An Eclectic Approach

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An Eclectic Approach

• Eclectic -
• deriving ideas (theories etc) from a broad
  diverse range of sources.
• An eclectic thinker is one who selectively
  adopts ideas from different sources and combines
  them in the development of a new theory
  Mautner, 2000.

2

• In psychology the five major perspectives each
  have their own theories for explaining many
  aspects of human behaviour.
• The topic of Psychology of Atypical behaviour
  is a good example of this
• Each theory will have its strengths and
  weaknesses.

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• The weaknesses of these theories suggest that any
  one single theory (from one approach only) is
  inadequate in explaining human behaviour.
• Trying to use an eclectic approach will hopefully
  give a more comprehensive explanation.

4

• A true eclectic approach involves the formation
  of a new theory which is produced from a
  combination of several other theories and which
  ultimately replaces the other theories.
• As yet, psychology has not progressed to
  producing true eclectic theories.

5

• At present, in relation to psychology getting
  closer to an eclectic approach to understanding a
  particular aspect of human behaviour, it involves
  trying to explain the behaviour using more than
  one perspective and develop applications based on
  more than one approach.

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• For example, in terms of therapies for abnormal
  behaviours, an attempt at an eclectic approach
  may involve more than a single type of
  therapy/treatment being used with the person, to
  give a more holistic approach.

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What are the strengths and weaknesses of using an
Eclectic Approach in Psychology?

• Strengths-
• Does not restrict ideas to only one perspective.
• Allows new ideas to be generated.
• Provides a fuller understanding of behaviour as
  it considers all relevant factors and how they
  might combine.

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• Weaknesses-
• May lead to confusion because there are too many
  views expressed in an eclectic explanation.
• It is difficult to judge the relative value of
  each perspective in an eclectic explanation.
• Because the different approaches are very
  different from each other it is difficult to
  combine them to make one new theory.

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• To help you to appreciate the sort of
  understanding you should have of the perspectives
  and how you should use the topics in psychology
  to illustrate your understanding, have a go at
  the following exercise. It involves looking at a
  behaviour that we have not studied as a topic in
  psychology and asks you to consider how each
  approach might go about it.
• Learning Objective- You will begin to ask
  yourself these kinds of questions about some of
  the topics we have studied.

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The Value of an eclectic approach- A group
exerciseConsider the behaviour of a man who when
he approaches a pelican crossing and it is on
green, fails to cross, but simply stands there
and stares across the road before turning around
and walking away.
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• In order to prepare for this section in the
  examinations (on paper 5), you will need to do
  the following-

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• o   Take 2 topics that you have studied in
  psychology over the past two years
• (memory forgetting, social cognition, social
  influence, gender, abnormal psychology, stress,
  cognitive development).
• The best to choose from are probably abnormal
  psychology, stress, memory forgetting, gender.

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• o   For each topic answer the following questions
  briefly
•          What does each approach have to say
  about the topic?
•          What are the limitations of that
  approachs explanation/application ?
•          Are there any explanations and
  applications that involve more that one approach
  i.e. are eclectic (e.g. biofeedback for stress,
  REBT) ?

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• Put down your answers to these questions in a
  table or spider diagram so that you can see
  everything you have written for each topic on a
  whole page.
• But remember-
• The questions on paper 5 are not testing your
  knowledge of the topic but the topics are to be
  used to illustrate your understanding of the
  perspectives and debates in psychology.

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A typical exam question

• Describe what is meant by taking an eclectic
  approach to understanding behaviour and discuss
  the value of using an eclectic approach to study
  psychology. In your answer refer to at least one
  topic you have studied in psychology.
  (12 marks)

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• How to go about answering this question
• Highlight key terms in the question to make sure
  that you are following the instructions
  correctly.
• e.g. Describe what is meant by taking an eclectic
  approach and discuss the value of using an
  eclectic approach to study psychology. In your
  answer refer to at least two topics you have
  studied in psychology.

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• Decide how to structure your answer draw a
  quick plan in pencil- spider diagrams are good
  for this (remember to cross it out when you have
  finished your essay)

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• e.g. Essentially have two parts to the essay
• Part 1
• Description of the term eclectic approach. (AO1
  marks).
• Also give an example of a topic in psychology
  where an eclectic approach has been used e.g
  Biofeedback to manage stress or, explain why it
  is an example of an eclectic approach.(AO2 marks
  and possibly AO1 from your description of
  biofeedback).

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Part 2 Discussion of value of using an eclectic
approach. This could involve the following

• Talk about the problem of taking a single
  approach keep it simple by using one example
  from psychology Stress, abnormal behaviour,
  eating /anxiety disorders, memory forgetting
  and briefly say what one approach has to say
  about it.(AO1 marks) Point out some of the
  limitations of this approach. Suggest what a
  different approach can tell us about the topic
  that the one you have just described doesnt (AO2
  marks).

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• Move onto talking about the advantages of taking
  an eclectic approach more comprehensive
  understanding may avoid being reductionist and
  deterministic may have benefit of scientific
  principles and research evidence may have
  benefits for the more successful treatment of a
  disorder (you will need to choose your advantages
  according to the topic you have used as your
  example you may also choose to introduce
  another topic, but you do not need to because you
  have referred to at least 2 already ) (AO2 marks)

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• Conclude by stating something like
• Taking only one approach to understanding human
  behaviour will inevitably lead to a limited
  understanding of that behaviour. In the case of
  an abnormal behaviour for example, it may lead to
  insufficient treatments and therapies being
  given. If on the other hand an eclectic
  approach is used a more comprehensive
  understanding will be gained. In the case of
  therapies treatments for abnormal behaviour,
  this will have obvious benefits as the various
  contributors to the disorder will be more likely
  to be tackled by a range of treatments
  therapies rather than simply focussing on one.

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• Which topics should you choose. Choose ones that
  you feel most able to write about. However, be
  sure that you can actually explain how an
  eclectic approach has been applied to the topics.
  

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• Some examples of an eclectic approach-
• Stress management - Biofeedback biological
  behaviourist
• Ellis REBT - behaviourist cognitive
• Treatments for Eating disorders behaviourist
  cognitive biological
• Social learning theory behaviourist
  cognitive
• Cognitive science biological cognitive