APPROAHCES:
INTRO TO APPROACHES:
- Wilhelm Wundt opened first psychology lab in Germany 1873
- Asked participants to touch stimuli and explain emotions / feelings (introspection)
- Highly controlled lab study.
- Introspection not as useful as he thought so encouraged others to find better ways in
studying behaviour (introspection still used in therapy today)
Evaluation:
+Paved for cognitive approach so helpful – valuable contribution to psychology
-Subjective based on interpretation low reliability & validity
Introspection = investigating internal events by examining conscious thoughts and feelings
Empiricism = knowledge gained from experience
BEHAVIOURAL APPROACH:
Assumptions:
1. We are born a clean slate
2. Animals and humans learn the same way
3. We learn through association / reinforcement – all behaviour is learnt
4. Mind = irrelevant to science cant be observed
Pavlov –
Dogs classically conditioned to salivate whenever they hear a bell
Neutral stimulus (bell) -> no response
Unconditioned stimulus (meat) -> unconditioned response (salivate)
Neutral stimulus (bell) + Unconditioned stimulus (meat) -> unconditioned response (salivate)
Conditioned stimulus (bell) -> conditioned response (salivation)
The dog started to associate the bell with the meat.
Skinner –
Hamster in a cage with electric floor – electric shocks constantly unless pulled a lever which
stopped electric shocks (negative reinforcement) and also given a treat (positive
reinforcement)
Variable reinforcement: reward not always guaranteed
Continuous reinforcement: reward always guaranteed
Evaluation:
+ practical application – helps kids behave at school and helps people get over their phobias
+ highly controlled studies so high validity because extraneous variables controlled
(Scientific credibility)
+ supporting case study – little albert conditioned into being scared of furry animals
INTRO TO APPROACHES:
- Wilhelm Wundt opened first psychology lab in Germany 1873
- Asked participants to touch stimuli and explain emotions / feelings (introspection)
- Highly controlled lab study.
- Introspection not as useful as he thought so encouraged others to find better ways in
studying behaviour (introspection still used in therapy today)
Evaluation:
+Paved for cognitive approach so helpful – valuable contribution to psychology
-Subjective based on interpretation low reliability & validity
Introspection = investigating internal events by examining conscious thoughts and feelings
Empiricism = knowledge gained from experience
BEHAVIOURAL APPROACH:
Assumptions:
1. We are born a clean slate
2. Animals and humans learn the same way
3. We learn through association / reinforcement – all behaviour is learnt
4. Mind = irrelevant to science cant be observed
Pavlov –
Dogs classically conditioned to salivate whenever they hear a bell
Neutral stimulus (bell) -> no response
Unconditioned stimulus (meat) -> unconditioned response (salivate)
Neutral stimulus (bell) + Unconditioned stimulus (meat) -> unconditioned response (salivate)
Conditioned stimulus (bell) -> conditioned response (salivation)
The dog started to associate the bell with the meat.
Skinner –
Hamster in a cage with electric floor – electric shocks constantly unless pulled a lever which
stopped electric shocks (negative reinforcement) and also given a treat (positive
reinforcement)
Variable reinforcement: reward not always guaranteed
Continuous reinforcement: reward always guaranteed
Evaluation:
+ practical application – helps kids behave at school and helps people get over their phobias
+ highly controlled studies so high validity because extraneous variables controlled
(Scientific credibility)
+ supporting case study – little albert conditioned into being scared of furry animals
