Psychology A
Psychology, is rooted back in ancient history, where philosopher Plato, used the term ‘psyche’ and ‘logos’ to describe how the mind and soul worked. The four main approaches in Psychology are biological, behaviourist, psychodynamic and cognitive. Each approach looks at behaviour differently, and looks at the big debate between nature and nurture.
The biological approach is made up of key features; evolutionary and biology. Evolutionary theorist Charles Darwin, recognised innate drives like altruistic behaviour, when a parent will risk their own life for their children, was because of Natural Selection. Natural selection is for one to increase chance of survival and thus reproduce to enhance a wider gene pool. One insect that is a good example of evolution is the Peppered Moth. Ketterwell (1955), recognised that once the industrial revolution was in full bloom, the once white moth had changed colour to black. This is because of the air pollution that was created, the moth had evolved into a black colour to suit its environment. Another key feature is the biology of the human. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that connect through synapses and these can play a big role in our behaviour. Research has shown, serotonin affects our mood and sleep. Lack of serotonin has been linked with people suffering with depression. On the other end of the scale, high levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, has been linked to schizophrenia. We also know that different parts of the brain are responsible for different functions, such as the frontal lobe, which is linked with personality and creativity. One case study that shows this is Phineas Gage (1848), who survived an iron rod piercing through his head. Although he survived with much of his frontal lobe being destroyed, his behaviour changed, and was reported to be more aggressive. The biological approach strengths are, scientific and determinist. This approach is scientific as we can measure brain activity, using PET scans, and we can also measure the number of hormones and neurotransmitters somebody has. It is also determinist in a positive way. As we know that serotonin and dopamine are linked to certain mental illness, we can also predict that somebody is more likely to become mentally ill, when having too low serotonin or high dopamine levels. One weakness is this approach is very reductionist. It doesn’t take in to account the nurture side of the debate, where childhood memories could be the cause of a mental illness such as anxiety. Another weakness is that it doesn’t consider individual differences. This approach tends to generalise people’s behaviour, for example, male and female behaviour will be different as they have different hormone level.
The psychodynamic approach is made up of the key features; the unconscious mind and childhood experiences. The psychodynamic approach was invented by neurologist Sigmund Freud, back in the late 80’s, who recognised that life traumas and experiences would also effect one’s behaviour in later life. Freud believed that childhood experiences would shape one’s personality. He designed the Libido stages, where if a stage was incomplete, it would have a knock-on effect in later life. For example, the Anal stage is when the child is potty trained. If the stage is not completed, the child in later life could become possessive and overly tidy. If the child overindulges in this stage, they could become messy and disorganised. He also believed the unconscious mind would cause certain behaviour. He described the mind like an iceberg, with the unconscious mind lying beneath the water, and we cannot access it consciously, but through our dreams, and Freudian Slips. He believed all our innate drives that are socially unacceptable are stored there. He argued many of these thoughts were reproduced in our dreams, which were in symbols to protect us. On his case study with Breuer on ‘Anna O – Studies on hysteria,’ they researched on a young with severe anxiety and ‘hysteria’. Using hypnosis, Breuer found that her illness was triggered by a childhood trauma, her father had died. One strength of the psychodynamic approach is that it focuses on both nurture and nature sides of the debate. Although it recognises innate drives that humans biologically have can make us behave in certain ways, it also considers life events and the influence from the environment that can shape our behaviour. Another strength is that it resolves the issue causing the certain behaviour, this approach solves the root of the behaviour, instead of masking the symptoms like the biological approach does. One weakness is there is not any scientific evidence that this approach even exists, as we cannot falsify it. Also, dream therapy relies on interpretation from the therapist. This could differ between therapist, and this makes it unreliable and a weakness.
Another approach is behaviourist, that was created by the dislike of the psychodynamic approach, by J B Watson. He believes that we all born blank slate, and that we learn behaviour like other animals. Classical conditioning is when we learn behaviours through association. Pavlov’s dog, presented an unconditioned stimulus (food) to the dog, that created unconditioned response (salivation). He then paired the UCR with a neutral stimulus (a bell) several times. After, the bell becomes a conditioned stimulus, and the salvation becomes a conditioned response. One example of this is cupboard love. This is when the pet associates a cupboard with food, and then the cupboard becomes a conditioned stimulus. Operant conditioning in when behaviour is learnt through reinforcement, this could be positive or negative reinforcement. Positive reinforcements are rewards, so the desirable behaviour is reinforced. Negative reinforcements are punishments. One example of this is Skinner Rat’s, the rat was first rewarded with food when it pushed a lever, which increased the amount of times the lever was pressed. He then gave the rat electric shocks when it pressed the lever, which in turn decreased the amount of times the lever was pressed. This experiment showed that through reinforcement, we can alter and shape behaviour. One strength of the behaviour approach is the it can be used for clinical and non – clinical population. This approach also has contributed into the educational system, to help with behaviour in lessons. Skinner, 1954, recognised that students learn at different rates so the punishments or reward should be different for every student. Another strength is that it’s scientific, as behaviour can be observed and measured. One weakness of this approach is that it’s determinist. It ignores that fact we have free will, and we don’t always obey commands and listen to punishments or rewards. This approach is also more relevant to animals than humans. Most of the research carried out is on animals, mainly because of ethical issues, so can we assume that humans and animals learn in the same way?
The final approach is the cognitive approach.