Psychology: Approaches, Research Methods, and Ethical Issues

This study material from Desklib covers the different psychological approaches, research methods, and ethical issues in psychology. It discusses the psychoanalytic and behaviourist approaches, naturalistic observation, and ethical guidelines for psychological research. The material also includes case studies such as Piliavin's 1969 study and Harlow's animal research study.

Psychology

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TOPIC 1...........................................................................................................................................3
Psychological Approaches...............................................................................................................3
The psychoanalytic approach or psychodynamic approach have focus on power of instinct as
fundamental driver of individual thinking and their behaviour. How does it compare with the
behaviourist model of learning?.............................................................................................3
What are the key differences in assumptions that lie behind the approaches........................4
How might the proponent of psychoanalytic school of thought read the importance of the
influence of environmental stimuli and how might be Everest view the concept of the Id...4
What are the strength and weakness of both approaches.......................................................4
TOPIC 2...........................................................................................................................................6
Psychological Research Method......................................................................................................6
Explain the advantage and disadvantage of using observation in natural settings as a research
method in Piliavin 1969 study................................................................................................6
How Harlow’s animal research study related with human behaviour....................................7
TOPIC 3...........................................................................................................................................8
Ethical issues in psychological research..........................................................................................8
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Psychology can be referred to as science that deals with mental and emotional processes.
It is the science of mind and behaviour, mental and behavioural characteristics of any group or
individual. It is also a relation with a particular field of knowledge and activity. There are various
approaches to psychology like cognitive, social, development and forensic psychology. There are
also very psychological approaches like the psychoanalytic approach, a psychodynamic approach
which has the focus on the power of instinct on the fundamental driver of individual thinking and
their behaviour. This also relates with the model of learning (Adams and et. al., 2019).
TASK 1
Psychological Approaches
The psychoanalytic approach along with the behaviourist theory of learning includes the
explanation of human behaviour. There is a difference between both that a behaviourist theory
assumes that individual behaviour can be a reaction of the environment whereas psychoanalytic
approach can be behaviour as a result of instinct (Adler, 2019).
The psychoanalytic approach has the focus on the unconscious mind rather than
conscious mind. Here, psychoanalytic therapy provides a form of talk therapy that includes
Sigmund Freud's theory of psychoanalysis. This is the approach that explores how the
unconscious mind can have the potential to influence individual feelings, behaviour and their
thoughts.
Here, the psychoanalytic approach divides human psych which includes different
elements like the ego, the Id and the superego. According to Freud, thinking and behaviour can
be based on Instinct which can be the result of the superego, ego and Id interacting with each
other. Here, the psychodynamic approach includes different theories in psychology (Craig,
2020). It processes that behaviour of individuals can be the result of underlying causes in the past
where the individual unconsciously struggles against each other. Behaviorist approach focus on
what they observe whereas, psychoanalytic approach focus what are unseen.
What are the key differences in assumptions that lie behind the approaches
There is a primary assumption that psychoanalysis believes that every individual faces
feeling, desire, thoughts and memory. It has the aim to release repressed experiences and
emotions reasonably to make the unconscious mind to be conscious. Whereas, the behaviourist

approach is concerned with observable behaviour (Miljević-Riðički, 2020). Psychoanalysis
emphasises the centrality of the human mind which can influence that it can occur due to instinct
of an individual which has been experienced in the past.
How might the proponent of psychoanalytic school of thought read the importance of the
influence of environmental stimuli and how might be Everest view the concept of the Id
The proponent of the psychoanalytic school of thought can think environmental stimuli
can’t be important because psychoanalytic theory is related with the unconscious individual mind
and repressed desire. This can drive human behaviour. Instead of this, behaviourists consider the
external factor which can drive individual behaviour and think environmental stimuli can be
important to consider rather than the Id (Houzel, 2018).
What are the strength and weakness of both approaches
Behaviourist approach
Strength
● Experimentally tested. This is the one which is experimentally tested within a laboratory
where it concentrates on observations. Behaviour can be observed and equally measured.
This is observable (Nichterlein, 2021).
● It has also successfully applied classical and operant conditioning to its theory. This is based
on the usefulness of treating phobias.
Weaknesses
● It focuses too much on nurture and suggests behaviour is learned - it ignores the biological
and cognitive element which impacts on individual behaviour.
● There can be a risk of causing ethical issues due to using animals in experiments. Because
animals don't have any consent to take part in the experiment or to withdraw.
Psychoanalytic approach
Strength
● It is effective at the end of psychotherapy where average patients are better than untreated
patients when using Free Association. This also provides various benefits which decrease
medical visits by 30% and Hospital visits by 66% (Barth and Moody, 2019).
● It also accepts that humans are complicated where childhood and repressed material can
have high impact on their behavioural change (Putri, 2018).

