AICE AS-Level Psych
Mr. Meyers & Dr. Alper
2013-2014
Unit 1:
Approaches to
Psychology & Research
Methodology
I. AICE Approaches in Psychology
• A. Social Approach
• 1. Focuses on how people
interact/influence/control the behavior
of others.
• 2. Examines the dynamics of group
processes such as conformity and
compliance
• 3. Studies: Milgram, Zimbardo, Tajfel,
& Piliavin
I. AICE Approaches in Psychology
• B. Developmental Approach
• 1. Focuses on the development of
social, moral, and cognitive growth and
how behavior changes over time
• 2. Major question is nature vs nurture
• 3. Studies: Freud, Bandura, Langlois,
Nelson
• C. Physiological Approach
• 1. How physiological systems (nervous
system or endocrine system)
impact/cause/explain behavior.
II. AICE Approaches in Psychology
• 2. Examines systems from general to
specifics
• 3. Tends to be reductionist in
explanations of human behavior.
• 4. Studies: Schachter & Singer, Dement &
Kleitman, Maguire, Dematte
• D. Individual Differences Approach
• 1. Mostly involves the study of
personality, intelligence, and variations
of behavior across the normal/abnormal
spectrum
I. AICE Approaches in Psychology
• 2. Can be either reductionist or holistic
• 3. Studies: Rosenhan, Thigpen & Cleckley,
Veale & Riley, Billington
• E. Cognitive Approach
• 1. Explains behavior based on how the
mind works
• 2. Problems caused by maladaptive
thinking
• 3. Explores areas such as memory,
thinking, learning, language
I. AICE Approaches in Psychology
• 4. Often uses the model of a computer
to understand human behavior.
• 5. Studies: Mann, Loftus & Pickrell,
Baron-Cohen, Held & Hein