
generalise the results and apply the results to the whole population,
therefore Wundt’s research had a low population validity.
Introspection is not accurate:
, - Wilson argues that we have little knowledge based on the causes of our
behaviour and attitudes. Wilson found out that particpants were unaware
of factors that was influential in their choice of a consumer item ……..
help!!
Strengths:
Scientific methods rely on a belief in determinism and they’re able to
understand the causes of behaviour through the use of methods that
are empirical and replicable.
HELP ON THIS AS WELL !
The behaviourist approach
Behaviourist refers to the people who believe human behaviour can be explained
in terms of conditioning, without the need to consider thoughts or feelings.
The behaviourist approach rejected the theory of introspection and focuses on
observable events, i.e. stimuli and responses, and conditions.
AO1 Classical conditioning
Classical conditioning: Classical conditioning is learning through association and
it was first demonstrated by Ivan Pavlov.
Pavlov’s research:
Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS) = Food. It will produce a natural reaction
Unconditioned response (UCR) = Salivation of the dog. This happens because of the food (UCS)
They are BOTH natural
Conditioned Stimulus = Bell.
Conditioned Response = salivation
- He was investigating the salivary reflex in dogs when he noticed that the
animals did not only salivate when the food was placed in their mouths,
but they reacted to stimuli that was linked/associated with food, such as
the presence of a food bowl or the person who fed them. This led him to
explore the conditions in which this type of learning was most likely to
occur.
1) The dogs were presented with food and they salivated. The food was the
unconditioned stimulus (UCS) and the salivation was an unconditioned
response (UCR)
2) Pavlov rang the bell before he gave the food. The bell is the neutral
stimulus (NS)
3) When Pavlov rang the bell several times, the dogs salivated when they
heard the bell and there was no food given. The bell became the
conditioned stimulus and salivation became the conditioned response
4) The dogs learnt to associate the bell with the food and the sound of the
bell, triggered the dogs to salivate.
Quick summary of Pavlov’s research:
When Pavlov or the food was presented, the dog would salivate
Dogs learnt to associate two stimuli ( food and footsteps)
The bell (conditioned stimulus) makes the dog salivate and the dog salivating
is known as the conditioned response.
The origins of Psychology
Wilhelm Wundt
- He was the first man to call himself a psychologist
- He believed all aspects of nature (including human behaviour) can be
studied scientifically.
- His aim was to study the structure of the human mind, and he believed
the best way to do this was to break down behaviours such as sensation
and perception.
- The technique he used was introspection
Introspection: The process by which a person gains knowledge about his
or her own mental and emotional states as a result of the examination or
observation of their conscious thoughts and feelings.
Introspection
- When a person gains knowledge about their mental and emotional state.
- We are able to observe and make sense of the outer world, our
introspective ability enables us to observe our inner world.
CARYY ON !!
AO1 The emergence of Psychology as a science
Empiricists believe that knowledge comes from observation and experience
alone (rather than being innate).
When empirical methods were applied to the study of humans b y Wundt,
Psychology began to emerge as a different unit. This new ‘scientific’ approach to
Psychology was based on two major assumptions:
1) All behaviour is seen as being caused
2) If behaviour is determined, then it should be possible to predict how many
humans would behave in different conditions.
The technique was used to explore these assumptions and it became known as
the scientific method.
AO1 The scientific method in psychology
- Scientific method refers to the use of investigative methods that are
objective, systematic and replicable.
- It’s objective the researcher don’t let biases influence the collection of
their data, and systematic in the way observations or experiments are
carried out in an orderly way.
- Observations can be replicated by other researchers to determine whether
the same results are obtained. If results are not replicable, then they are
not reliable and cannot be accepted as being universally true.
Evaluation:
Low population validty:
- Wundt performed his experiments on an individual and then he would test
another individual and compare the results. This would make it difficult to
generalise the results and apply the results to the whole population,
therefore Wundt’s research had a low population validity.
Introspection is not accurate:
, - Wilson argues that we have little knowledge based on the causes of our
behaviour and attitudes. Wilson found out that particpants were unaware
of factors that was influential in their choice of a consumer item ……..
help!!
Strengths:
Scientific methods rely on a belief in determinism and they’re able to
understand the causes of behaviour through the use of methods that
are empirical and replicable.
HELP ON THIS AS WELL !
The behaviourist approach
Behaviourist refers to the people who believe human behaviour can be explained
in terms of conditioning, without the need to consider thoughts or feelings.
The behaviourist approach rejected the theory of introspection and focuses on
observable events, i.e. stimuli and responses, and conditions.
AO1 Classical conditioning
Classical conditioning: Classical conditioning is learning through association and
it was first demonstrated by Ivan Pavlov.
Pavlov’s research:
Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS) = Food. It will produce a natural reaction
Unconditioned response (UCR) = Salivation of the dog. This happens because of the food (UCS)
They are BOTH natural
Conditioned Stimulus = Bell.
Conditioned Response = salivation
- He was investigating the salivary reflex in dogs when he noticed that the
animals did not only salivate when the food was placed in their mouths,
but they reacted to stimuli that was linked/associated with food, such as
the presence of a food bowl or the person who fed them. This led him to
explore the conditions in which this type of learning was most likely to
occur.
1) The dogs were presented with food and they salivated. The food was the
unconditioned stimulus (UCS) and the salivation was an unconditioned
response (UCR)
2) Pavlov rang the bell before he gave the food. The bell is the neutral
stimulus (NS)
3) When Pavlov rang the bell several times, the dogs salivated when they
heard the bell and there was no food given. The bell became the
conditioned stimulus and salivation became the conditioned response
4) The dogs learnt to associate the bell with the food and the sound of the
bell, triggered the dogs to salivate.
Quick summary of Pavlov’s research:
When Pavlov or the food was presented, the dog would salivate
Dogs learnt to associate two stimuli ( food and footsteps)
The bell (conditioned stimulus) makes the dog salivate and the dog salivating
is known as the conditioned response.