Weakness
● The psychoanalytical approach can be costly and time-consuming along with a lengthy
process when using their treatment methods, for example Free Association.
● There is an ethical issue in confronting clients during analysis.
● Psychoanalytic therapy is not good for psychotic disorder patients who do not have control
on their condition.
TASK 2
Psychological Research Method
There are various advantages and disadvantages of using observation in natural settings
as a research method.
Advantage
It allowed researchers to directly observe individuals within natural settings where people have
different reactions towards the situation that has been taken out from their comfort zone. They
can provide a better relation approach for the investigation of a situation more effectively.
It also provides a first hand look regarding social behaviour. It can be effective and can
help to observe the situation more effectively with the interaction during observation.
It can help to investigate some specific behavior of an individual through different
insights. It enables to overcome the individual problem and allow to be happier than it was
before.
It also allowed researchers to get the idea which cannot be manipulated in natural
observation and allowed researchers to study the concept which could not be manipulated in the
lab setting (Lipshitz and et. al., 2001).
It also supports external validity of research and allows for multiple methods of data
collection which have been collected from the realistic observation. It also provides the
opportunity to create the potential for genuine reaction. It can be safer for the researcher when
this comparison is done through different methods.
This can be related with the Piliavin 1969 study where a situation has been created in the
natural setting and observation has been done accordingly.
Disadvantage

It can be challenging for controlling the outside variable which can lead to a struggle and
create hurdles in the observation.
It can also create a situation of not getting accurate data within a natural setting. It can be
due to various human factors like sensitivity and dealing with their personal choices such as
morality or ethics. Here, participants were not informed that they are involved in an experiments.
There is lack of informed consent that should be implemented before any experiment.
It can also create concern with the collected data where expectation can be higher than
the collected data. It can also take more time for completing the naturalistic observation during
collecting data (Koriat and et. al., 1994).
It needs extensive investment to require a positive outcome. It can also create distraction
within the environment which is also not in control.
Through the study of Piliavin’s 1969 study he concluded that there are various types of
advantages and disadvantages of using observation within a natural setting. It can create a high
impact and can help to get more accurate data then the data can be collected in the lab setting.
How Harlow’s animal research study related with human behaviour
It can be argued that the study of animal behaviour is relevant with human psychology
because humans are thought to have evolved from other species. It can be explained that there
are many examples which can provide information and understanding that animal behaviour is
relevant with human psychology (Block, 2007). This can also impact the human thought process
and ensure the result of animal research study which is related to human behaviour. In the results
of this study, it has been identified the child monkey is threatened and gets closer to the surrogate
mother who is having cloth covered whereas, child monkeys feel more comfort with inanimate
surrogate mother (Ellison and et. al., 2006). This can be effective and can help to ensure that
there are many situations and which child may get threatened or get fearful. In such a situation
children like to go near their mother rather than any other place. This kind is associated with
human psychology which can show that animal behaviour can also be related with human
behaviour which is also related from other species. Harlow’s animal research study relates with
human behaviour in child development. It also includes animal (monkey) when they get
separated form their mother they experience emotional, social and psychological disturbance.

TASK 3
Ethical issues in psychological research
Accoridng to Brititsh Psychology Society (BPS), ethics refers to the correct rules of
conduct which is necessary to follow during carrying out the research process. In this, is it moral
responsibility to protect participants from any type of harm during conducting research. BPS
upholds the high professionalism standards along with promoting attitudes, ethical behaviour
along with judgement on the psychologist part. The BPS Code of Ethics is a document produced
by the British Psychological Society, which details the general principles that apply to the use of
human participants in all research contexts. It focuses on four major principles: respect,
competence, responsibility and integrity.
According to Brititsh Psychology Society there is unethical conduct in the research where
prior information to the participants has not included (Cloud and et. al., 2015).. This can create
ethical issues and consent of the participants was also necessary regarding all the process of the
experiment (Piliavin and et. al., 1969). There is an ethical critique of Zimbardo's study where
prisoners were needed to act like a Prisoner and guard while using the authority and power to
manage their prisoners more effectively. Here, Brititsh Psychological Society have some
guidelines which should be followed to ensure about the ethical practice in the study. They
include the promotion of ethical beahivour, judgements and attitudes of the psychological part
where they promote the debrief, deception, informed consent, confidentiality and withdrawal.
According to American Psychologist Association (APA), ethics ensure the expression of
professional values which are fundamental for the profession. It includes the code of conduct
section s on the clinical practice, research, education along with publication. Unethical refers to
the practices which psychologist has violeated any rule of conduct which licensing board
regulation or any standard within APA ethics code.
According to APA, Ethics express the professional values foundational to the profession. In
psychology, APA’s Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct includes sections
on clinical practice, education, research and publication. Ethical and unethical concern is highly
effective in providing bettear impact on the study of psychology. Here, ethical and unethical
concern is important in which it can also includes different role in the research study. within any
study, there is need to includes the ethical and unethical concern which are associated with
different study. here, ehitcal concern should be taken in considerstion which can influence to

