Psychology Essay: How Research Advances Psychological Knowledge

This essay examines the advancements in psychological knowledge achieved through research, focusing on how research challenges and builds upon existing psychological theories. It explores key areas such as social learning theory, attachment theory, and the concept of paying attention. The essay provides examples of research that has led to new insights, such as the impact of observational learning on children's behavior, the significance of early attachment bonds, and the factors influencing attention. It also evaluates the importance of research that challenges established theories, highlighting the dynamic nature of psychology and its continuous evolution. The analysis includes the challenges and limitations of these theories, and how new findings contribute to a deeper understanding of human behavior and mental processes. The conclusion summarizes the key arguments and emphasizes the importance of research in shaping our understanding of psychology.

Psychology

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Explain and provide evidence that suggests that advances in psychological knowledge have
been achieved through research that challenges existing psychological theory.........................1
Explain and provide examples that suggest that advances in psychological knowledge have
been achieved through research that builds on existing psychological theory...........................3
Evaluate the importance of the claim that advances in psychological knowledge can only be
achieved through research that challenges existing psychological theory..................................4
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Psychology refers to a scientific study of mind and behaviour to analyse their actual
health. It can be considered as multifaceted discipline which consist several sub areas such as
sports, human development, health, clinical, social behaviour and cognitive processes. However,
it involves the study of mental processes and behaviour of an individual to treat the same by
providing psychological treatment (Hyman, 2016). The present report will focus on advances in
psychological knowledge that challenges existing psychological theory. It will also includes
advances of psychological knowledge that has been achieved to builds on existing psychological
theory. The evaluation of importance of advances in psychological information is given below.
MAIN BODY
Explain and provide evidence that suggests that advances in psychological knowledge have been
achieved through research that challenges existing psychological theory
Chapter 3
Social learning theory can be described as combination of cognitive and behavioural
learning theory with their respective concepts. However, cognitive learning theory refers to a
framework which is responsible for posits that learning is influenced by various psychological
factors. Moreover, behavioural learning theory which assumes that learning will focus on
responses of environmental stimuli. It has been analysed that social learning theory focus on
several elements of learning such as retention (cognitive), observation (environmental),
motivation (cognitive & environmental) and reproduction (cognitive). It consist the criteria of
learning from watching and observing the things by kids in their daily lives (Ivtzan and Lomas,
2016). The experiment conducted by Albert Bandura and his colleagues on 96 children having
average age of 4 years and 4 months at Stanford University. These respondents are divided into
four groups i.e. Group 1, 2, 3 & 4 and introduced in different rooms and conduct the experiment.
However, Group 1 observed a live model behaving aggressively towards the Bobo doll. Group 2
observed a film of the live model behaving aggressively towards Bobo doll. Group 3 observed a
film of 'fantasy' model behaving aggressively towards Bobo doll. Group 4 did not observe any
aggressive behaviour towards the Bobo doll.
Challenges to social learning theory includes that educators may resist changing their
teaching style. It involves training & maintaining skilled educators who believe in efficacy of
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what they are teaching, can model desired behaviours, skilled at leading role plays and keep
students on tasks. It has a challenge that it cannot explain why children like to watch violent
shows on television and play these games yet they never copy it. This theory has concept of
learning from watching which has a challenge that many of people face violent activities yet
there is not a problem of mass terrorism everywhere at global level.
Chapter 5
Attachment can be described as an enduring and deep emotional bond that is responsible
for connecting to an individual to the another person across time as well as space. It cannot have
any kind of reciprocal with and it and an individual may feel attached to other which cannot
share (Kenny, 2016). However, attachment can be considered via particular behaviours in kids
including seeking proximity to the attachment figure when upset or threatened by some way. The
attachment theory was introduced by John Bowlby to analyse significance of the child's
relationship with their mother in terms of social, cognitive and emotional development.
Challenges related to attachment theory consist that it is based on concept of behaviours
which take place at the time of momentary separations (Stressful conditions)besides of non
stressful circumstances. It includes limited behaviours of attachment with the primary
attachment- figure specifically mother and others are not characterised through similar
behaviours. However, it has another limitation that attachment is only described with mother by
considering as primary figure but father or siblings also have the same attachment with an infant.
Chapter 8
Paying attention can be considered as a function of brain which is responsible for
allocating cognitive processing resources in order to concentrate on information or stimuli. It has
a function to deal with mental procedure particular data present in the atmosphere which has
been experiences by an individual via their five senses. However, a person has an attention span
that is considered as their capability to keep their mind set concentrated to specific aspect
through careful observation or active listening (Dunlosky, Mueller and Thiede, 2016).
Broadbent's model of early selection states that all sensory information available at a specific
duration enters short term store that holds data for temporary basis before to starts to decay.
