Approaches
Psychodynamic Approach o Psychoanalysis - a type of talking therapy that brings
An approach founded by Freud argues that behaviour is caused by unconscious processes into consciousness to resolve inner
unconscious processes and repressed trauma and uses conflicts.
psychoanalysis to bring it into consciousness to resolve inner o Personality Development
conflicts. Criticism
Key theories: o Controversial theory
o Psychodynamic Conflict o Cannot test it so it can’t be supported or denied.
Id (instincts) – personality present at birth, present
in the unconscious process. Behavioural Approach
Ego (reality) – knowing reality, mediates between Says that behaviours are determined by interaction with the
the id and superego to reach a compromise. environment which means it is only concerned with observable
Superego (morality) – associated with morals and behaviours.
values. Rewards us with pride and punishes us with Key people are Watson (methodological behaviourism) and Skinner
shame. (radical behaviourism)
o Psychosexual Stages – Says that tension accumulates when Key theories:
we suppress the ID and it is discharged as sexual energy o Classical (pavlovian) Conditioning – Watson says behaviour
(any kind of pleasurable activity). Different erogenous zones is developed by reflexes.
become sources of pleasure/tension at different points in Dogs are conditioned to salivate when hearing a bell
life. for food.
Contributions Little Albert – conditioning boy to fear a rat by hitting
the bar with a hammer. He developed a phobia from
a reflex of fear.
Application – aversion therapy for alcoholism
o Operant Conditioning
Reinforcements - Reinforcement: a consequence
follows a behaviour which makes it more likely that
the behaviour will occur in future.
Punishment – makes it less likely to happen.
o Application
Used in early treatment for depression and phobias.
Applied behaviour analysis.
o Criticisms – early research was conducted on animals and
didn’t include cognition.
, Cognitive
The internal mental process has a causal role in the behaviour.
Uses computer analogy, stimuli (input) > processing> behaviour
(output)
Schema – units of knowledge and mental templates
o How to behave in certain situations
o Makes sense of new info by comparing it to pre-existing
schemas
Contribution
o Understanding of memory – used in forensics.
o Child development – Piaget’s stages
o Cognitive therapy (CBT)
o Collabs with neuroscience and behaviourism
Criticisms
o Skinner – how can you study something you can’t see Biological
o Downplays roles of environmental factors Behaviour is caused by genes.
Humanistic o Twins and schizophrenia – concordance rates
Manslow – unifies psychodynamic and behavioural approaches. MZ twins 41-65%
Key people – Manslow, Rogers, May DZ twins 28>%
Emphasizes looking at the whole person, and the uniqueness of This means that environment plays a role and can be
everyone., inherited.
Should study internal processes and behaviour. Adoption studies
Emphasis on the personal worth of individuals o Twins raised in different environments.
Contributions Identical genes
o Holistic and Person-centred approach See the effect of the environment.
o Explain people’s motivation. Criticism
Criticism o Reductionist
o The hierarchy of needs has no empirical studies. o Downplayed environmental roles.
o Cannot explain personality.
o Free will vs determinism
Psychodynamic Approach o Psychoanalysis - a type of talking therapy that brings
An approach founded by Freud argues that behaviour is caused by unconscious processes into consciousness to resolve inner
unconscious processes and repressed trauma and uses conflicts.
psychoanalysis to bring it into consciousness to resolve inner o Personality Development
conflicts. Criticism
Key theories: o Controversial theory
o Psychodynamic Conflict o Cannot test it so it can’t be supported or denied.
Id (instincts) – personality present at birth, present
in the unconscious process. Behavioural Approach
Ego (reality) – knowing reality, mediates between Says that behaviours are determined by interaction with the
the id and superego to reach a compromise. environment which means it is only concerned with observable
Superego (morality) – associated with morals and behaviours.
values. Rewards us with pride and punishes us with Key people are Watson (methodological behaviourism) and Skinner
shame. (radical behaviourism)
o Psychosexual Stages – Says that tension accumulates when Key theories:
we suppress the ID and it is discharged as sexual energy o Classical (pavlovian) Conditioning – Watson says behaviour
(any kind of pleasurable activity). Different erogenous zones is developed by reflexes.
become sources of pleasure/tension at different points in Dogs are conditioned to salivate when hearing a bell
life. for food.
Contributions Little Albert – conditioning boy to fear a rat by hitting
the bar with a hammer. He developed a phobia from
a reflex of fear.
Application – aversion therapy for alcoholism
o Operant Conditioning
Reinforcements - Reinforcement: a consequence
follows a behaviour which makes it more likely that
the behaviour will occur in future.
Punishment – makes it less likely to happen.
o Application
Used in early treatment for depression and phobias.
Applied behaviour analysis.
o Criticisms – early research was conducted on animals and
didn’t include cognition.
, Cognitive
The internal mental process has a causal role in the behaviour.
Uses computer analogy, stimuli (input) > processing> behaviour
(output)
Schema – units of knowledge and mental templates
o How to behave in certain situations
o Makes sense of new info by comparing it to pre-existing
schemas
Contribution
o Understanding of memory – used in forensics.
o Child development – Piaget’s stages
o Cognitive therapy (CBT)
o Collabs with neuroscience and behaviourism
Criticisms
o Skinner – how can you study something you can’t see Biological
o Downplays roles of environmental factors Behaviour is caused by genes.
Humanistic o Twins and schizophrenia – concordance rates
Manslow – unifies psychodynamic and behavioural approaches. MZ twins 41-65%
Key people – Manslow, Rogers, May DZ twins 28>%
Emphasizes looking at the whole person, and the uniqueness of This means that environment plays a role and can be
everyone., inherited.
Should study internal processes and behaviour. Adoption studies
Emphasis on the personal worth of individuals o Twins raised in different environments.
Contributions Identical genes
o Holistic and Person-centred approach See the effect of the environment.
o Explain people’s motivation. Criticism
Criticism o Reductionist
o The hierarchy of needs has no empirical studies. o Downplayed environmental roles.
o Cannot explain personality.
o Free will vs determinism
