Psychology’s �Big Issues �&�Approaches

Philosophical Developments

• THE Question: Nature vs. Nurture

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• Inherited vs. Environment
• Are our physical and mental abilities determined by our genes or our experiences?
• What has the biggest effect on behavior?
• What are the interactions between genetics and environment?
• NURTURE WORKS ON WHAT NATURE ENDOWS

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Psychology’s Three Main Levels of Analysis

Psychology’s Three Main Levels of Analysis

Psychology’s Three Main Levels of Analysis

Bio-Psycho-Social Model�Analysis

Psychological�Approaches

Psychological Perspectives

• Each view behavior from a particular perspective
• Method of classifying a collection of ideas
• Also called “schools of thought”
• Also called “psychological approaches”

Cognitive �Perspective

• Focus: On how people think and process information
• Behavior is explained by how a person interprets the situation
• How is knowledge acquired, organized, remembered, and used to guide behavior?
• Topics they study includes
• Intellectual development & Problem Solving
• Language development
• Perception and Memory

Biological �Perspective

• Focus: How our biological structures and substances underlie a given behavior, thought, or emotion
• Behavior is explained by brain chemistry, genetics, glands, etc.
• Focus on how the following impact our behavior/thinking…
• individual neurons
• areas of the brain
• chemicals or hormones
• Interest in behavior distinguishes biological psychology from many other biological sciences

Social-Cultural Perspective

• Focus: How thinking and behavior change depending on the setting, situation, or culture
• Behavior is explained by the influence of other people present

Behavioral�Perspective

• Focus: How we learn through rewards, punishments, and observation
• Interested in how the environment influences our behaviors.

Humanistic Perspective

• Focus: How healthy people strive to reach their full potential
• Behavior is explained as being motivated by satisfying needs (safety, hunger, thirst, etc.), with the goal of reaching one’s full potential once basic needs are met.
• Developed by Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers

Psychodynamic�Perspective

• Focus: How behavior is affected by unconscious drives and conflicts
• Behavior is explained through unconscious motivation and unresolved inner conflicts from one’s childhood.
• Modern version of psychoanalytic perspective (Sigmund Freud)

Evolution

• Behavior is explained by how the behavior may have helped our ancestors survive long enough to reproduce successfully.
• Influenced by Darwin’s Theory of Evolution with the process of Natural Selection
• The most adaptive traits will survive due to natural selection

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Psychologist vs. Psychiatrist

• Counseling Psychologist – help people with crises & life problems (academic, job related, family)
• Clinical Psychologist – treats disorders

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• Psychiatrist – medical doctor that can prescribe drugs to treat physical causes of disorders