Meanwhile, filtering system is responsible for selecting particular piece of data to be further
processed on the basis of physical characteristics. In addition to this, the attention can be divided
into number of categorise such as sustained, selective, alternating and divided attention. The
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factor of paying attention is very important to be generated in a child for improving their learning
ability to immediately gain knowledge respectively. Moreover, paying attention is helpful to
actively grab knowledge through active senses to become educated.
Challenges to paying attention has a challenge that more focus towards specific aspects
develop deep thinking about it which results into stress and ore confusion. It will impacts
negatively on learning of a child as they remain confused due to detailed thoughts regarding
specific factor. Meanwhile, it involves that the concept of paying attention requires clarity
because individuals may focus on wrong aspects which are needed to be observed carefully
(Kirwan, Scaife and Kennedy, 2017). However, it has a limitation that only paying attention is
not sufficient for kids to gain become well educated but appropriate gathering of knowledge as
well as experiences is also mandatory for their development.
Explain and provide examples that suggest that advances in psychological knowledge have been
achieved through research that builds on existing psychological theory
Advancements of psychology provide number of new aspects which are helpful to
understand about factors to be considered for enhancing development of children. Firstly it
includes advancement of beliefs about psychological abilities matter in order to exercise
willpower, learn to trust people and to confront prejudice. Secondly, it consist advertising which
is responsible for affecting respective choices without awareness which impacts positively on
results. Thirdly, it involves utilisation of Bayesian statistics which are helpful to gain better
outcomes of practices. However, the advancement in change of beliefs about political
candidates, modifying the attitudes and capability to negotiate successfully (Lawson, 2017).
Meanwhile, it consist the criterion that brain tells a lot to a person when they are doing nothing
which can be understand by cognitive neuroscience. In addition to this, exposure to new
culture facilitate to grab fresh opportunities and norms which are helpful to make an individual
more creative.
Chapter 3
Social learning theory can be considered as combination of concepts states by two
theories named as cognitive and behavioural theory. The above mentioned advancements in
psychological knowledge are responsible for supporting the social theory in terms of learning
from watching. For example, children can exposed to different culture and atmosphere then they
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can observe new cultural norms and aspects which make them more creative to facilitate their
development accordingly.
Chapter 5
Attachment theory refers to strong emotional attachment between tow people which
cannot be share to others and this theory is supported by new advancements in psychological
information (Chisholm and et. al., 2016). For example, if a child get love and respect from
everyone then they develop their mentality positively which impacts on their behaviour as they
also pay love and respect to every individual.
Chapter 8
Paying attention can be considered as a significant factor which is necessary to learn
different aspects of education that will supported by advancement of psychological knowledge.
For example, if a child watch an advertisement then it attracts them to pay attention which
enhance their knowledge level about specific aspects showed in that advertisement.
Evaluate the importance of the claim that advances in psychological knowledge can only be
achieved through research that challenges existing psychological theory
The advancement of psychological knowledge is very important in order to change
beliefs and attitudes of people which facilitate to make them more creative and developed.
Chapter 3
Social learning theory get support through psychological advancements as it will helps to
modify attitudes and behaviours which are included in the concepts of this model. For example,
it is important for a child to change his attitude to understand about new cultural rules to become
more innovative & creative.
Chapter 5
Attachment theory includes the factor of love and respect which create a strong
emotional bond among two individuals, For example, it is mandatory for an individual to show
extreme love & respect to a child for making him to do the same with others for having positive
behaviour (Smith and et. al., 2018).
Chapter 8
Paying attention consist to concentrate on particular aspects for learning about he same
to understand it. For example, it is important to use advanced and attractive tools to gain
attention of kids to make them learn everything properly.
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CONCLUSION
From the above report, it has been concluded that psychology can be described as a study
of mental processes and behaviour of an individual. It consist several aspects like social learning
theory, Attachment theory and paying attention which plays an important role in development of
a child.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Hyman, J., 2016. Investigating Psychology: Sciences of the Mind after Wittgenstein. Routledge.
Ivtzan, I. and Lomas, T. eds., 2016. Mindfulness in positive psychology: The science of
meditation and wellbeing. Routledge.
Kenny, A., 2016. The homunculus fallacy. In Investigating psychology (pp. 169-179). Routledge.
Dunlosky, J., Mueller, M.L. and Thiede, K.W., 2016. Methodology for investigating human
metamemory. In The Oxford handbook of metamemory.
Kirwan, B., Scaife, R. and Kennedy, R., 2017. Investigating complexity factors in UK air traffic
management. In Engineering Psychology and Cognitive Ergonomics (pp. 189-195).
Routledge.
Lawson, A.E., 2017. Investigating and applying developmental psychology in the science
classroom. In Learning and motivation in the classroom (pp. 113-136). Routledge.
Chisholm, A. and et. al., 2016. Investigating the feasibility and acceptability of health
psychology-informed obesity training for medical students. Psychology, health &
medicine, 21(3), pp.368-376.
Smith, A.B. and et. al., 2018. A systematic review of quantitative observational studies
investigating psychological distress in testicular cancer survivors. Psycho‐
Oncology, 27(4), pp.1129-1137.
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