Origins of Psychology
AO1 - knowledge AO3 - evaluation
Wundt and introspection Strength - Scientific
Some methods were systematic and well-controlled. All introspections were recorded to ensure that
Wundt’s lab extraneous variables were not a factor. Furthermore, his studies were all standardised. In this way, Wundt
Wundt’s work marked the beginning of scientific psychology. He aimed to try to was a forerunner in later scientific approaches.
analyse the nature of human consciousness. His pioneering method became
known as introspection.
Weakness - Subjective data
Standardised procedures Wundt relied on participants self-reporting their mental processes. Not only was this subjective, but some
He and his co-workers recorded their experiences of various stimuli (objects, participants may have hidden their thoughts or displayed demand characteristics.
sounds) and divided their observations into categories (thoughts, images,
sensations).
Structuralism Strength - Wundt’s contribution
Wundt isolated the structure of consciousness. The stimuli that he and his co-
workers experiences were presented in the same order.
The emergence of psychology as a science
1900s Behaviourists
Strength - Modern psychology
Behaviourists, like John B. Watson, claimed that introspection was not scientific
as it was subjective. Instead, scientific psychology should only study phenomena
that can be observed objectively and measured, and so they focussed on
carefully controlled experiments. They rejected cognition.
1950s Cognitive approach
Encouraged by the digital revolution, cognitive psychologists likened the mind to Weakness - Subjective data
a computer. They tested memory and attention using experiments.
1980s Biological approach
Advances in technology have encouraged new techniques such as fMRI and
EEG to study live activity in the brain. Other methods like genetic testing allow us
to better understand the relationship between genes and behaviour. Weakness - Paradigm
, Learning Approaches: The Behaviourist Approach
AO1 - knowledge AO3 - evaluation
Assumptions Strength - Well-controlled research
Behaviourists focus on the measurement of observable behaviour in highly controlled lab settings. This
This approach is only interested in studying behaviour that can be observed and removes the chance of extraneous variables confounding the study and allow cause-and-effect relationships
measured, and so is not interested in investigating mental processes of the mind. to be established. Scientific credibility.
Behaviourists try to maintain more control and objectivity and so use lab studies Counterpoint
However, behaviourists may have oversimplified the learning process. Other approaches (social learning
as the best method of achieving this. theory and the cognitive approach) draw attention to the mental processes involved in learning. Learning is
Behaviourists believe all behaviour is learned and identify two important forms of more complex than observable behaviour alone.
learning: classical conditioning and operant conditioning.
Strength - Real world application
Classical conditioning - Pavlov’s Research Operant conditioning is the basis of token economy systems that have been used successfully in institutions
Ivan Pavlov first determined this learning through association. He showed how such as prisons and psychiatric wards. Hese work by rewarding appropriate behaviour with tokens that can
be exchanged for privileges. Widespread application.
dogs could be conditioned to salivate to the sound of a bell if that sound was
presented alongside food repeatedly. Thus, Pavlov was able to show how a
neutral stimulus (bell) can elicit a learned response (salivating) through
association.
Weakness - Generalisability
Operant conditioning - Skinner’s Research Many studies used to back up claims in the behaviourist approach were conducted using animals. Pavlov’s
B.F.Skinner suggested that learning is an active process shaped by its dogs, for example, demonstrate this. However, the extent to which the behaviour of dogs and humans can be
compared is limited, as with all animals. In this sense, the accuracy of the behaviourist approach can be
consequences: questioned.
Positive Reinforcement
Receiving a reward when a certain behaviour is performed
Negative Reinforcement
Avoiding something unpleasant when a certain behaviour is performed
Weakness - Environmental Determinism
Punishment Skinner suggested that everything we do is the sum total of our reinforcement history. According to Skinner,
The unpleasant consequence of behaviour discourages it from occurring. our past determines every decision we think we make. This ignores any possible influence that free will may
have on behaviour. This is an extreme position.
