Psychology Approaches Overview

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Questions and Answers

The __________ focuses on the role of different parts of the brain in regulating feelings, memories, emotions, and other aspects of behaviour.

Biological Approach

The focus of the __________ is on the information processing capacity of the individual.

Cognitive Approach

The __________ assumes that the person is an active and self-actualizing agent and has a choice in deciding his behaviour.

Humanistic Approach

According to the __________, the majority of human behaviours are triggered by unconscious motivation.

Psychoanalytic Approach Signup and view all the answers

The unit of analysis for the __________ is explicit, objective, and overt behaviour and its relationship with environmental stimulation.

Behaviorist Approach Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of scientific methods in psychology?

To develop principles and theories, test them, and apply them for solving different human problems. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two types of observation methods used in psychology?

Participant and non-participant observation. Signup and view all the answers

In an experiment, what are the independent variable and dependent variable?

The independent variable (IV) is manipulated, while the dependent variable (DV) is measured for changes. Signup and view all the answers

What is a case study in psychology?

A method that involves asking detailed questions to know more about a person's experiences and relationships. Signup and view all the answers

Observation is divided into and .

participant, non-participant Signup and view all the answers

In an experiment, the experimenter studies the effect of one variable on the other by deliberately and one variable.

manipulating, controlling Signup and view all the answers

In the case study method, the main unit of analysis is the ______________.

individual Signup and view all the answers

The variable which is controlled and manipulated by the experimenter is called variable and the variable on which its impact is studied is known as variable.

independent, dependent Signup and view all the answers

______________ method is generally used to study the pattern of opinions, attitudes, beliefs and values of the people.

Survey Signup and view all the answers

What does reliability of a psychological test refer to?

Consistency in terms yielding dependable scores. Signup and view all the answers

What does validity of a psychological test reveal?

The extent to which the test measures what it claims to measure. Signup and view all the answers

What type of test uses ambiguous stimuli such as pictures or inkblots?

Projective test Signup and view all the answers

Interview as one of the techniques of data collection is often referred to as a ______________ between two persons with a set objective.

face-to-face interaction Signup and view all the answers

In the case of ______________ interview, the questions are already framed with possible response options.

structured Signup and view all the answers

______________ interview comprises a variety of open-ended questions and allows the interviewee to respond freely.

Unstructured Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Approaches to Understanding Psychological Processes

Biological Approach: Focuses on the interplay of biological structures and processes, such as the brain, genes, hormones, and neurotransmitters, to understand behavior. Examines the role of different brain regions in regulating emotions, memories, feelings, and other behavioral aspects. Investigates the behavioral impact of hormone imbalances.
Psychoanalytic Approach: Emphasizes the influence of unconscious mental processes, particularly libidinal energy, in shaping an individual's current state. Proposed by Sigmund Freud, it views the mind as a hierarchy of experiences organized into layers of consciousness (conscious, preconscious, and unconscious). Explores the nature of the unconscious through analysis of dreams, slips of the tongue, neuroses, psychoses, art, and rituals. Hypothesizes that most human behaviors are driven by unconscious motivations.
Humanistic Approach: Contrasts with Freudian views by focusing on conscious experiences, the role of interpersonal relationships across life, and individuals' potential for psychological growth. Pioneered by Carl Rogers, this approach views individuals as active and self-actualizing agents who have agency in decision-making. The core concept of this approach is that individuals strive for congruence between their self and their experiences to self-actualize. This self-system can be modified through therapeutic approaches like genuineness, unconditional positive regard, and empathic understanding of the client's concerns by therapists.
Behaviorist Approach: Focuses on observable, objective, and overt behavior and its relationship to environmental stimuli. J.B. Watson, the founder of behaviorism, advocated for a strictly objective analysis of behaviors. He proposed that behavior is significantly shaped by the association between stimuli and responses and can be molded in a desired direction through manipulation of these associations.
Cognitive Approach: Offers an alternative to the mechanistic paradigm of behaviorism and focuses on the study of information processing capacities. It explores perception, memory, thinking, language, reasoning, problem-solving, and decision-making, often referred to as higher mental processes. The approach posits that humans actively seek information from the world, and their behavior is influenced by how this information is processed. It heavily relies on computational models, suggesting that behavior and mental processes are best understood through the lens of information processing.

