Approaches and biopsychology Revision Notes

Behaviourist Approach

• Classical Conditioning: Learning through association, exemplified by Pavlov's experiments with dogs, where a neutral stimulus (bell) became associated with an unconditioned stimulus (food) to elicit a conditioned response (salivation).
• Operant Conditioning: Learning through consequences, as demonstrated by Skinner's research with rats, where behaviors are shaped by reinforcement (positive or negative) and punishment.

Social Learning Theory

• Imitation and Identification: Learning by observing others, particularly role models. Bandura's Bobo doll experiment illustrated how children imitate aggressive behavior.
• Vicarious Reinforcement: Learning that occurs by observing the consequences of others' actions, influencing the likelihood of imitation.
• Mediational Processes: Cognitive factors that influence learning, including attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation.

Cognitive Approach

• Internal Mental Processes: Focuses on how we think, perceive, remember, and learn. Models like the information processing model help explain these processes.
• Schemas: Cognitive frameworks that help organize and interpret information, influencing how we understand the world.

Biological Approach

• Genotype and Phenotype: The genetic makeup (genotype) versus the observable characteristics (phenotype) of an individual.
• Neurochemistry: The study of neurotransmitters and their role in behavior, including the effects of hormones and brain structures.
• Cognitive Neuroscience: Examines the relationship between brain function and cognitive processes.

Psychodynamic Approach

• The Unconscious: The part of the mind that contains thoughts and memories not accessible to conscious awareness.
• Id, Ego, Superego: The three parts of personality that interact to shape behavior, with the Id seeking pleasure, the Ego balancing reality, and the Superego enforcing moral standards.
• Defence Mechanisms: Psychological strategies used to cope with anxiety and protect the self.

Humanistic Psychology

• Free Will: The belief that individuals have the power to make choices.
• Self-Actualisation: The process of realizing one's potential and achieving personal growth, often depicted in Maslow's hierarchy of needs.
• Congruence and Conditions of Worth: The alignment between self-concept and experiences, and the conditions imposed by others that affect self-esteem.

Comparison of Approaches

• Each approach offers unique insights into behavior, with varying emphasis on nature vs. nurture, the role of the unconscious, and the importance of cognitive processes.

Biopsychology

• Divisions of the Nervous System: Central (brain and spinal cord) and peripheral (somatic and autonomic) systems, with the autonomic further divided into sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.
• Neurons: Sensory neurons transmit signals from sensory receptors, relay neurons connect neurons, and motor neurons convey signals to muscles.
• Synaptic Transmission: The process of neurotransmitters crossing synapses to transmit signals, involving excitation and inhibition.
• Endocrine System: Glands that secrete hormones, influencing various bodily functions and behaviors.
• Fight or Flight Response: The body's physiological reaction to perceived threats, primarily mediated by adrenaline.
• Brain Studies: Techniques such as fMRI, EEGs, ERPs, and post-mortem examinations are used to study brain function and structure.
• Localisation of Function: Specific brain areas are associated with particular functions, such as Broca's area for speech production and Wernicke's area for language comprehension.
• Plasticity and Recovery: The brain's ability to adapt and reorganize itself after injury, highlighting the concept of functional recovery.