Psychology Perspectives - Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools

Psychology Perspectives (approaches to studying psychology) psychology Noun: 1.

The scientific study of the human mind and its functions, esp. those affecting behavior in a given context. 2. The mental characteristics or attitude of a person or group. Behaviorism

View people and animals as controlled by their environment We are the result of what we have learned from our environment how environmental factors (called stimuli) affect observable behavior (called the response). Classical conditioning Operant conditioning

Only observable behavior should be studied, since it is the only thing that can be measured Behaviorism

Thorndike Skinner Watson Pavlov Psychodynamic/Psychoanalytic

Perspective Behavior is determined by the unconsciousness mind and early childhood experiences We are motivated by impulse rooted in our unconscious mind Both a perspective and a therapy

Psychodynamic/Psychoanalytic Perspective Freud Jung Humanism Looks at the whole person Looks at human behavior not only through

the eyes of the observer, but through the eyes of the person doing the behaving Behavior is connected to inner feelings and self image We all are good, and strive to reach full potential (self actualization) Humanism

Carl Rogers Abraham Maslow Cognitive Studies the mental act or process by which knowledge is acquired Memory, perception, attention Scientific approach that uses lab

experiments to study behavior Cognitive Wundt Piaget Biological believes that most behavior is inherited

and has an adaptive (or evolutionary) function explain behaviors in neurological terms, the physiology and structure of the brain and how this influences behavior Uses drug therapy to treat mental illness Biological

Darwin Socio-Cultural based on the assumption that our personalities, beliefs, attitudes. and skills are learned from others culture, ethnic identity, gender identity, socio-economic status

More recent approach to studying human behavior Socio-Cultural Conclusion No one perspective is the right or only perspective

Each has strengths and weaknesses Most psychologist agree that we must use multiple approaches/perspectives to explain human behavior McLeod, S. A. (2007). Psychology Perspectives. Retrieved from http://www.simplypsychology.org/perspective.html