1. What do you need to know? 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.

2. Origins of psychology The emergence of psychology as a science:
Psychology had its roots in philosophy and biology, but when German doctor and psychologist William Wundt opened the world's first experimental laboratory at the university of Leipzeg in1879, it marked a turning point: psychology's emergence as a separate and distinct scientific discipline.
Wundt showed that empirical methods could be applied to the study of mental processes.
Empirical methods of research are based on actual experience rather than on theory or belief. It involves gathering data in an objective way so that researchers’ preconceptions cannot influence the data. It also measures quantitative details so that patterns can be examined and inferences from the result are credible.

3. Origins of psychology - Wundt
Wilhelm Wundt ( ) is generally considered the father of experimental psychology.
After studying medicine, he worked as a physiologist at Heidelberg University and later at Leipzig University. While at Heidelberg, he delivered the first university course on scientific psychology and went on to write the first textbook on psychology, “Principles of Physiological Psychology” (Wundt, ). In 1875, at Leipzig University, he set up the first laboratory dedicated to experimental psychology.
In doing so, he separated psychology from philosophy and biology and became the first person to be called a psychologist.

4. Introspection
Introspection gained a new lease of life when the cognitive approach realised that it could give reliable insight into higher mental processes if controlled very carefully.
Valuable inferences have been made from diary studies, where people have been asked to report specific details at regular intervals during a day or whenever a specific event such as forgetting a name takes place.
Similarly, almost all laboratory experiments conducted within the cognitive approach involve some introspection, even if it is only reporting which words you remember from a list you have learned.

5. “Outline and evaluate the social learning theory approach” (12 marks)

6. Social learning approach plan
AO1
AO3
Assumptions – we learn through experience
Vicarious reinforcement (learning through consequence)
Bandura’s research – what does this tell us about SLT?
Mediational processes – cognitive factors in learning (ARRM)
Attention (learning), retention (learning), motor reproduction (performance), motivation (performance)
Identification
Role models, modelling, factors which make someone more likely to be a role model
+ provides a deeper insight into cognitive factors in learning by recognising mediation processes involved in learning
- over-reliance from lab studies, demand characteristics, artificial, lacks ecological validity
- nature/nurture debate? Ignores biological factors in learning. Link to Bandura – could have been differences in hormones/bio factors which played a role.

7. “Outline and evaluate the behaviourist approach in psychology” (12 marks)

8. Behaviourist approach plan
AO1
AO3
Assumptions
beh. that can be observed/measured
Relied on lab experiments
Classical/operant conditioning
Classical Conditioning
Pavlov’s dogs, learning through association
UCS, UCR, NS, UCR, CS, CR
Operant conditioning
Learning through consequence
Positive/negative/punishment
Skinner’s box
+ scientific credibility, due to nature of experiment easy replication, development of psychology as a scientific discipline
+ real life application – token economy systems (schools and prisons) treatment of phobias
- Ethical issues using animals in research, ignores biological factors in learning

9. “Outline and evaluate the cognitive approach in psychology” (12 marks)

10. Cognitive approach plan
AO1
AO3
Assumptions
Internal mental processes can and should be studied scientifically
Make inferences about behaviour about what’s going on inside people’s minds on the basis of their behaviour
Theoretical and computer models
Information processing approach, info flows through a cognitive system
Computer models – similarities in the way info is processed
The role of schema
How we use schema to make sense of the world
Respond to our environment quickly and efficiently.
+ highly controlled methods including experiments which produce highly reliable objective data
+ the emergence of cognitive neuroscience has enabled the two field of biology and cognitive psychology to come together to enable the study of the mind to have an established credible scientific basis
+Comparing a human mind to a machine or computer is problematic, we have emotions and motivations involved in behaviour which the cognitive approach ignores

11. “Discuss the contribution of the biological approach to our understanding of human behaviour” (12 marks)

12. AO1 AO3 Assumptions Biological structures Genes
Neurochemistry & nervous system
Genetic basis of behaviour
Twin studies MZ/DZ concordance rates
Genotype and Phenotype
Genotype – genetics
Phenotype – way genes are expressed through physical, environmental
Interaction between genes and environment
Evolution & behaviour
Natural selection
Survival
+ scientific methods, twin studies, FRMRis, family studies enable us to accurately measure behaviour – based on reliable data
+ real life application, we can use our knowledge of the biological approach to treat serious mental illnesses such as depression.
Determinist view of behaviour, behaviour is caused by internal, biological causes of which we have no control. Is this the case?
Hard to separate nature/nurture e.g. twins.