Issues, Debates and Approaches
Freewill vs.
Determinism
Biological Determinism: The
biological approach suggests that
behaviour is controlled (biologically
Biological determined) by factors such as: genes,
neurotransmitters, hormones and
brain structures.
Environmental Determinism: The
behaviourist approach suggests that
Behaviourist behaviour is determined by stimulus-
response conditioning (e.g. classical/
operant conditioning).
Determinism (Soft): SLT
acknowledges the role of
Social Learning environmental forces (vicarious
reinforcement) but suggests that
Theory humans have personal responsibility
and have some free choice.
Determinism (Soft): The cognitive
approach suggests that behaviour is
Cognitive the result of mediational processes
however human can choose what
information they attend to.
Mostly Nature: The psychodynamic
Physic Determinism: According to the
approach suggests that behaviour is
psychodynamic approach, behaviour
Psychodynamic is determined by unconscious drives
caused by innate drives (e.g. ID),
although early childhood experiences
and early childhood experiences.
also shape our behaviour.
Free Will: The humanist approach is
the only approach that suggest that
Humanist humans control their own
environment and are capable of
change.
Reductionism vs.
Nature vs. Nurture
Nature: The biological approach
argues that behaviour is determined
by biological factors such as: genes,
neurotransmitters, hormones and
brain structures.
Nurture: The behaviourist approach
argues that human beings are born as
a tabula rasa (blank slate) and
behaviour is learned.
Nurture: SLT suggests that behaviour
is learnt via classical and operant
conditioning and doesn’t take into
account biological factors.
Nature & Nurture: The cognitive
approach suggests that information
processing is modified as a result of
experience.
Mostly Nurture: The humanist
approaches argues that humans have
an innate drive to self-actualise,
however the environment and our
experiences shape this journey.
Idiographic vs.
Holism Nomothetic
Nomothetic: The biological approach
suggests that humans share similar
Biological Reductionism: The
physiology and that we can make
biological approach reduces behaviour
to biological structures/processes and
universal laws regarding behaviour.
Laboratory experiments are used to
ignores the whole.
generate quantitative data to make
generalisations.
Nomothetic: The behaviourist
approach creates general laws of
Environmental Reductionism: The
behaviour (cause & effect, stimulus-
behaviourist approach reduces
behaviour to simple stimulus-response
response relationships) and uses
laboratory experiments to generate
associations.
quantitative data to make
generalisations.
Nomothetic: SLT aims to establish
general laws of behaviour (e.g.
This approach or theory shares through observation, imitation of role
elements of both the behaviourist and models and reinforcement). SLT uses
cognitive approach. laboratory experiments to generate
quantitative data to make
generalisations.
Experimental Reductionism: The Nomothetic: The cognitive approach
cognitive approach studies cognitive typically uses nomothetic approaches
processes (e.g. memory/attention) in to establish general laws of cognitive
isolation, reducing behaviour and processing. However, case studies are
processes into isolated variables for sometimes used (e.g. patient KF, HM,
testing. etc.) utilising idiographic approaches.
Nomothetic & Idiographic: The
Reductionism & Holism: The
psychodynamic approach uses
psychodynamic approach suggests
nomothetic approaches to create
that behaviour is reduced to innate
drives (e.g. ID), however the approach
general laws about innate drives
however, it also takes into account the
also takes into account all aspects of
unique experience of early childhood
human behaviour.
experiences (idiographic).
Holism: The humanist approach
Idiographic: The humanistic approach
rejects scientific methods of
is the only approach to focus on
investigation and focuses on
subjective human experience and
understanding all aspects of human
makes no attempt to generalise.
experience and interaction.
Real-World
Scientific
Applications
The biological approach has led
Scientific: The biological approach to the development of
promotes scientific methods of numerous drug therapies to
investigation. treat disorders like: OCD,
Schizophrenia, etc.
The behaviourist approach has
Scientific: The behaviourist approach
led to the development of
utilises scientific methods to
investigate key concepts like classical/
numerous treatments, like
systematic desensitisation,
operant conditioning.
flooding and aversion therapy.
Mostly Scientific: SLT utilises
SLT is able to explain many
scientific methods of investigation,
psychological disorders
which researcher can replicate (e.g.
Bandura’s Bobo Doll experiment).
including: eating disorders and
aggression and has led to
However, SLT also considers
mediational processes which
positive change (e.g. the
introduction of the watershed
researchers are unable to directly
on TV, etc).
observe.
The cognitive approach has led
Mostly Scientific: The cognitive to the development of
approach utilises scientific methods of numerous treatments, including
investigation (e.g. studies of cognitive behavioural therapy.
memory). However, researchers are Furthermore, the cognitive
unable to directly observe cognitive approach has helped improve
processes. the accuracy and reliability of
EWT.
Not Scientific: The psychodynamic
The psychodynamic approach
approach uses many concepts/
has led to the development of
theories which can not be empirically
treatments such as
tested (e.g. ID). Therefore, an
psychoanalysis, however the
idiographic approach is often taken
positive impact/application of
and there is a large element of
this treatment is questionable.
subjective interpretation.
Not Scientific: The humanistic The humanist approach has led
approach reject scientific methods to the development of Client
and therefore is unable to provide Centred Therapy which is used
empirical evidence to support it’s to treat a range of psychological
theories. disorders.
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Issues, Debates and Approaches
Freewill vs. Reductionism vs. Idiographic vs. Real-World
Nature vs. Nurture Scientific
Determinism Holism Nomothetic Applications

