Comparing and contrasting approaches to psychology Writing essay commentary (AO2) based on comparing and contrasting approaches

Which criteria can we use to compare approaches?

Comparing Approaches Nature vs. nurture Free will vs. determinism Ideographic vs. nomological Holistic vs. reductionist Preferred research methods

Nature/ nurture Free will/ determinism Ideographic/ nomological Holistic/ reductionist Methods Biological Behaviourist SLT Cognitive Psychodynamic Humanistic

Would you give this an AO2 mark? “The biological approach takes the nature view but the social learning theory takes the nurture view.”

“The biological approach takes the nature view because… By contrast, the social learning theory takes the nurture view because… However…”

“The biological approach takes the nature view because it suggests that genes determine at least some of our behaviour. By contrast, the social learning theory takes the nurture view because it holds that most of our behaviour is learned from others. However, SLT believes that the capacity for observational learning is something we are born with, which is consistent with the nature view.”

Write a paragraph of AO2 commentary, comparing/contrasting any two approaches on any one criterion. – Make sure you elaborate by explaining the position each approach takes. – Try to come up with a ‘however’ point to extend your discussion