AQA A-Level Psychology – Approaches Exam Questions and Answers Rated A+

Origins of Psychology -ANSWER - Wundt founded first ever psychological lab in Germany in 1879. Aimed to document and describe the nature of human consciousness. Developed *introspection* Introspection -ANSWER - Involved recording own conscious thoughts. Aim was to break these thoughts down into their constituent parts. Isolating the structure of consciousness in this way is known as *Structuralism* Origins of psychology - Evaluation -ANSWER - -Wundt's methods were unreliable: - non observable responses - hard to reproduce -Introspection is inaccurate +Scientific approach - Brought objective systematic methods -Lab studies produce low ecological results Assumption of the behaviourist approach -ANSWER - Blank slate All behavior is learnt other than survival instincts Animals can be used in research No difference between man and brute Rejection of introspection Reliant upon lab experiments to maintain control and objectivity 2 forms of learning: classical and operant conditioning. Classical conditioning -ANSWER - Learning through association Pavlov research - dogs associate sound of bell with food if bell is rung consistently before feeding.