Biological

Behaviourist

Social Learning
Theory

Cognitive

Psychodynamic

Humanist

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Issues, Debates and Approaches
Freewill vs. Reductionism vs. Idiographic vs. Real-World
Nature vs. Nurture Scientific
Determinism Holism Nomothetic Applications
This approach suggests that humans
The approach suggests that behaviour
The approach argues that behaviour is share similar physiology and that we This approach has led to the
is controlled (biologically determined) This approach reduces behaviour to
determined by biological factors such can make universal laws regarding This approaches promotes scientific development of numerous drug
Biological by factors such as: genes,
as: genes, neurotransmitters,
biological structures/processes and
behaviour. Laboratory experiments methods of investigation. therapies to treat disorders like:
neurotransmitters, hormones and ignores the whole.
hormones and brain structures. are used to generate quantitative data OCD, Schizophrenia, etc.
brain structures.
to make generalisations.

This approach creates general laws of

This approach has led to the
This approach suggests that behaviour behaviour (cause & effect, stimulus-
This approach argues that human This approach utilises scientific development of numerous
is determined by stimulus-response This approach reduces behaviour to response relationships) and uses
Behaviourist conditioning (e.g. classical/operant
beings are born as a tabula rasa (blank
simple stimulus-response associations. laboratory experiments to generate
methods to investigate key concepts treatments, like systematic
slate) and behaviour is learned. like classical/operant conditioning. desensitisation, flooding and
conditioning). quantitative data to make
aversion therapy.
generalisations.

This approach utilises scientific

This approach aims to establish This approach is able to explain
methods of investigation, which
This approach acknowledges the role general laws of behaviour (e.g. many psychological disorders
SLT This approach suggests that researcher can replicate (e.g.
Social Learning of environmental forces (vicarious
behaviour is learnt via classical and
This approach or theory shares through observation, imitation of role
Bandura’s Bobo Doll experiment).
including: eating disorders and
reinforcement) but suggests that elements of both the behaviourist and models and reinforcement). It also aggression and has led to
operant conditioning and doesn’t take However, SLT also considers
Theory humans have personal responsibility
into account biological factors.
cognitive approach. uses laboratory experiments to
mediational processes which
positive change (e.g. the
and have some free choice. generate quantitative data to make introduction of the watershed
researchers are unable to directly
generalisations. on TV, etc).
observe.
This approach has led to the
This approach typically uses development of numerous
This approach studies cognitive This approach utilises scientific
This approach suggests that behaviour nomothetic approaches to establish treatments, including cognitive
This approach suggests that processes (e.g. memory/attention) in methods of investigation (e.g. studies
is the result of mediational processes general laws of cognitive processing. behavioural therapy.
Cognitive however human can choose what
information processing is modified as isolation, reducing behaviour and
However, case studies are sometimes
of memory). However, researchers
Furthermore, the cognitive
a result of experience. processes into isolated variables for are unable to directly observe
information they attend to. used (e.g. patient KF, HM, etc.) approach has helped improve
testing. cognitive processes.
utilising idiographic approaches. the accuracy and reliability of
EWT.

This approach uses nomothetic This approach uses many concepts/

This approach suggests that behaviour This approach has led to the
This approach suggests that behaviour approaches to create general laws theories which can not be empirically
According to this approach, behaviour is reduced to innate drives (e.g. ID), development of treatments such
is caused by innate drives (e.g. ID), about innate drives however, it also tested (e.g. ID). Therefore, an
Psychodynamic is determined by unconscious drives
although early childhood experiences
however the approach also takes into
takes into account the unique idiographic approach is often taken
as psychoanalysis, however the
and early childhood experiences. account all aspects of human positive impact/application of
also shape our behaviour. experience of early childhood and there is a large element of
behaviour. this treatment is questionable.
experiences (idiographic). subjective interpretation.

This approach is the only approach
that suggest that humans control their
Humanist own environment and are capable of
change.
This approaches argues that humans
have an innate drive to self-actualise,
however the environment and our
experiences shape this journey.
This approach rejects scientific This approach reject scientific This approach has led to the
This approach is the only approach to
methods of investigation and focuses methods and therefore is unable to development of Client Centred
on understanding all aspects of human
focus on subjective human experience
provide empirical evidence to support Therapy which is used to treat a
and makes no attempt to generalise.
experience and interaction. it’s theories. range of psychological disorders.

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