Comparison of approaches -A-Level Psychology
Comparison of approaches:
Views on development
Behaviourist approach and social learning theory do not offer coherent stage theories of development and see learning as continuous in comparison to other approaches e.g biological and cognitive(schema).
Nature vs nurture
For nature:biological approach
For nurture:social learning theory and behaviourist approach
Reductionism
Reductionism refers to the belief that human behaviour can be explained by breaking it down into constituent parts.(behaviourist approach,biological approach,psychodynamic approach)
The cognitive approach has been accused of machine reductionism by presenting people as information processing systems and ignoring the influence of emotion on behaviour.
Humanistic approach supports the opposing view of holism which investigates all aspects of the individual ,including the effects of interaction with others and wider society.
Determinism
Suggests that all behaviour has an external or internal cause and is thus predictable.
Hard determinism- behaviorism and biological approach
Soft determinism-humanistic approach
Explanation and treatment of abnormal behaviour
Behaviourist approach-arises from faulty learning and treated by systematic desensitisation
Social learning theory-arises from modelling and vicarious reinforcement
Cognitive-CBT
Humanistic therapy-counselling
Biological theory-drug therapy
The purpose of comparing different approaches in A-Level Psychology is to understand the different theories, methods, and applications that psychologists use to study human behavior and mental processes. By comparing and contrasting these approaches, students can gain a deeper understanding of the strengths and limitations of each approach and develop a more comprehensive understanding of psychology as a whole.
The major approaches in A-Level Psychology include behaviorism, cognitive psychology, humanistic psychology, psychodynamic psychology, and biological psychology.
The major approaches in A-Level Psychology are different from each other in terms of their underlying assumptions, theories, and methods. For example, behaviorism focuses on observable behavior and uses conditioning to explain learning, while cognitive psychology focuses on mental processes such as perception, attention, and memory. Humanistic psychology emphasizes personal growth and self-actualization, while psychodynamic psychology focuses on unconscious motives and conflicts. Biological psychology looks at the role of biology and genetics in behavior and mental processes.
Yes, for example, behaviorism might explain a behavior such as smoking as a learned behavior that has been reinforced over time through conditioning. Cognitive psychology might explain smoking as a result of cognitive processes such as attentional bias or beliefs about smoking. Humanistic psychology might explain smoking as a response to unmet needs for self-actualization or personal growth. Psychodynamic psychology might explain smoking as a way of coping with unconscious conflicts or unresolved issues from childhood. Biological psychology might explain smoking as a result of genetic or physiological factors such as addiction or brain chemistry.
You can use the knowledge of different approaches in A-Level Psychology to analyze and evaluate research studies, develop your own theories and hypotheses, and apply psychological principles to real-world problems. By understanding the strengths and limitations of each approach, you can develop a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of psychology as a whole and be better prepared for your A-Level Psychology exams.
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