4.2.1
APPROACHES IN
PSYCHOLOGY
1
,Content
Contents
ORIGINS OF PSYCHOLOGY ............................................................................................................ 4
Introduction .........................................................................................................................................4
Early roots of psychology .....................................................................................................................4
Timeline ...............................................................................................................................................4
Wundt and Introspection ....................................................................................................................5
LEARNING APPROACHES: BEHAVIOURISM .................................................................................... 7
Basic assumptions of the behaviourist approach ................................................................................7
Classical Conditioning – Pavlov’s Research .........................................................................................8
Operant Conditioning – Skinner’s Research ........................................................................................9
Evaluating the Behaviourist Approach ..............................................................................................10
LEARNING APPROACHES: SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY .................................................................. 11
Basic assumuptions of social learning theory (SLT) ...........................................................................11
Social Learning Theory .......................................................................................................................11
Bandura’s Research – Bobo Doll ........................................................................................................12
Evaluating Bandura’s Research ..........................................................................................................13
Evaluating Social Learning Theory .....................................................................................................14
BIOLOGICAL APPROACH ............................................................................................................. 15
Basic assumptions of the biological approach...................................................................................15
Influence of genes on behaviour .......................................................................................................15
Evolution and Behaviour....................................................................................................................16
Influence of biological structures on behaviour ................................................................................17
Influence of neruochemistry on behaviour .......................................................................................17
Evaluation of the influence of biological structures and neurochemistry on behaviour ..................17
Evaluation of the biological approach ...............................................................................................18
COGNITIVE APPROACH ............................................................................................................... 19
Basic assumptions of the cognitive approach ...................................................................................19
Internal mental processes .................................................................................................................19
The role of schema ............................................................................................................................19
Theoretical models ............................................................................................................................20
Computer models ..............................................................................................................................20
Making inferences about mental processes ......................................................................................20
2
, Evaluation of the cognitive approach ................................................................................................21
COGNITVIE NEUROSCIENCE ........................................................................................................ 22
Emergence of cognitive neuroscience ...............................................................................................22
Practical application of cognitive neuroscience ................................................................................22
Evaluation of cognitive neuroscience ................................................................................................22
PSYCHODYNAMIC APPROACH .................................................................................................... 23
Basic assumptions of the Psychodynamic Approach.........................................................................23
The role of the unconscious ..............................................................................................................23
The structure of the personality ........................................................................................................23
Defence mechanism ..........................................................................................................................24
Psychosexual stages...........................................................................................................................25
Evaluation of the psychodynamic approach .....................................................................................26
HUMANISTIC APPROACH............................................................................................................ 27
Basic assumptions of the humanistic approach ................................................................................27
Self-actualisation and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs .........................................................................27
Focus on the self ................................................................................................................................28
Congruence ........................................................................................................................................28
The role of conditions of worth .........................................................................................................28
Evaluation of humanistic approach ...................................................................................................29
The influence on counselling psychology ..........................................................................................30
3
,ORIGINS OF PSYCHOLOGY
Specification: Origins of Psychology: Wundt, introspection and the emergence of Psychology as a
science.
Introduction
Use this
• Psychology = “The scientific study of behaviour and mind”
mnemonic to
• Science = a systematic way of collecting information/ data using remember!
empirical methods of investigation.
C
5 Main Features of Science
H
▪ Construct theories
▪ Hypothesis testing O
▪ Objective
R
▪ Replicable
▪ Empirical methods E
Early roots of psychology
Descartes & A French philosopher suggested that the mind and body are independent from
Dualism each other. This is a philosophical approach to psychology.
• Between 17th and 19th century, psychology has become a branch of the border discipline of
philosophy. During this time, it is known as experimental philosophy.
Timeline
Time- Key names & Description Scientific or
scale Approaches non-
scientific?
1879 Wundt & • Opened the first lab in Germany. Scientific
Introspection • He wanted to study the human mind
scientifically by using introspection.
• Introspection is claimed to be scientific by
Wundt because it carries under carefully
controlled conditions and standardised
procedure.
1900 Freud - • Emphasised the influence of the unconscious Non-
Psychodynamic mind on behaviour. scientific
approach • Development of his person-centred therapy:
psychoanalysis
1913 Watson and • Claimed that mental processes were Scientific
Skinner - unobservable and subjective.
Behaviourist • Criticised Wundt’s introspection method as it
approach was unscientific and relied on interpretation.
• Behaviours should be observed and measured
while using carefully controlled lab
experiment.
• Psychodynamic and behaviourist approaches
dominate psychology for the next 50 years.
4
,1950 Rogers and • Reject psychodynamic and behaviourist Non-
Maslow - approach → human behaviour was not scientific
Humanistic determined.
approach • Emphasise the importance of self-
determination and free will
1960 Cognitive • Came with the introduction of digital Scientific
approach computers.
• Reintroduce the study of the human mind but
in a more scientific way than Wundt’s
introspection method.
• Claimed that mental processes could be
studied.
