Access to HE: Psychological Perspectives Quick Quiz Lynne Hemingway lynne.hemingway@burycollege.ac.uk

Evaluation of Approaches For each of the 4 approaches you should consider: What are the main assumptions of that approach What are the strengths of the approach? What are the weaknesses?

One strength of this approach is that it is very scientific.

THE BIOLOGICAL APPROACH This is a strength because the experiments used are measurable, objective and can be repeated to test for reliability. Also, the researcher has more control over the variables.

One strength of this approach is that it focused on the effects that childhood experiences have on the developing personality.

THE PSYCHODYNAMIC APPROACH This is a strength because Freud was the first psychologist to realise the importance of childhood. It also led to other psychologists, including Piaget, developing theories on childhood. An example of this is the Little Hans case study. Hans had a fear of castration which led to him having a phobia of horses.

One strength of this approach is that it uses scientific methods of research.

THE BEHAVIOURIST APPROACH This is a strength because the experiments are objective, measurable, and observable. An example of this is Bandura's bobo doll study of aggression.

One weakness of this approach is that it is too mechanical.

THE COGNITIVE APPROACH It compares the human to computers, in that they have similar processes. This is a weakness as humans are more complex than computers, for example emotions can affect a humans' output.

One weakness of this approach is that it focuses too much on the 'nurture' side of the nature/nurture debate.

THE BEHAVIOURIST APPROACH It suggests that all behaviour is learned, but cognitive and biological elements have been shown to affect behaviour.

One strength of this approach is that it looks at thought processes which were largely ignored by other psychologists.

THE COGNITIVE APPROACH Processes such as memory, attention and perception have been studied as they have an effect on our behaviour. Considerable research by Loftus and Palmer (1974) has shown that memories on eye witness testimony are unreliable.

One weakness of this approach is that it focuses too much on the 'nature' side of the nature/nurture debate

THE BIOLOGICAL APPROACH It argues that behaviour is caused by hormones, neurotransmitters and genetics. One theory is that schizophrenia is genetic. However, twin studies show that it is not completely genetic and the environment has a part to play.

One weakness of this approach is that it is unfalsifiable.

THE PSYCHODYNAMIC APPROACH This is a weakness because the assumptions can not be scientifically measured or proved wrong. An example of this is the idea of the mind being split into three parts.

One strength of this approach is that it takes both nature and nurture into account.

THE PSYCHODYNAMIC APPROACH This is a strength because it emphasises the importance of both. An example of this is that Freud's assumption of childhood experiences focused on nurture, whereas the ID, Ego and Super-ego focused on nature.

One weakness of these approaches is the ethical issues raised by using animals in experiments.

THE BIOLOGICAL & BEHAVIOURAL APPROACHES This is because animals can not consent to take part and are unable to withdraw.

One weakness of these approaches is that they are reductionist.

THE BIOLOGICAL, BEHAVIOURAL & COGNITIVE APPROACHES What explanations can you give for this criticism? A cognitive example of this is that it reduces human behaviour down to individual processes such as memory and attention. This is a weakness because the human is a product of all the processes working together and not just individual parts.

One weakness of these approaches is that they are deterministic.

What explanations can you give for this criticism? THE BIOLOGICAL & PSYCHODYNAMIC What explanations can you give for this criticism? How could this also be viewed as a strength of the biological approach? This is a weakness because it suggests that behaviour is pre-determined and people do not have free will. A psychodynamic example of this is the psychosexual stages. Biological strength: This is a strength because it increases the likelihood of being able to treat people with abnormal behaviour and provides explanations about the causes of behaviour. This understanding can then be used to improve people's lives.