Psychology isn't just about reading minds - it's a proper...
Psychology335 views·Updated 23 Aug 2026·3 pagesPsychology Approaches Explained
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Lucia Bonaldi@luciab.12
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The Learning Approaches: Behaviourism and Social Learning
Ever wonder why you jump when you hear a sudden loud noise, or why you copied that viral TikTok dance? Behaviourism suggests we learn everything through experience - we're born as blank slates and our environment shapes us completely.
Classical conditioning shows how we learn by association. Pavlov's famous dogs learned to salivate when they heard a bell because they'd associated it with food. Watson proved this works on humans too - he conditioned baby Albert to fear white rats by pairing them with scary loud noises. This explains how phobias develop and why certain songs might make you feel emotional.
Operant conditioning is about learning through consequences. Skinner showed that rats would press levers more often if they got food (positive reinforcement) or if it stopped electric shocks (negative reinforcement). Think about how you're more likely to revise if your parents reward good grades - that's operant conditioning in action.
Quick Tip: Remember the difference - classical conditioning pairs two things together, whilst operant conditioning uses rewards and punishments after behaviour.
Social Learning Theory bridges behaviourism and cognitive approaches. Bandura's Bobo doll study proved children copy aggressive behaviour they observe, especially from role models they identify with. This happens through mediational processes - attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation.
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The Cognitive Approach: Your Mind as a Computer
Your brain processes information like a sophisticated computer - taking in data, processing it, and producing responses. The cognitive approach focuses on how we think, remember, and solve problems rather than just observable behaviour.
Schemas are mental frameworks that help us organise knowledge. They're like filing systems in your brain that help you understand new information quickly. However, they can also lead to stereotypes when we force new information to fit existing schemas rather than updating them.
Cognitive psychologists use theoretical models and computer simulations to understand mental processes we can't directly observe. They make inferences about how memory, attention, and thinking work based on experimental evidence.
Real-world Connection: When you automatically know how to behave in a restaurant or classroom, you're using schemas built from past experiences.
Cognitive neuroscience combines psychology with brain imaging technology. Studies of patients like HM (who lost his memory after brain surgery) show how specific brain areas control different cognitive functions. PET and MRI scans reveal which brain regions are active during different mental tasks, making cognitive psychology more scientific and reliable.
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of 3
Psychodynamic, Humanistic and Biological Approaches
Freud's psychodynamic approach suggests your personality has three parts: the id (wants immediate pleasure), ego (deals with reality), and superego (your moral conscience). Much of our behaviour comes from unconscious conflicts between these parts.
Freud believed we develop through psychosexual stages in childhood, and problems at any stage can affect adult personality. Defence mechanisms like repression, denial, and displacement protect us from anxiety by keeping uncomfortable thoughts unconscious.
The humanistic approach takes a completely different view - humans have free will and an innate drive toward self-improvement. Maslow's hierarchy of needs shows we must satisfy basic needs (food, safety) before reaching self-actualisation. Rogers emphasized the importance of congruence between your real and ideal self.
Study Tip: Think of these approaches as different lenses for viewing the same behaviour - each offers unique insights.
The biological approach explains behaviour through genetics, brain structure, and biochemistry. Natural selection has shaped behaviours that help survival, like attachment between infants and caregivers. Modern brain imaging and twin studies show how much of our behaviour has biological roots, leading to effective drug treatments for mental health conditions.
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Psychology335 views·Updated 23 Aug 2026·3 pagesPsychology Approaches Explained
L
Lucia Bonaldi@luciab.12
Psychology isn't just about reading minds - it's a proper science that helps us understand why we think, feel, and behave the way we do. From studying how we learn through watching others to exploring the hidden parts of our...
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The Learning Approaches: Behaviourism and Social Learning
Ever wonder why you jump when you hear a sudden loud noise, or why you copied that viral TikTok dance? Behaviourism suggests we learn everything through experience - we're born as blank slates and our environment shapes us completely.
Classical conditioning shows how we learn by association. Pavlov's famous dogs learned to salivate when they heard a bell because they'd associated it with food. Watson proved this works on humans too - he conditioned baby Albert to fear white rats by pairing them with scary loud noises. This explains how phobias develop and why certain songs might make you feel emotional.
Operant conditioning is about learning through consequences. Skinner showed that rats would press levers more often if they got food (positive reinforcement) or if it stopped electric shocks (negative reinforcement). Think about how you're more likely to revise if your parents reward good grades - that's operant conditioning in action.
Quick Tip: Remember the difference - classical conditioning pairs two things together, whilst operant conditioning uses rewards and punishments after behaviour.
Social Learning Theory bridges behaviourism and cognitive approaches. Bandura's Bobo doll study proved children copy aggressive behaviour they observe, especially from role models they identify with. This happens through mediational processes - attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation.
2
of 3Sign up to see the content. It's free!
- Access to all documents
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The Cognitive Approach: Your Mind as a Computer
Your brain processes information like a sophisticated computer - taking in data, processing it, and producing responses. The cognitive approach focuses on how we think, remember, and solve problems rather than just observable behaviour.
Schemas are mental frameworks that help us organise knowledge. They're like filing systems in your brain that help you understand new information quickly. However, they can also lead to stereotypes when we force new information to fit existing schemas rather than updating them.
Cognitive psychologists use theoretical models and computer simulations to understand mental processes we can't directly observe. They make inferences about how memory, attention, and thinking work based on experimental evidence.
Real-world Connection: When you automatically know how to behave in a restaurant or classroom, you're using schemas built from past experiences.
Cognitive neuroscience combines psychology with brain imaging technology. Studies of patients like HM (who lost his memory after brain surgery) show how specific brain areas control different cognitive functions. PET and MRI scans reveal which brain regions are active during different mental tasks, making cognitive psychology more scientific and reliable.
3
of 3Sign up to see the content. It's free!
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- Improve your grades
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By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Psychodynamic, Humanistic and Biological Approaches
Freud's psychodynamic approach suggests your personality has three parts: the id (wants immediate pleasure), ego (deals with reality), and superego (your moral conscience). Much of our behaviour comes from unconscious conflicts between these parts.
Freud believed we develop through psychosexual stages in childhood, and problems at any stage can affect adult personality. Defence mechanisms like repression, denial, and displacement protect us from anxiety by keeping uncomfortable thoughts unconscious.
The humanistic approach takes a completely different view - humans have free will and an innate drive toward self-improvement. Maslow's hierarchy of needs shows we must satisfy basic needs (food, safety) before reaching self-actualisation. Rogers emphasized the importance of congruence between your real and ideal self.
Study Tip: Think of these approaches as different lenses for viewing the same behaviour - each offers unique insights.
The biological approach explains behaviour through genetics, brain structure, and biochemistry. Natural selection has shaped behaviours that help survival, like attachment between infants and caregivers. Modern brain imaging and twin studies show how much of our behaviour has biological roots, leading to effective drug treatments for mental health conditions.
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