• Draw inferences about the mental process
from the responses of the participants → not
relying on participants’ subjective experiences.
Bandura - Social • Draws the attention of the role of cognitive Scientific
Learning Theory factors in learning.
• Provides a branch to cognitive and
behavioural approaches.
1980 Biological • Assuming behaviours have physical bias and Scientific
approach investigating biological factors.
• Highly objective and scientific methods due to
advanced technology (e.g. brain scanning
techniques)
Wundt and Introspection
▪ He is known as ‘father of psychology’ and he set up the first laboratory in Germany in the
1870s.
▪ Introspection is a systematic process of looking into our thoughts and feelings.
▪ All introspections are carried out under carefully controlled conditions.
▪ He does this by breaking conscious thoughts and feelings down into separate parts.
Participants would be asked to report their experiences.
▪ Pps had to go through the same standardised procedure, given the same stimuli, allowed
same amount of time to repeat the process again to make it replicable.
▪ This allowed Wundt to make comparison of different pps responses to the same experiences
to construct theories about mental processes.
5
,Evaluating Introspection
A03
Strengths Weaknesses
▪ (State) It is still being used by other ▪ (State) Researchers claimed that it is
psychologist to investigate subjective not scientific.
experiences (such as happiness) in a ▪ (Elaborate) Behaviourist claimed that
scientific way. data from the process of introspection
▪ (Elaborate) One study showed that was based mostly on the individual’s
teenagers were unhappy more often own interpretation of their mental
than happy but were positive when process = not objective.
engaging with challenging tasks.
▪ (State) He paved the way for later ▪
controlled research into psychology.
▪ (Explain) Paving the way for later
approaches such as Behaviourism,
known for their scientific method.
▪ (Link) Therefore, Wundt’s work did
contribute to the emergence of
Psychology as a science.
6
, LEARNING APPROACHES: BEHAVIOURISM
Specification: Learning approaches: i) the behaviourist approach, including classical conditioning and
Pavlov’s research, operant conditioning, types of reinforcement and Skinner’s research
Basic assumptions of the behaviourist approach
▪ Behaviourist approach only interested in studying behaviour that can be observed and
measured. → don’t care about studying the mental processes.
▪
▪ Human behaviour is learned from the environment via experiences in life.
▪ They rely on laboratory experiments and adopt more objective and scientific way to study
the behaviour.
▪ Their research often involves studying animals and generalise their findings to humans.
▪ Two forms of learning: classical conditioning and operant conditioning.
7
APPROACHES IN
PSYCHOLOGY
1
,Content
Contents
ORIGINS OF PSYCHOLOGY ............................................................................................................ 4
Introduction .........................................................................................................................................4
Early roots of psychology .....................................................................................................................4
Timeline ...............................................................................................................................................4
Wundt and Introspection ....................................................................................................................5
LEARNING APPROACHES: BEHAVIOURISM .................................................................................... 7
Basic assumptions of the behaviourist approach ................................................................................7
Classical Conditioning – Pavlov’s Research .........................................................................................8
Operant Conditioning – Skinner’s Research ........................................................................................9
Evaluating the Behaviourist Approach ..............................................................................................10
LEARNING APPROACHES: SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY .................................................................. 11
Basic assumuptions of social learning theory (SLT) ...........................................................................11
Social Learning Theory .......................................................................................................................11
Bandura’s Research – Bobo Doll ........................................................................................................12
Evaluating Bandura’s Research ..........................................................................................................13
Evaluating Social Learning Theory .....................................................................................................14
BIOLOGICAL APPROACH ............................................................................................................. 15
Basic assumptions of the biological approach...................................................................................15
Influence of genes on behaviour .......................................................................................................15
Evolution and Behaviour....................................................................................................................16
Influence of biological structures on behaviour ................................................................................17
Influence of neruochemistry on behaviour .......................................................................................17
Evaluation of the influence of biological structures and neurochemistry on behaviour ..................17
Evaluation of the biological approach ...............................................................................................18
COGNITIVE APPROACH ............................................................................................................... 19
Basic assumptions of the cognitive approach ...................................................................................19
Internal mental processes .................................................................................................................19
The role of schema ............................................................................................................................19
Theoretical models ............................................................................................................................20
Computer models ..............................................................................................................................20
Making inferences about mental processes ......................................................................................20
2
, Evaluation of the cognitive approach ................................................................................................21
COGNITVIE NEUROSCIENCE ........................................................................................................ 22
Emergence of cognitive neuroscience ...............................................................................................22
Practical application of cognitive neuroscience ................................................................................22
Evaluation of cognitive neuroscience ................................................................................................22
PSYCHODYNAMIC APPROACH .................................................................................................... 23
Basic assumptions of the Psychodynamic Approach.........................................................................23
The role of the unconscious ..............................................................................................................23
The structure of the personality ........................................................................................................23
Defence mechanism ..........................................................................................................................24
Psychosexual stages...........................................................................................................................25
Evaluation of the psychodynamic approach .....................................................................................26
HUMANISTIC APPROACH............................................................................................................ 27
Basic assumptions of the humanistic approach ................................................................................27
Self-actualisation and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs .........................................................................27
Focus on the self ................................................................................................................................28
Congruence ........................................................................................................................................28
The role of conditions of worth .........................................................................................................28
Evaluation of humanistic approach ...................................................................................................29
The influence on counselling psychology ..........................................................................................30
3
,ORIGINS OF PSYCHOLOGY
Specification: Origins of Psychology: Wundt, introspection and the emergence of Psychology as a
science.
