Comparison of Psychological Approaches

Methods of Comparison1. Views on Development2. Nature v Nurture3. Reductionism v Holism4. Determinism v Freewill5. Idiographic v Nomothetic

1. Views on DevelopmentChild development is well accounted for by the

following approaches: -Psychodynamic – 5 psychosexual stages

Cognitive - has a number of different stages of development to explain intellectual/thought and moral development.

Humanistic - sees development as centred on the SELF. Development is lifelong.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of

Needs

Biological - sees development as maturational, where genetically controlled changes in a child’s physiology influence their mind and behavioural characteristics. This maturational process is seen as very important.

The Learning approach however,(both Behavioural and Social Learning) does not have any stage theories, but instead sees learning as continuous and occurring at any age, in varied orders.

2. Nature versus NurtureThis is the difference in opinion about whether human behaviour is

more influenced by our inherited biology (NATURE) or whether the environment we are in, and our life experiences are more likely to explain why we do what we do (NURTURE).

The Biological approach favours Nature most strongly.Both of the Learning approaches favour Nurture most strongly.The Psychodynamic approach considers both biology and

experience are significant (Nature AND Nurture).The Cognitive approach suggests that innate abilities are

developed through our experiences and application (Nature AND Nurture).

The Humanistic approach regards our social environment as having a critical impact (Nurture).

3. Reductionism and HolismReductionism – an explanation for behaviour can be made by

considering just one element in isolation (a narrow viewpoint).Holism – an accurate explanation has to take many different

factors into account, and how they interact (the bigger picture).For example, the Learning approach (behavioural) explains all

behaviour via association of two environmental factors, and ignores biology and cognitions and so is Reductionist.

The Biological approach on the other hand sees genes as determining our behaviour, almost regardless of choice, and so is Reductionist.

The Humanistic approach is slightly more holistic as it involves understanding an individual’s sense of themselves, others and wider society too.

4. Determinism and Free Will Determinism proposes that all behaviour has an internal or

external cause and so is predictable should these triggers occur.

Free will is the view that someone can choose not to respond to these internal or external triggers.

The Biological approach believes we are genetically determined (our genes control our behaviour).

The Psychodynamic approach believes people are Psychically determined (by unconscious forces).

The Learning approach suggests we make associations between things by mechanisms that are outside our control.

These are all HARD DETERMINISM = no choice.

There are also SOFT DETERMINISM viewpoints: -

The Cognitive approach suggests we have some choice, only the choice is limited by our knowledge/ experience/level of development.

The Learning approach (Social Learning) believes we have RECIPROCAL DETERMINISM. This is the idea that our choice is influenced by the environment, but we also have some choice about the behaviours we choose to perform.

The Humanistic approach is the only one that believes people have total FREE WILL.

5. Idiographic versus NomotheticIdiographic – Understanding what makes

individuals UNIQUE.

Nomothetic – general laws applying to LARGE GROUPS of people.

Additional ways of viewing

Psychology

The Eclectic ApproachThis means combining various approaches,

methods and perspectives to provide a better, more complete account of human nature.

Examples are: -a) The Diathesis Stress modelb) The Biosocial approach

(See next slides for more information)

The Diathesis Stress Model‘Diathesis’ means a genetic predisposition

that makes someone susceptible to something. It comes from the Greek for ‘disposition’.

‘Stress’ means the real-life challenge faced by a particular environment someone is experiencing.

When these two things are combined, the model predicts that there is a threshold that if exceeded, leads to a psychological disorder.

This model was first used to explain schizophrenia in the 1960s.

The Biosocial ApproachThis rejects the traditional polarisation of nature and nurture

and instead explains how they are intertwined.

A good example of this can be seen where we are influenced socially by other people but we can see this is controlled by specific areas of the brain e.g. mirror neuronal activity (our brains are stimulated in a matching way by observing the actions of others, even though we aren’t actually performing the action ourselves).

This is a combination of SOCIAL and BIOLOGICAL explanations.

E.g.