2 16 markers and 1 6 marker for Approaches in Psychology
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Course
Approaches in psychology
Institution
AQA
This document involves 2 16 mark essays. one focuses of types of determinism and involves a case study (AO2), the other focuses on behaviourism and Pavlov & Skinner. There is also a 6 mark question on the psychodynamic approach which covers the AO1 of an essay (would only need to add the AO3 points...
Dancho is a talented musician who was taught to play the piano by his father who was a
concert pianist. From the age of 4 years Dancho attended a specialist music school where
he spent many hours each day practising the piano.
In a recent tv interview dancho said ‘my earliest memories are of notes and melodies so
music is a part. Of me. To hear the applause in the concert hall is what I live for. Even if I
wanted to stop playing, I could not’
Discuss two or more types of determinism. Refer to the case of Dancho as part of your
discussion (16 marks)
Determinism refers to the idea that traits and behaviours are a result of internal or external
forces that are outside our control instead of an individual’s own free will to do something.
These forces can be down to biology whereby traits and behaviours are determined by our
genes, neurochemistry or brain structure, known as biological determinism. This can be
seen in Dancho’s case as his father was a pianist meaning that biological determinism can
explain his abilities through an inherited gene. This is further suggested by Dancho’s words
‘music is a part of me’ suggesting his ability is innate.
Environmental determinism is the idea that our behaviour has been shaped by external
forces such as experiences as well as parents and teachers. It may be that Dancho’s ability is
a result of being around his father and attending a specialist music school from the age of 4
because he was constantly being taught and practising how to play the piano and the
applause provided reinforcement, therefore suggesting his ability is a result of conditioning.
The idea that these internal or external forces dictate everything we think and do and that
free will is not possible is known as hard determinism. Dancho’s words ‘even if I wanted to
stop playing, I could not’ suggests that he has no control over his behaviour and therefore
internal and external forces are the only cause, meaning it could be hard determinism.
However, it could be argued that our behaviour is actually self-determined and free from
other influences. This is the idea of free will whereby we have choices in how we act and
therefore does not reduce individual responsibility like determinism does.
However, an interactionist approach may be the most appropriate explanation for
behaviour as it combines both ideas of free will and determinism. Approaches in psychology
that have a cognitive element, such as the social learning theory, are those which tend to
adopt a soft determinist approach. Bandura argued that although environmental factors in
learning are key, we are free to choose who or what to attend to and when to perform
certain behaviours. A pure deterministic or free will approach does not seem appropriate
when studying human behaviour.
A limitation of the deterministic explanation is that it is incompatible with the legal system,
which holds people morally accountable for their actions.
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