Introduction
Use this
• Psychology = “The scientific study of behaviour and mind”
mnemonic to
• Science = a systematic way of collecting information/ data using remember!
empirical methods of investigation.
C
5 Main Features of Science
H
▪ Construct theories
▪ Hypothesis testing O
▪ Objective
R
▪ Replicable
▪ Empirical methods E
Early roots of psychology
Descartes & A French philosopher suggested that the mind and body are independent from
Dualism each other. This is a philosophical approach to psychology.
• Between 17th and 19th century, psychology has become a branch of the border discipline of
philosophy. During this time, it is known as experimental philosophy.
Timeline
Time- Key names & Description Scientific or
scale Approaches non-
scientific?
1879 Wundt & • Opened the first lab in Germany. Scientific
Introspection • He wanted to study the human mind
scientifically by using introspection.
• Introspection is claimed to be scientific by
Wundt because it carries under carefully
controlled conditions and standardised
procedure.
1900 Freud - • Emphasised the influence of the unconscious Non-
Psychodynamic mind on behaviour. scientific
approach • Development of his person-centred therapy:
psychoanalysis
1913 Watson and • Claimed that mental processes were Scientific
Skinner - unobservable and subjective.
Behaviourist • Criticised Wundt’s introspection method as it
approach was unscientific and relied on interpretation.
• Behaviours should be observed and measured
while using carefully controlled lab
experiment.
• Psychodynamic and behaviourist approaches
dominate psychology for the next 50 years.
4
,1950 Rogers and • Reject psychodynamic and behaviourist Non-
Maslow - approach → human behaviour was not scientific
Humanistic determined.
approach • Emphasise the importance of self-
determination and free will
1960 Cognitive • Came with the introduction of digital Scientific
approach computers.
• Reintroduce the study of the human mind but
in a more scientific way than Wundt’s
introspection method.
• Claimed that mental processes could be
studied.
• Draw inferences about the mental process
from the responses of the participants → not
relying on participants’ subjective experiences.
Bandura - Social • Draws the attention of the role of cognitive Scientific
Learning Theory factors in learning.
• Provides a branch to cognitive and
behavioural approaches.
1980 Biological • Assuming behaviours have physical bias and Scientific
approach investigating biological factors.
• Highly objective and scientific methods due to
advanced technology (e.g. brain scanning
techniques)
Wundt and Introspection
▪ He is known as ‘father of psychology’ and he set up the first laboratory in Germany in the
1870s.
▪ Introspection is a systematic process of looking into our thoughts and feelings.
▪ All introspections are carried out under carefully controlled conditions.
▪ He does this by breaking conscious thoughts and feelings down into separate parts.
Participants would be asked to report their experiences.
▪ Pps had to go through the same standardised procedure, given the same stimuli, allowed
same amount of time to repeat the process again to make it replicable.
▪ This allowed Wundt to make comparison of different pps responses to the same experiences
to construct theories about mental processes.
5
,Evaluating Introspection
A03
Strengths Weaknesses
▪ (State) It is still being used by other ▪ (State) Researchers claimed that it is
psychologist to investigate subjective not scientific.
experiences (such as happiness) in a ▪ (Elaborate) Behaviourist claimed that
scientific way. data from the process of introspection
▪ (Elaborate) One study showed that was based mostly on the individual’s
teenagers were unhappy more often own interpretation of their mental
than happy but were positive when process = not objective.
engaging with challenging tasks.
▪ (State) He paved the way for later ▪
controlled research into psychology.
▪ (Explain) Paving the way for later
approaches such as Behaviourism,
known for their scientific method.
▪ (Link) Therefore, Wundt’s work did
contribute to the emergence of
Psychology as a science.
6
, LEARNING APPROACHES: BEHAVIOURISM
Specification: Learning approaches: i) the behaviourist approach, including classical conditioning and
Pavlov’s research, operant conditioning, types of reinforcement and Skinner’s research
Basic assumptions of the behaviourist approach
▪ Behaviourist approach only interested in studying behaviour that can be observed and
measured. → don’t care about studying the mental processes.
▪
▪ Human behaviour is learned from the environment via experiences in life.
▪ They rely on laboratory experiments and adopt more objective and scientific way to study
the behaviour.
▪ Their research often involves studying animals and generalise their findings to humans.
▪ Two forms of learning: classical conditioning and operant conditioning.
7
