The extension challengeInstructions
Get into 2 teamsYou each will be given an evaluation point. You need to extend it as much as
you can between your teams.
For example, Claridge & Davis (2003) found that when non-depressed people are given drugs that reduce levels of serotonin in the brain, they do not become
depressed……
Team 1 – The problem with using family and twins studies as evidence for genetics is……..
Team 2- Concordance rate is never 100% in MZ twins……………
Extend your A02
Behavioural explanations of depression
• According to the behaviourist approach, people learn to become depressed through positive reinforcement.
• Learning theory (Lewishon)
• Learned helplessness (Seligman)
Why have I brought sweets to todays lesson?
Learning theory - Lewishon• Depression is caused by a reduction in positive
reinforcement. For example, when you loose your job or loose a loved one, you receive less positive reinforcement.
• Once depression has developed, it then gets positively reinforced through attention.
why???
How can you positively reinforce
depression?
In pairs discuss the following questions
• Does attention/sympathy from others last long?
• Does everyone get attention when they become depressed?
• Does everyone become depressed after loosing a loved one?
Note down your A02
• Every thing we have just discussed is evaluation of the learning theory. Turn your discussion points into a Big Mac burger paragraph.
This is a problem
becauseThis suggests that
This matters because
Task• Complete the 3 anagrams.• Put your hand up as soon as you have completed it.
• What have I just induced in one side of the class?• How can learned helplessness apply to social
behaviour (can you induce learned helplessness when it comes to friendships or relationships)?
• How can learned helplessness apply to depression?
Learned helplessness theory - Seligman
• The learned helplessness theory explains how people become depressed after stressful events
• If lots of unpleasant events happen to a person and they cant control them, they tend to lose motivation and just give up. Examples?
• They have learnt that they are unable to influence outcomes (they are helpless)
Support for learned helplessness• Seligman carried out a study using dogs to
support his theory……..
More evidence from a study using humans……
Hiroto & Seligman (1974) exposed non-depressed people to a loud noise, they could a) not escape it b) stop it by pressing a button
Then Ps were shown a box with a handle on it. This produced a loud noise that could be stopped by moving the handle. Those in non-escape condition previously failed to move the handle.
More A02…….
• Can you evaluate both experiments. Is it strong evidence for the behavioural theory or weak evidence? Justify your answer.
• Use the hand-out to help you.
Prep for next lesson: Psychodynamic explanations
of depression