Position on Assumptions

nature-nurture debate
Established Psychology as
a science separate from
Philosophy

Position on
Free will/ determinism Methods

Introspection

Origins of Psychology Controlled

Evaluation - positive  Wundt laboratory
1st step in emergence of Psychology
as a science Standardised
Instructions
2nd – Behaviourism rejected
introspection – only observable
behaviour measurable
Evaluation - negative 
3rd – Cognitive revolution (60s) – Can Introspection rejected as a scientific
make Inferences about Internal method by Behaviourists
processes

4th – Biological; use of experimental Behaviour needs to be observable

data and imaging and measurable for good science
Position on Assumptions
nature-nurture debate Rejects Introspection
Scientific Psychology only
Nurture
Studies things which can be
observed in controlled lab
Methods
experiments
Position on
Free will/ determinism
Controlled
Environmental laboratory
determinism experiments
Behavioural Approach

Evaluation - positive  Evaluation - negative 

Established classical and operant Building on Darwinism, assumed
conditioning, which have practical animals are just more simplistic
applications, e.g. explaining and treating humans, whose behaviours can
phobias therefore be generalised
Arguably reductionist
 Assumptions
Position on Learning occurs indirectly
nature-nurture debate
from watching others in a
Nurture social context
Vicarious reinforcement
Identification Methods
Position on
Free will/ determinism
Controlled
Environmental laboratory
determinism Experiments, e.g.
Social Learning Theory Bobo doll
Approach experiment
Learned aggression

Evaluation - positive  Evaluation - negative 

Takes account of cognitive factors, unlike
behaviourists
Less reductionist than behaviourism
Practical applications, e.g. learning gender
roles
Does not take account of underlying
biological factors in behaviours like
aggression, e.g. the role of
testosterone
Position on Assumptions
nature-nurture debate Cognitive psychologists study
mental processes that were
Doesn’t fit neatly
ignored by behaviourists
‘on the fence’
SCHEMAS
Methods
Inference - mental
Position on processes are
Free will/ determinism inferred by drawing
conclusions about
SOFT determinism what goes on in
someone’s head
Cognitive Approach from behaviour in a
lab study
Computer analogy
– led to
development of
models to explain
cognitive processes
Evaluation - positive  Evaluation - negative 
As understanding of the brain has Machine reductionism
increased, cognitive neuroscience has
emerged linking brain areas to mental
processes
Value of CBT
Position on Assumptions
nature-nurture debate To understand behaviour we must look at
biological structures – genes,
Nature neurochemistry, nervous system
Relationship Mind and brain are the same
between genotype
and phenotype Methods
Position on
Free will/ determinism
Twin studies
Biological Empirical evidence
determinism Brain imaging
Biological Approach

Evaluation - positive  Evaluation - negative 

Understanding about neurotransmitters Even in MZ twins there is not 100%
etc. has led to drug therapies for e.g. OCD, concordance rate so can’t all be to
Depression do with genes
Position on Assumptions
nature-nurture debate The unconscious mind directs our behaviour
Tripartite personality
Mainly Nurture Defence Mechanisms
(some nature) Psychosexual stages of development

Methods
Position on
Free will/ determinism

Psychic determinism Case studies

Psychodynamic
Approach

Evaluation - positive  Evaluation - negative 

Pioneering use of ‘talking therapy’ – Lack of scientific method – cannot
psychoanalysis still used in counselling falsify theories
Poorly followed through case
studies
Position on Assumptions
nature-nurture debate Humans have free will
Maslow – all humans aim to achieve self-
Nurture actualisation
(a little bit nature) Rogers – we need congruence between self
and ideal self
We need unconditional positive regard from
parents – not conditions of worth Methods
Position on
Free will/ determinism
Qualitative
Free will research –
unstructured
Humanistic Approach interviews etc.

Evaluation - positive  Evaluation - negative 

Very positive approach – ‘Brings the Untestable concepts
person back into psychology’ Cultural bias – focuses on
Rogerian therapy revolutionised individualistic cultures
counselling techniques