Summary
Summary Alevel psychlogy approaches notes
- Module
- Approaches (7182)
- Institution
- AQA
detailed but concise notes for the approaches topic. both a01 and ao3 included.
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ApproachesWilhelm Wundt
- Origins
In the early days of psychology, two dominant theoretical perspectives:
structuralism and functionalism. Structuralism from Wundt which focused
on the breaking down mental processes into the most basic components
- Wundt
Wundt was important because he separated psychology from philosophy
by analysing the workings of the mind in a more structured way with the
emphasis being on objective measurement and control. Structuralism
relied on trained introspection
- Introspection
Research method whereby subjects related what was going on in their
minds while performing a certain task. Getting inside the mind discussing
thoughts and trying to understand feelings
- Emergence of psychology as a science
Despite failure of introspection, Wundt is important figure in history as he
opened the first laboratory in Leipzig Germany in 1879, seen as the
beginning of modern experimental psychology. Development of the
scientific method, controlling variables, structured, standardised
procedures.
Behaviourism
- Classical conditioning
Classical conditioning is learning through association and was first
demonstrated by Pavlov. Pavlov showed that dogs could be condition to
salivate at the sound of a bell if that sound was repeatedly presented at
the same time, they were given food. First the dogs were present with
the food, and they salivated, food was unconditioned stimulus and
salivation was unconditioned response. Pavlov sounded the bell, neutral
, stimulus, before giving food and after few pairings when they heard the
bell even when no food given, they salivated. Learned to associate
- Operant conditioning
Skinner argued learning is an active process. When humans and animals
act on it and in their environment, consequences follow the behaviours. If
the consequences are unpleasant, they will not repeat. Positive
reinforcement, receiving a reward, negative reinforcement, taking a bad
thing away. Punishment, unpleasant consequence.
Skinners rats, hungry placed in game and every time lever activated a
food pellet fell into dispenser. Rats quickly learnt to go straight to lever
after few times of being put into a box. Different experiment shocked rats
with electric current and as soon as level hit it stopped. Rats learned to
activate lever as soon as in cage (negative reinforcement)
A03 – experimental support, Watson and Rayner, little albert conditioned
to fear rats with bang. Introduced scientific methods to psychology, lab
experiments with high control. Ethics, many of studies carried out on
animals which are cognitively and emotionally different to humans.
Practical applications, systematic desensitisation is treatment of phobias
based on classical conditioning. Does not consider biological factors, for
example, low serotonin for depression or high dopamine for OCD.
Neglects influence of free will
- Social learning theory
Bandura agreed with behaviourists that behaviour is learnt through
experience. However, he proposed a different mechanism, than
conditioning, he argued that we learn through observation and imitation
of others behaviour. Theory focuses on not only the behaviour itself but
on the mental processes so to pure behaviourist. Mediational processes
are cognitive factors such as attention, retention, motor production and
motivation. The four stages of social learning theory: attention, retention,
reproduction, motivation. Imitation more likely to occur if the model is
positively reinforced, this is vicarious reinforcement. More likely to occur
if we identify with the model, see them as sharing certain characteristics.
Bobo doll study – method, lab experiment, American children. 3 groups
shown different models or no model (aggressive, non-aggressive and no
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