AO1 - knowledge AO3 - evaluation
Wundt and introspection Strength - Scientific
Some methods were systematic and well-controlled. All introspections were recorded to ensure that
Wundt’s lab extraneous variables were not a factor. Furthermore, his studies were all standardised. In this way, Wundt
Wundt’s work marked the beginning of scientific psychology. He aimed to try to was a forerunner in later scientific approaches.
analyse the nature of human consciousness. His pioneering method became
known as introspection.
Weakness - Subjective data
Standardised procedures Wundt relied on participants self-reporting their mental processes. Not only was this subjective, but some
He and his co-workers recorded their experiences of various stimuli (objects, participants may have hidden their thoughts or displayed demand characteristics.
sounds) and divided their observations into categories (thoughts, images,
sensations).
Structuralism Strength - Wundt’s contribution
Wundt isolated the structure of consciousness. The stimuli that he and his co-
workers experiences were presented in the same order.
The emergence of psychology as a science
1900s Behaviourists
Strength - Modern psychology
Behaviourists, like John B. Watson, claimed that introspection was not scientific
as it was subjective. Instead, scientific psychology should only study phenomena
that can be observed objectively and measured, and so they focussed on
carefully controlled experiments. They rejected cognition.
1950s Cognitive approach
Encouraged by the digital revolution, cognitive psychologists likened the mind to Weakness - Subjective data
a computer. They tested memory and attention using experiments.
1980s Biological approach
Advances in technology have encouraged new techniques such as fMRI and
EEG to study live activity in the brain. Other methods like genetic testing allow us
to better understand the relationship between genes and behaviour. Weakness - Paradigm
, Learning Approaches: The Behaviourist Approach
AO1 - knowledge AO3 - evaluation
Assumptions Strength - Well-controlled research
Behaviourists focus on the measurement of observable behaviour in highly controlled lab settings. This
This approach is only interested in studying behaviour that can be observed and removes the chance of extraneous variables confounding the study and allow cause-and-effect relationships
measured, and so is not interested in investigating mental processes of the mind. to be established. Scientific credibility.
Behaviourists try to maintain more control and objectivity and so use lab studies Counterpoint
However, behaviourists may have oversimplified the learning process. Other approaches (social learning
as the best method of achieving this. theory and the cognitive approach) draw attention to the mental processes involved in learning. Learning is
Behaviourists believe all behaviour is learned and identify two important forms of more complex than observable behaviour alone.
learning: classical conditioning and operant conditioning.
Strength - Real world application
Classical conditioning - Pavlov’s Research Operant conditioning is the basis of token economy systems that have been used successfully in institutions
Ivan Pavlov first determined this learning through association. He showed how such as prisons and psychiatric wards. Hese work by rewarding appropriate behaviour with tokens that can
be exchanged for privileges. Widespread application.
dogs could be conditioned to salivate to the sound of a bell if that sound was
presented alongside food repeatedly. Thus, Pavlov was able to show how a
neutral stimulus (bell) can elicit a learned response (salivating) through
association.
Weakness - Generalisability
Operant conditioning - Skinner’s Research Many studies used to back up claims in the behaviourist approach were conducted using animals. Pavlov’s
B.F.Skinner suggested that learning is an active process shaped by its dogs, for example, demonstrate this. However, the extent to which the behaviour of dogs and humans can be
compared is limited, as with all animals. In this sense, the accuracy of the behaviourist approach can be
consequences: questioned.
Positive Reinforcement
Receiving a reward when a certain behaviour is performed
Negative Reinforcement
Avoiding something unpleasant when a certain behaviour is performed
Weakness - Environmental Determinism
Punishment Skinner suggested that everything we do is the sum total of our reinforcement history. According to Skinner,
The unpleasant consequence of behaviour discourages it from occurring. our past determines every decision we think we make. This ignores any possible influence that free will may
have on behaviour. This is an extreme position.
