AS Core Studies

Perspectives

Exam:

PERSPECTIVES: “Different eyes will see things differently”

What is a psychological perspective?

How is it different from an approach?

Assumptions of the Psychodynamic Perspective:

Strengths and Weaknesses of the Psychodynamic Perspective

Strengths Weaknesses

Implications

Implications

This perspective comes from the work of Sigmund Freud. Freud was a doctor in Vienna in the late 19th & early 20th century. He specialised in nervous disorders. His psychosexual theory is a significant part of developmental psychology.

Freud’s theory of the mind is often illustrated by the idea of a mental iceberg.

Conscious consists of thoughts we are aware of

Preconscious is just beneath the surface – memories etc

Unconscious is information which is very

He also suggests there are three parts to our personalities. Label the picture with the correct term:-

Ego defence mechanisms

The ego’s job is to defend us from dangerous or harmful impulses, feelings or behaviour. Freud suggested that conflicts in our lives can lead to feelings of anxiety or guilt. He suggested that the ego does this through ego defence mechanisms.

Write definitions of the following terms:

Freud’s theory of the mind is often illustrated by the idea of a mental iceberg.

Conscious consists of thoughts we are aware of

Preconscious is just beneath the surface – memories etc

Unconscious is information which is very

Displacement Repression Regression Identification

And the final thing you need to know before we look at the study is that Freud thought we all went through stages in our development; he called these the psychosexual stages.

Freud’s Psychosexual Stages

Age Name Pleasure source Conflict

0–2

2–4

4–5

6–puberty

Puberty onward

Which of the core studies are the best examples of research that can be viewed from the psychodynamic perspective?

Study How does it link to the psychodynamic perspective?

In the Core Studies exam, you could be asked a question on the psychodynamic perspective in Psychology. The question could look something like this:-

a) Outline one assumption of the psychodynamic perspective in psychology.(2)

b) Describe how the psychodynamic perspective could explain.................(4)

c) Describe one similarity and one difference between any two studies which can be viewed from the psychodynamic perspective.

(6)d) Discuss strengths and weaknesses of the psychodynamic perspective using

examples from any studies which can be viewed from the psychodynamic perspective. (12)

b) Describe how the psychodynamic perspective could explain phobias.(4)

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

b) Describe how the psychodynamic perspective could explain MPD.(4)

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Which of the core studies are the best examples of research that can be viewed from the psychodynamic perspective?

Study How does it link to the psychodynamic perspective?

Describe one similarity and one difference between any two studies which can be viewed from the psychodynamic perspective. (6)

Similarities Differences

Now have a go at answering the question…

Discuss strengths and weaknesses of the psychodynamic perspective using any examples from studies which can be viewed from that perspective. (12)

Point Example Comment

This is also background information for Bandura’s study of aggression

Assumptions of the behaviourist perspective:

Strengths and Weaknesses of the Behaviourist Perspective

Strengths Weaknesses

Implications

Implications

Classical Conditioning – what is it? Give an example.

Classical Conditioning – what is it? Give an example.

Operant Conditioning – what is it? Give an example.

Social Learning Theory – what is it? Give an example.

Which of the core studies are the best examples of research that can be viewed from the behaviourist perspective?

Study How does it link to the behaviourist perspective?

In the Core Studies exam, you could be asked a question on the behaviourist perspective in Psychology. The question could look something like this:-

e) Outline one assumption of the behaviourist perspective in psychology(2)

f) Describe how the behaviourist perspective could explain.................(4)

g) Describe one similarity and one difference between any two behaviourist studies. (6)

h) Discuss strengths and weaknesses of behaviourist perspective using any examples from any studies that can be viewed from that perspective.

(12)

b) Describe how the behaviourist perspective could explain aggression.(4)

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

b) Describe how the behaviourist perspective could explain gambling.(4)

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Describe one similarity and one difference between any two studies which can be viewed from the behaviourist perspective. (6)

Similarities Differences

Now have a go at answering the question…

Discuss strengths and weaknesses of the behaviourist perspective using any examples studies which can be viewed from that perspective.

(12)

Point Example Comment