Psychology: Approaches, Research Methods, and Ethical Issues

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