What is meant by toxic positivity?

It is the social pressure to appear cheerful and to suppress negative feeling, which can leave distressed people feeling they have failed twice, once at their situation and once at being unhappy about it.

What evidence is there that negative thinking is not always harmful?

Norem and Cantor (1986) showed that defensive pessimists, who prepare by imagining what could go wrong, actually performed worse when they were pushed into thinking optimistically, so a uniformly positive outlook does not suit everyone.

Outline the methodological case against positive psychology's relevance.

Its central concepts of happiness and flourishing are measured by self-report and defined loosely, and its assumption of free will cannot be falsified, so critics question whether its claims are scientific enough to guide public policy.

What is meant by calling positive psychology 'old wine in new bottles'?

Maslow had already used the phrase positive psychology in 1954 and humanistic psychologists had long studied growth and self-actualisation, so critics argue the movement rebranded existing ideas rather than discovering new ones.

Identify an ethical implication concerning psychological harm.

Promoting flourishing as an expectation can harm those who cannot reach it, since people who remain unhappy after trying the exercises may conclude the fault is theirs, adding self-blame to their distress.

What ethical problem arises when positive psychology programmes are delivered in schools and workplaces?

Participation is often effectively compulsory and the people delivering it may not be qualified psychologists, so genuine informed consent and the right to withdraw are compromised, particularly for children who cannot fully consent.

Eduqas A-Level Psychology A290QS

Biological Approach

Topic overview Assumptions and evaluation of the approach: Evolutionary influences and Localisation of brain function Assumptions and evaluation of the approach: Neurotransmitters and Weaknesses of the approach Therapy derived from the approach: Drug therapy Therapy derived from the approach: Psychosurgery Classic research: the methodology and procedures Classic research: the findings, conclusions and evaluation Contemporary debate

Psychodynamic Approach

Topic overview Assumptions and evaluation of the approach: Influence of childhood experiences and Unconscious mind Assumptions and evaluation of the approach: Tripartite personality and Weaknesses of the approach Therapy derived from the approach: Dream analysis Therapy derived from the approach: Psychodrama Classic research: Methodology and Procedures Classic research: Findings and Conclusions Classic research: Ethical issues and social implications Contemporary debate: the mother as primary care-giver — the arguments Contemporary debate: the mother as primary care-giver — the evidence and conclusion

Behaviourist Approach

Topic overview Assumptions and evaluation of the approach: Blank slate and Behaviour learnt through conditioning Assumptions and evaluation of the approach: Humans and animals learn in similar ways Therapy derived from the approach: Aversion therapy Therapy derived from the approach: Systematic desensitisation Classic research: Methodology and Procedures Classic research: Findings and Conclusions Classic research: Ethical issues and social implications Contemporary debate: using conditioning to control children — the arguments Contemporary debate: using conditioning to control children — the evidence and conclusion

Cognitive Approach

Topic overview Assumptions and evaluation of the approach: Computer analogy, Internal mental processes and Schemas Assumptions and evaluation of the approach: Strengths of the approach and Weaknesses of the approach Therapy derived from the approach: Cognitive behavioural therapy Therapy derived from the approach: Rational emotive behaviour therapy Classic research: Methodology and Procedures Classic research: Findings and Conclusions Classic research: Ethical issues and social implications Contemporary debate: the reliability of eye-witness testimony — the arguments Contemporary debate: the reliability of eye-witness testimony — the evidence and conclusion

Positive Approach

Topic overview Assumptions and evaluation of the approach: Acknowledgement of free will and Focus on 'the good life'Assumptions and evaluation of the approach: Strengths of the approach and Weaknesses of the approach Therapy derived from the approach: Mindfulness Therapy derived from the approach: Quality of life therapy Classic research: Methodology and Procedures Classic research: Findings and Conclusions Classic research: Ethical issues and social implications Contemporary debate: the relevance of positive psychology today — the arguments Contemporary debate: the relevance of positive psychology today — the evidence and conclusion

Comparing the Five Approaches

Topic overview Comparison of the five approaches: Similarities between the approaches Comparison of the five approaches: Nature-nurture debate, Reductionism and holism

