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The Spectrum of Approaches
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Biopsychology:
- genetic, hormonal, neurochemical explanations of behaviour
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Psychoanalytic
- instinctual drives, restricted by the demands of the ego and superego
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Cognitive
- innate information processing abilities that are constantly refined by experience
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Humanistic psychology
- accepts basic physiological needs, but focus is on experience
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Behaviourism
- virtually all behaviour comes from the environment via conditioning
- NATURE
- NURTURE
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Nature
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Roots of the approach
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biology
- physiology
- genetics
- nativist philosophy
- evolutionary theory
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Causes of behaviour
- genetic determinism
- inherited influence
- neurochemical and hormonal influences
- brain activity
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Methods employed
- twin/adoption studies
- brain scanning
- brain stimulation/brain damage studies
- drug testing
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Implications
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due to biological determinism, behaviour can only be changed through physical means
- selective breeding
- gene therapy
- brain surgery
- drugs
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Criticisms
- reductionist
- may neglect environmental influences
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Nurture
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roots of the approach
- emprical philosophy
- behaviourism
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mind seen as tablua rasa
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knowledge, behaviour seen as result of
- experience
- learning from environment
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methods employed
- use of conditioning techniques (classical, operational) to affect behaviour
- manipulation of social environment to change behaviour
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implications
- manipulation of reinforcement of environment
- anybody can be trained to do anything
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criticisms
- reductionist
- may neglect innate influences
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Areas of Explanation
- Perception
- Aggression
- Gender
- Abnormality
- Language acquisition
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Continuum Approach
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Cognitive Development
- Piaget: Innate schema develop according to influences from environment
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Abnormality
- e.g. schizophrenia, may have genetic basis, but develops according to environmental conditions
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Perception
- Blakemore & Cooper: restricted visual environment can physically affect brain structural development
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Sex-role behaviour
- Physical sex and innate temperament of a new baby elicits sex-typing, this then affects gender development