Approaches

Approaches

Cogntive
1. Assumptions
  1. The brain is like a computer processor. Boxes and arrow approach.
  2. The study of internal processes is important in understanding behaviour.
2. Strengths
  1. High level of control through lab experiments.
  2. May help with the treatment of cognitive problems and practical applications such as teaching.
3. Weaknesses
  1. Low ecological validity due to controlled conditions.
  2. Cognitive approach tends to be reductionist.
Developmental
1. Assumptions
  1. Abilities and behaviours change over a life-time.
  2. In early life there is a critical period for language, attachment to others especially parents.
2. Strengths
  1. Adds to the continuing nature/nurture debate.
  2. Offers explanations to why different ages have different skills, responses and emotions.
3. Weaknesses
  1. Children samples are easily influences by experimenters.
  2. Some aspects of development are hard to study scientifically.
Physiological
1. Assumptions
  1. All behaviour has biological causes.
  2. Genes have evolved over millions of years so much behaviour has a genetic basis.
2. Strengths
  1. Uses highly controlled conditions and specialised techniques.
  2. Contributed to psychologists’ understanding of a very wide range of phenomena.
3. Weaknesses
  1. Tasks lack ecological validity.
  2. Raises ethical concerns
Social
1. Assumptions
  1. Research can help with social issues.
  2. Behaviour of an individual is influenced by others and society.
2. Strengths
  1. Investigates issues highly relevent to society.
  2. Demonstrates the extent to which situational factors affect behaviour
3. Weaknesses
  1. ETHICAL ISSUES!!
  2. Demand characteristics can be high
Individual Differences
1. Assumptions
  1. Aims to make generalisations about differences between people.
  2. Focuses on the unique characteristics of the individual.
2. Strengths
  1. Qualitative research is rich and detailed.
  2. Research has many practical applications
3. Weaknesses
  1. Case studies are difficult to generalise
  2. Methodology is sometimes subjective.
Psychodynamic Perspective
1. Assumptions
  1. We are strongly influenced by our unconscious mind.
  2. Our development is affected by early relationships
2. Strengths
  1. Occupies middle ground on nature/nurture debate.
  2. Explains a variety of behaviours.
3. Weaknesses
  1. Poor research methodology.
  2. Theoretical ideas to vague to test.
Behaviouist Perspective
1. Assumptions
  1. We acquire behaviour through learning.
  2. Behaviour exists as a result to a certain stimuli.
2. Strengths
  1. Scientific status.
  2. Practical applications.
3. Weaknesses
  1. Reductionist.
  2. Raises ethical concerns.

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	Created by liam.r.clifford almost 10 years ago