Psychological Approaches : Psychological Approaches 1 x Assumption
2 x Strengths
2 x Weaknesses
Cognitive Approach : Cognitive Approach MAIN ASSUMPTION:
Behaviour is governed by mental processes, such as thinking, feeling, remembering, perception.
MAIN STRENGTHS:
RELIABILITY: highly scientific approach, using controlled tests and experiments to investigate mental processes.
USEFULNESS: understanding the mind can be applied to education, health and many other areas of everyday life.
MAIN WEAKNESSES:
VALIDITY: infers the underlying processes from external behaviour.
INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCE: makes assumptions about ‘normal’ functioning which don’t take account of cultural and gender difference.
Developmental Approach : Developmental Approach MAIN ASSUMPTION:
Psychology is driven by maturation (aging), resulting in changes during a person’s life time – it is an ongoing process.
MAIN STRENGTHS:
VALIDITY: use of longitudinal research is common, leading to rich, in-depth data that gives insight into development over time.
USEFULNESS: understanding development can be applied to education, health and many other areas of everyday life.
MAIN WEAKNESSES:
ETHICS: generally focuses on child development, which raises questions relating to consent and long-term effects of research.
REDUCTIONISM: often focuses on one explanation for development with little or no consideration of other approaches and how these interact to promote development.
Physiological Approach : Physiological Approach MAIN ASSUMPTION:
Behaviour is the consequence of biological functions – genes, hormones, neuro-chemicals and the activity of the nervous system.
MAIN STRENGTHS:
RELIABILITY: highly scientific approach, using controlled tests and experiments to investigate mental processes.
VALIDITY: use of complex machinery allows for accurate and precise measurements that are objective (free from human observer bias).
MAIN WEAKNESSES:
DETERMINISM: assumes that individuals have no control over their biology, therefore do not have free will.
REDUCTIONISM: ignores the influence of social factors and often provides simple explanations for complex behaviours.
Social Approach : Social Approach MAIN ASSUMPTION:
Behaviour is the result of our interactions with others and is influenced by other people and our enviroment.
MAIN STRENGTHS:
ECOLOGICAL VALIDITY: uses naturalistic settings and simulations to investigate human social behaviour.
USEFULNESS: helps to explain some of the extraordinary and often negative behaviour exhibited by humans, offering the potential to improve society.
MAIN WEAKNESSES:
ETHICS: most studies investigate negative behaviours and involve a level of distress and deception.
BIAS: most research is conducted in western societies and often with men only, resulting in both ethnocentrism and androcentrism, reducing the generalisability of results.
Individual Differences Approach : Individual Differences Approach MAIN ASSUMPTION:
Individuals are a unique blend of gender, ethnicity, personality and other factors, which may cause difficulties for defining normality.
MAIN STRENGTHS:
VALIDITY: addresses issues of bias and is often based on small groups / individuals, thus presents rich data that enhances psychological understanding.
USEFULNESS: helps to understand where the concept of normality comes from, but also offers help to those with ‘dysfunctional’ behaviour and cognitions.
MAIN WEAKNESSES:
RELIABILITY: emphasis on small groups / individuals makes replication difficult and is unlikely to provide consistent findings.
SOCIAL CONTROL: may be used to emphasise difference and how this is best dealt with by society (eg. Mental ill-health).
Behavioural Approach : Behavioural Approach MAIN ASSUMPTION:
Humans are born as a ‘tabula rasa’ - blank slate and all behaviour is learnt through environmental triggers (other people, reinforcements).
MAIN STRENGTHS:
RELIABILITY: highly scientific approach, using controlled tests and experiments to investigate observable behaviour.
USEFULNESS: many practical applications in education, therapy etc. through behaviour modification techniques.
MAIN WEAKNESSES:
DETERMINISM: most research is performed on animals and generalised to humans, who arguably are driven less by instinct and have free will. Also ignores effect of internal processes (cognitions) and genetic factors.
ECOLOGICAL VALIDITY: most research is conducted in controlled settings and fails to produce the same outcomes in the real world.
Psychodynamic Approach : Psychodynamic Approach MAIN ASSUMPTION:
Focuses on the unconscious mind and how behaviour is a result of conflict between unconscious instincts and social expectations.
MAIN STRENGTHS:
VALIDITY / HOLISM: focuses on individuals, thus provides rich, in-depth data and considers the whole person, not just the ‘problem’ they present with.
USEFULNESS: many practical applications in therapy, counselling and psychiatry due to its ability to explain both normal and abnormal behaviour.
MAIN WEAKNESSES:
DETERMINISM: rejects the notion of free will as we have no control over our unconscious, nor can we accurately interpret the meaning of unconscious manifestations.
REDUCTIONISM: ignores other, often more valid, explanations for behaviour.