Core Studies in Social and Developmental Psychology

Topic overview Social psychology core study: Milgram (1963) — Method and procedure, Results Social psychology core study: Milgram (1963) — Conclusions and Evaluation of the study Developmental psychology core study: Kohlberg (1968) — Method and procedure, Results Developmental psychology core study: Kohlberg (1968) — Conclusions and Evaluation of the study

Planning Psychological Research

Topic overview Deciding on a research question: Aim of the research and Independent variables Deciding on a research question: Co-variables, Operationalisation of variables and Extraneous variables Methodologies: Experiments, Participant observations and Non-participant observations Methodologies: Content analysis, Structured interviews / questionnaires and Correlational studies Methodologies: Case studies, Cross-sectional studies and Self-reports Location of research Participants and sampling: Target populations, Sampling frames and Opportunity sampling Participants and sampling: Systematic sampling, Stratified sampling and Quota sampling Participants and sampling: Self-selected sampling Experimental design

Data Handling, Statistics and Mathematical Skills

Topic overview Levels of measurement Graphical representation: Frequency tables and Graphical representation (including line graphs Graphical representation: Distribution curves (including normal, positive and negative skewed Descriptive statistics: Measures of central tendency Descriptive statistics: Measures of dispersion and Calculating from a set of results Inferential statistics: Chi Square test Inferential statistics: Mann Whitney U test and Critical values from tables Mathematical requirements (Appendix A): Standard form and unit conversion Mathematical requirements (Appendix A): Calculations for statistical tests

Evaluating and Validating Research

Topic overview Reliability Validity: Internal validity, External validity and Specific validity issues (including researcher bias Validity: Ways of dealing with issues of validity Ethics: Confidentiality and Risk to the participants’ values Ethics: Valid consent and Managing the risk posed by ethical issues (including the use of ethics The role of the scientific community: Peer review and its purposes, Criticisms of peer review The role of the scientific community: Sections of a psychological report

Personal Investigations and Novel Research Scenarios

Topic overview Personal investigations: applying — Hypotheses and variables, Methodology and experimental design Personal investigations: applying research methods to first-hand investigations — Sampling Personal investigations: applying research methods to first-hand investigations — Inferential statistics Application of research methods to a novel scenario

Addictive BehavioursAddictive

Topic overview Characteristics of the behaviour: What the behaviour is, How it is recognised and diagnosed Characteristics of the behaviour: How common it is, Effects on the individual and on society Biological explanations: Addiction genes and Disease of the brain Biological explanations: Dopamine Individual differences explanations: Cognitive biases and Field dependence Individual differences explanations: Lang's addictive personality traits Social psychological explanations: Co-morbidity with mental and Peer pressure Social psychological explanations: Role of the media Methods of modifying the behaviour: Agonist and antagonist substitution Methods of modifying the behaviour: Aversion therapy

Autistic Spectrum BehavioursAutistic spectrum

Topic overview Characteristics of the behaviour: What the behaviour is, How it is recognised and diagnosed Characteristics of the behaviour: How common it is, Effects on the individual and on society Biological explanations: Amygdala dysfunction and Chloride ions at birth Biological explanations: Genetic predisposition Individual differences explanations: Gender differences and Theory of mind Individual differences explanations: Weak central coherence theory Extreme male brain and empathising-systemising theories The refrigerator mother theory, and evaluation Methods of modifying the behaviour: Picture Exchange Communication System Methods of modifying the behaviour: Relationship Development Intervention Methods of modifying the behaviour

Bullying BehavioursBullying

Topic overview Characteristics of the behaviour: What the behaviour is, How it is recognised and diagnosed Characteristics of the behaviour: How common it is, Effects on the individual and on society Biological explanations: Bullying genes and Evolved gender differences Biological explanations: Hormones Individual differences explanations: Cognitive biases and Narcissistic personality Individual differences explanations: Threatened egotism, narcissism and theory of mind Social psychological explanations: Cultural differences and In-group / out-group Social psychological explanations: Moral disengagement Methods of modifying the behaviour: Creating A Peaceful School Learning Environment Methods of modifying the behaviour: Olweus Bullying Prevention Programme Methods of modifying the behaviour

