comparing approaches (2)

Question 1

describe behaviourist

Answer 1

deterministic - behaviour is controlled by external factors

nurture - humans are born as a blank slate and learns from the environment

reductionist - behaviour is broken down into simple stimulus and response interactions

nomothetic - creates universal laws as behaviour is a result of stimulus

scientific - utilises scientific methods of investigation (lab experiments)

Question 2

social learning theory

Answer 2

soft determinism - behaviour is controlled by environmental forces, however humans have some personal responsibility and free choice

nurture - behaviour is learned via observational learning.

more reductionist than holism but less than behaviourist - combined concepts from the behaviourist and the cognitive approach, however the approach uses experiments and so isolates elements of behaviour

nomothetic - attempts to establish general laws about learning

scientific - utilises lab experiment but researchers are unable to directly observe cognitive processes

Question 3

describe the cognitive approach

Answer 3

soft determinism - behaviour is controlled by mental processes. however we still have some control over how we think

middle between nature and nurture - behaviour is a product of info processing which is modified by experience

reductionist - used controlled experiments to isolate one variable to test

nomothetic - Seeks to establish general laws of cognitive processing

scientific - utilises scientific methods of investigation. researchers are unable to observe cognitive processes

Question 4

biological approach

Answer 4

determinism - behaviour is determined by internal biological factors

nature - behaviour is the result of innate biological factors

reductionism - behaviour is broken down into biological structures and processes

nomothetic - creates universal laws because humans share similar physiologies

scientific - brain scanning, drug studies.

Question 5

describe psychodynamic

Answer 5

deterministic - behaviour is controlled by our unconscious desires and childhood experiences

both nature and nurture - behaviour is a product of internal drive, but it is shaped by our early childhood experiences

reductionist but has holism elements - believes all elements of an individuals behaviour should be taken into account. however it claims that unconscious drives underpins behaviour

idiographic - considers the individuals unique experience but attempts to establish general laws in relation to innate drive and development

unscientific - no, examines many abstract concepts that cannot be scientifically tested. based on subjective interpretation

Question 6

humanistic approach

Answer 6

freewill - humans control their own behaviour and are capable of change

nurture - innate drive to be the best that you can which the environment helps guide

holism - focuses on understanding all aspects of human behaviour and experience

idiographic - focuses on the subjective human experiences and no attempt to create universal laws

not scientific - rejects scientific methods and is therefore unable to produce emprirical evidence.