focus on the ethical consideration. Accoridng to APA any harm to the participants physically or
mentally can lead to ethical concern. Here, in Zimbardo prison study, it creates a high
manipulation and creates a situation of emotional and mental impact on every participant (Brady
and et. al., 1988). It has been observed that prisoners participants were facing emotional and
physical distress In this Zimbardo prison study research, there is the issue of confidentiality of
the participants through providing them numbers instead of their name (Bandura, 2002). Here,
informed consent of participants was not fully done. Here, APA include the guidene for the
professionalsl who are involved in the psychology field which include better equipped witht the
knowledge of moral and ethical dilemma. This also help in promoting the principles and values
which should be used by the psychologist and shold aspire and uphold. It include the
professional values which should have the foundation for the profession. Within the experient, it
should take in consideration about the effective respone towards the clinical practices and study
(Aday, 2006).
Here, psychodynamic approaches includes the psychotherapeutic techniques which
derive fromt the Sigmud Freud’s psychoanalytic theory. This is the approach which has the facus
on the unconscious processes that are manifested within the pateint’s behaviour.
CONLCUSION
From the above discussion, it can be concluded that there is a high impact of psychological
approach with the method of research in behaviour and intelligence and it can create ethical
questions about psychological approach which also impact the exemption. In the Zimbardo’s
study, it was against the ethics where participants were arrested by actual police without prior
information. There was another ethical concern where participants were not asked for their
consent for experiment which was not ethical.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Adams and et. al., 2019. The psychology of neoliberalism and the neoliberalism of
psychology. Journal of Social Issues, 75(1), pp.189-216.
Aday, 2006. Aging prisoners' concerns toward dying in prison. OMEGA-Journal of Death and
Dying, 52(3), pp.199-216.
Adler, 2019. The fundamental views of individual psychology. The Journal of Individual
Psychology, 75(3), pp.185-187.
Bandura, 2002. Selective moral disengagement in the exercise of moral agency. Journal of
moral education, 31(2), pp.101-119.
Barth and Moody, 2019. Theory use in counseling practice: Current trends. International
Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 41(3), pp.313-328.
Block, 2007. The rise of identity in SLA research, post Firth and Wagner (1997). The Modern
language journal, 91, pp.863-876.
Brady and et. al., 1988. Zimbardo's “Stanford Prison Experiment” and the relevance of social
psychology for teaching business ethics. Journal of Business Ethics, 7(9), pp.703-710.
Cloud and et. al., 2015. Public health and solitary confinement in the United States. American
journal of public health, 105(1), pp.18-26.
Craig, 2020. Approaching the Transference Relation in Cognitive‐Behaviourism: Applying a
Lacanian Logic. British Journal of Psychotherapy, 36(2), pp.232-247.
Ellison and et. al., 2006. Managing impressions online: Self-presentation processes in the online
dating environment. Journal of computer-mediated communication, 11(2), pp.415-441.
Houzel, 2018. Autism and psychoanalysis in the French context. The International Journal of
Psychoanalysis, 99(3), pp.725-745.
Koriat and et. al., 1994. Memory in naturalistic and laboratory contexts: distinguishing the
accuracy-oriented and quantity-oriented approaches to memory assessment. Journal of
Experimental Psychology: General, 123(3), p.297.
Lipshitz and et. al., 2001. Taking stock of naturalistic decision making. Journal of behavioral
decision making, 14(5), pp.331-352.
Miljević-Riðički, 2020. Supporting Positive Behaviour in Early Childhood Settings and Primary
School: Relationships, Reciprocity and Reflection. International Journal of Emotional
Education, 12(2), pp.112-113.
Nichterlein, 2021. Unmeasuring ourselves: Deleuze’s contributions for a psychology to
come. International Review of Theoretical Psychologies, 1(2), pp.258-271.
Piliavin and et. al., 1969. Good samaritanism: an underground phenomenon?. Journal of
personality and social psychology, 13(4), p.289.
Putri, 2018. Humanis dalam Mendidik (Analisis Terapan Aliran Psikologi Humanistik). Jurnal
Tarbiyatuna: Kajian Pendidikan Islam, 2(2), pp.50-65.