Criminal BehavioursCriminal

Topic overview Characteristics of the behaviour: What the behaviour is Characteristics of the behaviour: How it is recognised and diagnosed Biological explanations: Disinhibition hypothesis and Inherited criminality personality theory Biological explanations: Role of the amygdala Individual differences explanations: Eysenck's criminal personality Individual differences explanations: Intelligence factors and Psychopathic personality Social psychological explanations: Differential association Social psychological explanations: Gender socialisation and Normalisation theory Methods of modifying the behaviour: Anger management Methods of modifying the behaviour: Restorative justice

SchizophreniaSchizophrenia

Topic overview Characteristics of the behaviour: What the behaviour is, How it is recognised and diagnosed Characteristics of the behaviour: How common it is, Effects on the individual and on society Biological explanations: Dopamine hypothesis and Enlarged ventricles Biological explanations: Cannabis, genetics and the diathesis-stress model Individual differences explanations: Thought disorder Individual differences explanations: Schizophrenogenic mother and Sex differences Social psychological explanations: Cultural norms Social psychological explanations: Dysfunctional families Social psychological explanations: Expressed emotion Methods of modifying the behaviour: Antipsychotic drugs Methods of modifying the behaviour: Cognitive behavioral therapy

StressStress

Topic overview Characteristics of the behaviour: What the behaviour is, How it is recognised and diagnosed Characteristics of the behaviour: How common it is, Effects on the individual and on society Biological explanations: Adrenaline and Evolutionary adaptation Biological explanations: Stress genes Individual differences explanations: Type A behaviour and hardiness Individual differences explanations: Self-efficacy Social psychological explanations: Daily hassles and Life events Social psychological explanations: Locus of control and control at work Methods of modifying the behaviour: Beta blockers Methods of modifying the behaviour: Stress inoculation training

Controversies in Psychology

Topic overview Cultural bias: Cross cultural studies and Difference or bias Cultural bias: Ethnocentrism, Historical and social context Ethical costs of conducting research: Benefits to society and the economy, Individual participants Ethical costs of conducting research: Potentially negative consequences for society The use of non-human animals: Why animals are used, comparative psychology and ethology The use of non-human animals: Therapy, speciesism and the BPS Guidelines Scientific status of psychology: Features of science, Popper and Kuhn Scientific status of psychology: Methods, benefits and costs of being a science Sexism: Gender difference or gender bias Sexism: Heterosexism, Historical and social context, 'invisibility' of women in psychology

Positive Approach

Contemporary debate: the relevance of positive psychology today — the evidence and conclusion

3 things to know
Component 1

Overview

Recall questions on the relevance of positive psychology today — the evidence and conclusion.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Numbers

Why is research in this field described as socially sensitive?

Evaluation

What is the economic argument in favour of positive psychology?

Evaluation

What is the economic argument against positive psychology?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
What is meant by toxic positivity?
Model answer
It is the social pressure to appear cheerful and to suppress negative feeling, which can leave distressed people feeling they have failed twice, once at their situation and once at being unhappy about it.
2
What evidence is there that negative thinking is not always harmful?
Model answer
Norem and Cantor (1986) showed that defensive pessimists, who prepare by imagining what could go wrong, actually performed worse when they were pushed into thinking optimistically, so a uniformly positive outlook does not suit everyone.
3
Outline the methodological case against positive psychology's relevance.
Model answer
Its central concepts of happiness and flourishing are measured by self-report and defined loosely, and its assumption of free will cannot be falsified, so critics question whether its claims are scientific enough to guide public policy.
4
What is meant by calling positive psychology 'old wine in new bottles'?
Model answer
Maslow had already used the phrase positive psychology in 1954 and humanistic psychologists had long studied growth and self-actualisation, so critics argue the movement rebranded existing ideas rather than discovering new ones.
5
Identify an ethical implication concerning psychological harm.
Model answer
Promoting flourishing as an expectation can harm those who cannot reach it, since people who remain unhappy after trying the exercises may conclude the fault is theirs, adding self-blame to their distress.
6
What ethical problem arises when positive psychology programmes are delivered in schools and workplaces?
Model answer
Participation is often effectively compulsory and the people delivering it may not be qualified psychologists, so genuine informed consent and the right to withdraw are compromised, particularly for children who cannot fully consent.

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