Comparing Theories and Approaches
Behaviorist and Biological Approaches - use of animals in research
One similarity between the behaviorist and biological approaches is that they both use
non-human animals in their research. For example, behaviorists used rats in Skinner boxes
to investigate operant conditioning and biopsychologists did neurosurgical studies on many
species to discover how the nervous system works. The approaches use animal subjects in
different ways, however. Behaviorists focus on how the animal responds to changes in its
external environment, whereas biopsychologists focus on how it responds to changes in its
internal structure. In either case, a consequence of this is that critics have attacked both
approaches on ethical grounds and because the findings they produce may not generalise to
humans.
Behaviorist and Biological Approaches - nature/nurture debate
One difference between the behaviorist and biological approaches is that the behaviorist
approach supports the nurture side of the nature/nurture debate, whereas the biological
approach supports the nature side. The behaviorist approach believes that we are born with
our mind as a blank slate and that all behavior is learned from association and direct
reinforcement, for example classical conditioning (Pavlov) and operant conditioning
(Skinner). The biological approach believes that anatomy is destiny and that all behavior is
developed from genetic blueprint codes (genes/genotypes) inherited from our parents for our
neuroanatomy, neurotransmitters, and hormones. However, two similarities between these
two approaches is that they are reductionist, meaning they both explain behavior in simple
terms, and they both have successful applications (biological - psychosurgery, behaviorist -
aversion therapy with classical conditioning).
Social learning and Cognitive theories of Gender Development - nature/nurture debate
One similarity between the social learning and cognitive theories of gender development is
that they both support the nurture side of the nature/nurture debate. SLT states that
observational learning takes place where individuals develop gender by imitating role
models, and this learning is reinforced vicariously, making the model's behavior more likely
to be imitated in the future. Cognitive theories emphasize the role of cognitions (how we
think) in the process of gender development. Kohlberg's (1966) cognitive developmental
theory states that children develop the stereotypic conceptions of gender from what they see
and hear around them, and the Gender Schema Theory (Martin and Halverson 1981) agrees
with Kohlberg, but believes the process of acquiring gender relevant information happens
before gender consistency/constancy is achieved. Both theories believe gender
development occurs through observation, imitation and experiences.
Humanistic and Psychodynamic Approaches - idiographic/nomothetic approach
One similarity between the humanistic and psychodynamic approaches is that they both
evaluate behavior using the idiographic approach. The humanistic approach believes that
psychology should study the individual case (idiographic), rather than the average
performance of groups (nomothetic) by shifting the focus of behavior to the whole person.
The psychodynamic approach also adopts the idiographic approach, because Sigmund
Freud used the case study method when detailing the lives of his patients. However, Freud
Behaviorist and Biological Approaches - use of animals in research
One similarity between the behaviorist and biological approaches is that they both use
non-human animals in their research. For example, behaviorists used rats in Skinner boxes
to investigate operant conditioning and biopsychologists did neurosurgical studies on many
species to discover how the nervous system works. The approaches use animal subjects in
different ways, however. Behaviorists focus on how the animal responds to changes in its
external environment, whereas biopsychologists focus on how it responds to changes in its
internal structure. In either case, a consequence of this is that critics have attacked both
approaches on ethical grounds and because the findings they produce may not generalise to
humans.
Behaviorist and Biological Approaches - nature/nurture debate
One difference between the behaviorist and biological approaches is that the behaviorist
approach supports the nurture side of the nature/nurture debate, whereas the biological
approach supports the nature side. The behaviorist approach believes that we are born with
our mind as a blank slate and that all behavior is learned from association and direct
reinforcement, for example classical conditioning (Pavlov) and operant conditioning
(Skinner). The biological approach believes that anatomy is destiny and that all behavior is
developed from genetic blueprint codes (genes/genotypes) inherited from our parents for our
neuroanatomy, neurotransmitters, and hormones. However, two similarities between these
two approaches is that they are reductionist, meaning they both explain behavior in simple
terms, and they both have successful applications (biological - psychosurgery, behaviorist -
aversion therapy with classical conditioning).
Social learning and Cognitive theories of Gender Development - nature/nurture debate
One similarity between the social learning and cognitive theories of gender development is
that they both support the nurture side of the nature/nurture debate. SLT states that
observational learning takes place where individuals develop gender by imitating role
models, and this learning is reinforced vicariously, making the model's behavior more likely
to be imitated in the future. Cognitive theories emphasize the role of cognitions (how we
think) in the process of gender development. Kohlberg's (1966) cognitive developmental
theory states that children develop the stereotypic conceptions of gender from what they see
and hear around them, and the Gender Schema Theory (Martin and Halverson 1981) agrees
with Kohlberg, but believes the process of acquiring gender relevant information happens
before gender consistency/constancy is achieved. Both theories believe gender
development occurs through observation, imitation and experiences.
Humanistic and Psychodynamic Approaches - idiographic/nomothetic approach
One similarity between the humanistic and psychodynamic approaches is that they both
evaluate behavior using the idiographic approach. The humanistic approach believes that
psychology should study the individual case (idiographic), rather than the average
performance of groups (nomothetic) by shifting the focus of behavior to the whole person.
The psychodynamic approach also adopts the idiographic approach, because Sigmund
Freud used the case study method when detailing the lives of his patients. However, Freud
