1. Key approaches in Psychology
Year 2
Key approaches in Psychology
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2. Each of the following slides gives a description of an area of study
Each of the following slides gives a description of an area of study. Decide which approach would be most likely to be used to investigate that idea in psychology.

3. The issue of whether there is a genetic component to the control of individual differences such as skills, intelligence or personality.
Biological

4. 2. People have the freedom to choose their own destiny
Humanistic

5. 3. The role of unconscious memories in mental health problems such as depression and anxiety.
Psychodynamic

6. 4. Animals can acquire new behaviours if they are rewarded.
Behaviourist

7. 5.Psychologists are interested in studying twins to see if a certain trait is more common in MZ twins than DZ twins
Biological

8. 6. Old woman or young woman
6. Old woman or young woman? One aspect of our mental world is the way that we perceive things.
Cognitive

9. 7. People can acquire skills by imitating others.
Social learning
Mrs Maidment

10. 8. The role of childhood experiences in. the development of adulthood
8. The role of childhood experiences in the development of adulthood personality traits such as tidiness.
Psychodynamic

11. 9. The way that we learn in school is
9. The way that we learn in school is affected by praise and punishment.
Behaviourist

12. 10. Our personal growth is an essential part
10. Our personal growth is an essential part of what it means to be human
Humanistic

13. 11. Children learn new behaviours by watching role models.
Social learning

14. 12. It has been possible to work out which parts of the brain are involved in the processing of words
Cognitive Neuroscience

15. Which 5 approaches have you now studied?

16. You need to be able to discuss approaches in this context.
The 5 Approaches
Behaviourism (learning approaches)
Psychodynamic
Humanism
Cognitive
Biological
Note – the approaches section includes the development of Psychology from its Origins.
You need to be able to discuss approaches in this context.

17. Origins of Psychology
Use your textbook (p.8-21) to revise the development of Psychology.
You should be able to discuss:
Where it really began & how
How the approaches developed
How they moved Psychology forwards
The movement towards being more scientific
The debate about Psychology as a Science (see p.82-83)

18. Revision To Do at Home Approaches in Psychology
• Origins of psychology: Wundt, introspection and the emergence of psychology as a science.
The basic assumptions of the following approaches:
• Learning approaches: the behaviourist approach, including classical conditioning and Pavlov’s research, operant conditioning, types of reinforcement and Skinner’s research; social learning theory including imitation, identification, modelling, vicarious reinforcement, the role of mediational processes and Bandura’s research.
• The cognitive approach: the study of internal mental processes, the role of schema, the use of theoretical and computer models to explain and make inferences about mental processes. The emergence of cognitive neuroscience.
• The biological approach: the influence of genes, biological structures and neurochemistry on behaviour. Genotype and phenotype, genetic basis of behaviour, evolution and behaviour.
Covered in Year 2:
• The psychodynamic approach: the role of the unconscious, the structure of personality, that is ID, ego and superego, defence mechanisms including repression, denial and displacement, psychosexual stages.
• Humanistic psychology: free will, self-actualisation and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, focus on the self, congruence, the role of conditions of worth. The influence on counselling psychology.
Yet to cover: Comparison of approaches.

19. Examples of specific knowledge questions from Approaches Section

21. Comparing Approaches This is a likely focus in 16 mark essays
Have a look at the exam questions sheet
What do you think you could compare approaches on? Make a list
Examples of essay questions in folder with mark scheme

22. You could Compare Approaches on…….
Debates
Assumptions of the Approach
Common Methods used
Treatments offered
Strengths
Limitations
You need to compare the approaches on the ways in which they are similar and/or different.

23. Example Comparison Point
The psychodynamic approach and the humanistic approach are different in their assumptions of human behaviour. The psychodynamic approach can be considered negative because it focuses on the influence of traumatic childhood experiences and guilt/conflict in determining mental health & behaviour. Humanism on the other hand is arguably more positive, especially because it focuses on the ability of individuals to self actualise and therefore reach their true potential in life.

24. Psychodynamic vs. Humanist
Difference: Which two approaches are you contrasting?
Point
One difference between the ___________________ approach and the ___________________ is …
Example (Approach 1)
The ___________________ approach suggests [Provide explanation of the difference you are going to discuss] …
Explain (Approach 2)
However, the ___________________ suggests [Explain how approach 2 is difference] …