AQA A-Level Psychology 4.5 Approaches: behaviourist, cognitive, biological and more

What module 4.5 demands

Approaches in Psychology surveys the major theoretical perspectives, from Wundt's founding of the discipline to behaviourism, social learning theory, the cognitive, biological, psychodynamic and humanistic approaches. It is examined in Paper 2. The examiners reward precise knowledge of each approach's assumptions and key concepts and the ability to compare them on the major debates.

From Wundt to learning theories

Wundt opened the first psychology lab in 1879 and used introspection. The behaviourist approach explains behaviour through classical conditioning (Pavlov) and operant conditioning (Skinner). Social learning theory (Bandura) adds observation, imitation, modelling, vicarious reinforcement and mediational processes.

Cognitive, biological, psychodynamic and humanistic

The cognitive approach studies internal mental processes, schemas and models, and gave rise to cognitive neuroscience. The biological approach focuses on genes, neurochemistry, the genotype-phenotype distinction and evolution. The psychodynamic approach (Freud) stresses the unconscious, the id, ego and superego, defence mechanisms and psychosexual stages. Humanistic psychology emphasises free will, Maslow's hierarchy, self-actualisation, congruence and conditions of worth. The comparison weighs them on nature-nurture, determinism and reductionism.

Check your knowledge

1. Explain what is meant by introspection. (2 marks)
2. Outline social learning theory. (6 marks)
3. Distinguish between the genotype and the phenotype. (4 marks)
4. Describe the humanistic concept of conditions of worth. (3 marks)