Approaches

AO1

Assumptions: Believe we born a blank slate tabula rasa

Only focus on observable events

Rely on lab experiments (animals)

Classical conditioning: learning through association by creating a CS - CR link by pairing UCS  + NS

Pavolv's dogs

Operant conditioning: learning through consequences

Positive reinforcement - encourages repetition through reward

Negative reinforcement - encourages repetition by removal of unpleasant consequence

Punishment - encourages behaviour to stop

Skinner's boxes - rats & pigeons

AO3

+ Highly controlled research

+ Great explanatory power

- Environmental reductionism

- Issues with animal extrapolation​

AO1

Behaviour is a product of biology

Genetics - inherit predisposition for behaviours, use of twin studies to measure concordance rates

Genotype (physical make-up: pairing of the alleles) and phenotype (expression of the gene taking into account the interaction with the environment)

Evolutionary explanation - natural selection & adaptive traits

Neurotransmitters e.g. Serotonin

Hormones e.g. Aggression

Brain structures e.g. large ventricles and schizophrenia

Growth of cognitive neuroscience - investigating the neurobiological basis of thought

AO3

+ Real world application e.g. drug therapies

+ Scientific methodology

- Biological determinist

- Evolutionary not testable

AO1

Bandura: Learning through observation & imitation of role models

More likely to imitate if identify (similar or aspire to be like them)

Vicarious reinforcement: watching others get rewarded for a behaviour motivates imitation

Mediational process: Attention, Retention, Motor reproduction, Motivation (ARMM)

Bobo Doll study - children who observed the aggressive role model were more aggressive

AO3

+ More holistic than behaviourism

+ Real world application e.g. schools, addiction

+ Supportive evidence: Identification with role models is important: female blood donation

- Methodological issues of Bandura e.g. demand characteristics​​​​​​​​​​​​

AO1

Unconscious and innate drives shape behaviour

Iceberg analogy of the mind: conscious mind just the 'tip'

Tripartite theory of personality: 3 parts of the personality, Id (pleasure principle), Ego (reality principle) & Superego (morality principle)

Ego uses defence mechanisms to reduce anxiety caused by conflict of the id & superego; repression, denial & displacement

Psychosexual stages: oral, anal, phallic (Oedipus & Electra complex), latency, genital

Each stage has a conflict which must be resolved

AO3

+ Contributions to talking therapies e.g. psychoanalysis / defence mec.

+ Great explanatory power

- Untestable concepts

- Psychic determinism

AO1

Internal mental processes drive human behaviour

Inferences (assumptions) have to be made as the mind cannot be directly observed

To do this they rely on controlled lab experiments

Acknowledgement that schema (mental representations of knowledge) affect cognitive processes

Computer analogy: Compare mind to a computer, information processing model:

Input - Process - Output

Use of theoretical models (visual representations) e.g. MSM help to explain complex ideas

AO3

+ Scientific methodology

+ Soft determinism

+ Real life application - CBT

- Machine reductionism​​​​​​​​​​​​

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AO1

Only approach to suggest humans have free will

Takes a holistic approach

Rejects experimental methods

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs; states humans are intrinsically motivated to satisfy 5 needs;. physiological, safety, love, esteem, self actualisation. Each level needs to be satisfied before moving to the next.

Rogers: Focus on The Self

To have self-esteem a person needs unconditional positive regard. If not they have conditions of worth placed on them. 

There needs to be congruence between the self and ideal self

Roger's developed person centred counselling 

AO3

+ Holistic approach

+ Positive approach to human condition

- Cultural bias: Western societies

- Lack of scientific evidence