Approaches in Pyschology

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The Origins in Psychology- Philosophical Roots

Rene Descartes 1596-1650

Argued the body and mind are independent, known as Cartesain dualism.

His main view was that you can study the mind on its own

'I think therefore I am'

John Locke 1632-1704

The idea of empiricism, that all experience can be obtained through the senses and that humans inherit no knowledge or instinct

Tabula rasa- we are born as blank slates.

Charles Darwin 1809-1882

Evolutionary Theory

All human and animal behavior has been changed over successive generations

The individuals with the stronger, more adaptive genes survive and reproduce, the weaker ones do not. (survival of the fittest)

Led to the biological approch

Wilhelm Wundt (1879) set up the first psychology laboratory was opened in Leipzig, Germany

In 1880 psychology emerged as a distinct branch of study.

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The Origins of Psychology- 1900's onwards

Sigmund Freud 1900's

Published the Interpretation of dreams, and the psycho-dynamic approach was formed.

His approach believes physical problems have an unconscious roots.

1900's Psychology as a science

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Behaviourism

The focus of this approach is to study observable and measurable behaviour, they are not interested in mental processes.

Watson believed introspection as it is too vague and untestable

The follow Darwin's assumptions that the basic processes that govern learning are the same in all species. Therefore animals can be used instead of people in expirments

The Learning Approach

Classical Conditioning:

CC assumes that we learn through associations made at an involuntary levels e.g. phobias

Example studies- Pavlov's dogs (food and bell) Little Albert (white rat and loud noise)

Operant Conditioning: e.g. skinners rats

Type of learning where behaviour is modified by reinforcement.

types of reinforcement:

Positive reinforcement: Reward when a behaviour is preformed

Negative reinforcement: Occurs when someone avoids something unpleasant

Punishment: Unpleasant consequences avoid side effects of behaviour

Modern applications of behaviourism:

Wong- used skinners principles to explain addiction to video games, '5 creepy ways video games are trying to get you addicted' Video games environment is a form of skinners box providing reinforcement contingences and rewards that are dependant upon certain behaviours e.g. Going up a level.

Evaluating behaviourism:

Good points:

Scientific theory based on an experiment, repeated, proven evidence.

Real life application- therapies such as flood are hugely successful

Bad Points:

The use of animals cause problems, unethical and ignores a great deal of behaviour.

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The Learning Approach- SLT

Bandura-

Agreed with the idea that behaviour is learnt from experience, however it argued this was a simplistic view.

Learning through observation and imitation of others behaviours within social context.

We learn directly and indirectly. Directly through classical and operant conditioning. Indirectly we learn through reinforcement.

Social Learning Theory-

Vicarious Reinforcement- individuals imitate the observed behaviour. Imitation only occurs if the behaviour is seen to be rewarded (reinforced). Observing a behaviour and seeing the consequences as crucial.

The role of meditational processing- a bridge between learning theory and the cognitive approach, it looks at the mental factors that are involved in learning. The mental factor mediate in the learning process to determine weather a new response is acquired.

We learn through ATTENTION, RETENTION, MOTOR REPRODUCTION AND MOTIVATION.

We need to identify with the person we are observing to want to copy. Role models with similar or higher status.

The bobo doll studies (Bandura, Ross and Ross)-