AQA A LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY APPROACHES TOPIC NOTES. Extremely in depth and precise notes. Includes every topic within the approaches section. I achieved an A STAR using these notes. No need to make any notes, just start revising.
ORIGINS OF PSYCHOLOGY
1) WUNDT- HIS work marked beginning of scientific psychology/separated psychology
from philosophy by being objective and controlled.
2) INTROSPECTION-He aimed to analyse the nature of the human consciousness. Gain
an insight into how mental processes work/systematic experimental attempt to
study mind by breaking up conscious awareness into thoughts, images and
sensations. He and co workers recorded their experiences of different stimuli
(sounds/objects) and divided observations into thoughts, images, sensations. Self
report where they report thoughts and feelings.
3) REDUCTIONISM- he believed consciousness could be broken down into basic
structures using introspection.
4) STRUCTURALISM- Wundt and co workers all experienced stimuli in same order and
given same instructions.
5) STRENGTHS- SYSTEMATIC AND WELL CONTROLLED/SCIENTIFIC- all introspections
recorded in lab environment so NO EXTRANEOUS VARIABLES.
Procedures/instructions were standardised so they all had same info and tested in
same way. CAN BE CONSIDERED SCIENTIFIC.
6) LIMITATION- SUBJECTIVE/UNSCIENTIFIC- relied on self report so data is subjective
(influenced by personal perspective) and they might’ve hidden thoughts. So its
difficult to establish laws of behaviour and laws to predict behaviour is one of the
aims in science. CONSIDERED UNSCIENTIFIC TODAY AND STUDY IS FLAWED.
7) TIMELINE- 17th-19th century- psychology is a branch of philosophy. 1800s- Wundt
opens 1st experimental psych lab. 1900s- Freud/psychodynamic approach. 1913-
Behaviourist approach. 1950s- humanistic and cognitive approach. 1960s- SLT.
1980s- biological approach. End of century- cognitive neuroscience.
8) EMERGENCY OF PSYCH AS A SCIENCE- introspection was questioned as it produced
subjective data so difficult to establish general laws. Behaviourist approach
dominated as it was objective. Then cognitive approach used multi store model
based on computers and this was objective and scientific. Then biological approach
due to advances in tech.
9) WHAT MAKES PSYCH A SCIENCE- OBJECTIVE, CONTROLLED CONDITIONS,
PREDICTABILITY, HYPOTHESIS TESTING, REPLICATION.
10) STRENGTH- RESEARCH IN MODERN PSYCHOLOGY IS SCIENTIFIC- has the same aims
as science- describe, understand, predict, control behaviour. Learning, cognitive,
biological approaches all rely on scientific methods (lab to investigate in controlled
and unbiased way). THROUGHOUT 20TH CENTURY ITS ESTABLISHED ITSELF AS A
SCIENCE.
BEHAVIOURIST APPROACH
1) ONLY INTERESTED IN STUDYING BEHAVIOUR AS MENTAL PROCESSES WERE SEEN AS
IRRELEVANT (rejects introspection as concepts were vague/difficult to measure).
They used lab studies to maintain control/objectivity. CLASSICAL/OPERANT
CONDITIONING- believe all behaviour is learned as baby’s minds are a blank slate. IT
studies animals as all species are governed by same learning processes (DARWIN).
2) CLASSICAL CONDITIONING- learning by association/when 2 stimuli are repeatedly
paired together. UCS and NS are paired together, NS becomes CS and eventually
, produces same response/CR as UCS alone. PAVLOV’S DOGS- aim- investigate
whether a dog could be conditioned to salivate to bell sound through association.
Sound of bell was repeatedly associated with food at the same time. Dogs learned to
associate sound of bell (NS) with food (UCS) producing (UCR) of salivation. The bell
became (CS) producing (CR).
3) OPERANT Conditioning - BEHAVIOUR IS SHAPED AND MAINTAINED by
consequences. POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT- receive a reward when a certain
behaviour is performed. (praise from teacher when answer question correctly).
NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT- avoiding an unpleasant consequence so the outcome is
positive. (hand in HW to avoid being told off). PUNISHMENT- unpleasant
consequence of behaviour (shouted at because not handing in HW). SKINNER- aim-
investigate whether rats can learn through operant conditioning. Skinner created a
skinner box with each inside a variety of stimuli (speaker, lights, lever, food
dispenser). Every time rat activated lever it was rewarded with food, then It would
repeat this behaviour (POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT). WHEN IT activated the lever it
would stop electric shock (negative reinforcement).
4) STRENGTH- WELL CONTROLLED RESEARCH- highly controlled lab, break down
behaviour into basic stimulus response units= all extraneous variables were
removed. Skinner clearly demonstrated how reinforcement influenced behaviour.
SCIENTIFIC CREDITBILITY
5) STRENGTH- REAL WORLD APPLICATION- Classical Conditioning IS USED IN
SYSTEMATIC DESENTISISATION
6) LIMITATION- OVERSIMPLIFIED LEARNING PROCESS- ignored influence of thought,
SLT and cognitive approach consider mental processes involved in learning.
LEARNING IS MORE COMPLEX THAN WHAT IS OBSERVED, PRIVATE MENTAL
PROCESSES ALSO ESSENTAIL.
7) STRENGTH- REAL WORLD APPLICATION- operant conditioning in token economy
systems. Reward appropriate behaviour in prisons/psychiatric wards with tokens
that can be exchanged for privileges. WIDESPREAD APPLICATION.
8) LIMITATION- EXPLAINS ALL BEHAVIOUR AS CONDITIONED BY PAST EXPERINECE-
skinner suggests that everything we do is a result of our reinforcement history.
Ignores influence of free will. EXTREME VIEW AND IGNORES INFLUENCE OF
CONSCIOUS DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES ON BEHAVIOUR.
9) LIMITATION- ETHICAL ISSUES- animals exposed to stressful conditions, affect how
they responded.
SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY
1) BANDURA said that people learn through observation and imitation of others. It
occurs through classical and operant conditioning but also indirectly. It’s the bridge
between behaviour approach and cognitive as it focuses on how mental/cognitive
factors are involved in learning.
2) VICARIOUS REINFORCEMNET- individual observes behaviour of others and if the
behaviour is seen to be rewarded, they imitate it. This is indirect learning
(reinforcement that occurs not directly by experiencing it but through observing
someone else being rewarded/punished).
3) IMITATION- copying behaviour of others.
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