Methods of Understanding Psychological Processes

Observation: A systematic method for recording events without deliberately interfering with the variables involved. It can occur in natural settings (naturalistic observation) or in controlled environments (laboratory observation). In naturalistic observation, the observer has little control over extraneous variables, simply recording and analyzing behaviors. Laboratory observation affords the observer greater control over the situation. Observation can be participant or non-participant, depending on the observer's level of involvement in the event being studied. Observation allows for a natural representation of behaviors but can be time-consuming, labor-intensive, and prone to observer bias.
Experimentation: Examines the influence of one variable on another by deliberately manipulating and controlling one variable. It involves an independent variable (IV), which is manipulated by the experimenter, and a dependent variable (DV), which is measured to see the effect of the manipulation. Participants are typically divided into an experimental group (receiving the IV) and a control group (not receiving the IV). This design allows for establishing a causal relationship between the manipulated variable and any observed changes in the other variable. The experimenter must simultaneously control for other relevant variables that could confound the results, such as organismic (related to participant characteristics), situational (related to environmental conditions), and sequential variables (related to the order of experimental conditions). Experimentation utilizes techniques including elimination, making conditions constant, matching, counterbalancing, and random assignment to minimize the impact of relevant variables.
Case Study: An in-depth investigation of a single individual or a small group, often in a clinical or developmental context. Information is gathered from multiple sources, such as family history, educational background, medical records, and social interactions, to create a comprehensive profile of the individual's experiences. The focus is on the individual's unique life experiences, emotional responses, and adjustment patterns. Case studies are popular in clinical psychology and lifespan developmental psychology.
Survey: A method that gathers data from a large group of people through questionnaires or interviews. It allows for the collection of information on attitudes, opinions, behaviors, and experiences across a population. Surveys are useful in understanding the prevalence of certain traits or behaviors within a group and for testing hypotheses related to correlations between variables.

Foundations of Psychology

Psychology studies the nature and causes of human behavior
Different approaches to understand human behavior are:
- Biological approach focuses on bodily events
- Cognitive approach focuses on mental processes
- Humanistic approach focuses on growth and self-actualization
- Psychoanalytic approach focuses on the unconscious mind
- Behavioristic approach focuses on learning and observable behavior
Scientific method helps us understand human behavior, it should be:
- Objective, testable, self-correcting, replicable
Different methods for collecting data and information about human behaviors are:
- Observational method:
  - Can be participant (observer is part of the group) or non-participant (observer is not part of the group)
- Experimental method:
  - Manipulates one variable (independent) while controlling others (dependent)
  - Studies the effect of the manipulated variable on the controlled variables.
- Case study:
  - Focuses on one person and analyzes them in detail.
- Survey method:
  - Focuses on understanding the patterns of opinions, attitudes, beliefs, and values
  - Often used to study the relationship between variables
  - Uses questionnaires, interviews, and other sources to collect data
- Psychological tests:
  - Measure intelligence, aptitude, and interests
    
    These tests are essential tools in psychology and education, as they aim to quantify an individual's cognitive abilities, potential for learning new skills, and personal preferences that can influence career choices and personal satisfaction. Through standardized methods, such assessments can help guide educational or career paths by aligning an individual's skills with areas of opportunity.
  - Developed based on theoretical frameworks
    
    Psychological tests are often grounded in established psychological theories. For example, intelligence tests may be based on theories of cognitive development, while personality assessments might draw from psychoanalytic or humanistic approaches. This theoretical underpinning ensures that the tests measure constructs that are meaningful and relevant to human behavior.
  - Administered in groups or individually
    
    There are situations where tests are designed to be administered to large groups, such as classroom settings, to evaluate collective performance and learning gaps. Conversely, some assessments are tailored for one-on-one administration, allowing for a more personalized approach that can consider individual nuances in responses.
  - Provide objective assessments of individual strengths and limitations
    
    These assessments deliver unbiased insights into an individual's capabilities, allowing psychologists, educators, and employers to understand better the unique profile of strengths that can be leveraged and weaknesses that may require support or improvement.
  - Reliability indicates consistency in results, validity shows the test measures what it claims
    
    Reliability entails the degree to which a test yields consistent results over repeated applications, while validity refers to the accuracy of the test in measuring the specific construct it purports to assess. Both reliability and validity are crucial for establishing the credibility of psychological tests.
  - Can be objective (direct questions with limited choices) or projective (ambiguous stimuli with free responses)
    
    Objective tests consist of structured questions with definitive answers that minimize interpretation, making them easier to score and analyze. Meanwhile, projective tests encourage individuals to respond freely to ambiguous stimuli, revealing deeper aspects of their personality and subconscious thought processes. These diverse formats enable psychologists to choose assessments that align with their goals and the characteristics of the individuals being evaluated.
- Questionnaires:
  - Set of questions answered by individuals
  - Can be closed-ended (limited choices) or open-ended (free responses)
  - Data from a large number of people can be collected efficiently
- Interviews:
  - Involves a face-to-face interaction between an interviewer and interviewee
  - Used to understand personal characteristics like attitudes, values, and interests
  - Structured interviews have pre-determined questions with limited responses
  - Unstructured interviews are flexible, with open-ended questions and free responses
  - Skilled interviewers build rapport, reduce anxiety, and probe deeper through clear communication

Psychological Tools

Psychological tests:
- Measure different psychological attributes, provide objective assessments
- Can be verbal or nonverbal (performance-based)
Questionnaires:
- Set of questions, designed to collect data efficiently from large groups
- Can be closed-ended or open-ended
Interviews:
- Used to understand personal characteristics more deeply
- Can be structured or unstructured

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Description

This quiz explores the major approaches in psychology, including the Biological, Psychoanalytic, and Humanistic perspectives. Each approach provides unique insights into understanding human behavior and mental processes. Test your knowledge on how these theories differ and their implications for psychological practices.