...of social psychology can be summarized into three basic concepts that originate from well-known psychologists, such as Freud, Kohler, Skinner, and others, in the early 1900s. These theories are as follows: Psychoanalytic Theory focuses on the powerful inner drives, impulses, and motivations of the individual mind and how those motivations are formed by sexuality and aggression. A second challenger called Behaviorism offered that motivations are subject to environmental factors and that learning shapes and determines future responses. To conclude, the perspective of Gestalt psychology regarded itself as a democratic and humanistic view of motivation. The theory says that individuals form coherent and meaningful perceptions and determine their responses based on the “whole”, not individual parts. While social psychology has its roots in psychology, the following major contemporary theories are used to understand and study the behaviors and problems of today. Motivational Theories (influenced by psychoanalytic theory) general approach concentrates on the individual’s own needs or motives that influence perceptions, attitudes, and behavior. In short, when an individual is presented with adversity, these conditions create or provoke needs that trigger behaviors in the individual to satisfy those needs. For example, the experience of moving away from home to Europe with my husband created feelings of loneliness. Cognitive Theories (influenced by Gestalt psychology) emphasizes...
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...The Diverse Nature of Psychology Marie Feltio PSY 490 February 9, 2015 The Diverse Nature of Psychology The field of psychology has its modern origin set just over 100 years ago and during the last 100 years, interest in the field has risen increasingly. Psychology is the scientific discipline that works to explain human emotion, cognition, actions, and motivations. The diverse nature of psychology is clearly defined in its 54 divisions of the American Psychological Association (APA) as each unit addresses a different perspective of psychology providing a distinct aspect of human interaction (Plante, 2011). Although the psychology field has its own diverse distinctions, it offers a variety of perspectives that respects and honors the individuality of every person regardless of background. The diverse nature of the field of psychology provides a greater ability of embodying the humanity as a whole because of its broad nature and diversity. Influence of Diversity on Major Concepts in Psychology Diversity poses an enormous influence on the major concepts in psychology. The cognitive-behavioral, humanistic and psychodynamic perspectives respectively represent different perceptions of human behaviors, each providing and exclusive theory on human nature. The variety of these perspectives and their respective variations are reflective of the diverse thinking among humanity. No person will perceive an event in the same way as another person, and the same should be noted for...
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...Nature of Psychology Micdalia Roman PSY/490 December 24, 2003 Christine Henderson Rose The Diverse Nature of Psychology Diversity is psychology adds distinct outlooks of human behavior in the different branches of psychology. Diversity continues hence the amount of branches and subtopics of psychology. Subtopics develop from adaption to constant changes. Diversity is the reason for second opinions and different perspectives. People adapt so do the methods of treatment. Social and counseling psychology covers large areas in psychology and benefits from the behavioral and humanistic perspective. The want to deal common repression and knowing one’s biases is diversity; no one will understand completely another person pending if that person trusts enough to share experiences. Major Concepts in Psychology Under an exact perspective or viewpoint of psychology, the major concepts describe human behavior. Psychology reaps the benefits from a diverse disposition but does not have the union. Diverse thinking creates an extensive variety of thought but may reduce the focal point on a specific idea or fused theories. No two people will distinguish an occurrence the same sense. For example, a death of a family member may be hard for one person to make sense of but to another person the death may not be negative. The same goes for a psychologist or any clinician; a patient may receive a different diagnosis from a psychologist, especially with the overlapping in psychology. Diversity...
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...re used Perspectives Paper Psychology as we know is the study of the mind and human behavior. Since earlier years, there has been research performed to find out how individuals think, feel, and act. There are many different perspectives that psychologists use as a means of studying human behavior and how individuals think and feel. One of those perspectives is known as the Behavioral Perspective. The main focus of this perspective is behaviors that are learned. The difference between behaviorism and other perspectives is that its emphasis is placed on behaviors that can be observed, not on internal states (Cherry, 2014). There are many major thinkers that made contributions to the Behavioral Perspective, and their theories have been valuable, and serve as a basis for the schools of thought in modern psychology. In this paper, I will be comparing and contrasting the Behavioral Perspectives of John B. Watson and B. F. Skinner, with the perspectives of another major thinker known as Edward C. Tolman. The main focus of John B. Watson and of B. F. Skinner was behaviorism while Edward C. Tolman’s focus was Cognitive Behaviorism (Cherry, 2014). John B. Watson’s Perspectives John B. Watson was a major thinker and also a psychologist who was later known as the father of behaviorism. During part of the 20th Century, he dominated with his perspective of behavior. Watson’s theory of psychology was that it was based on behaviors...
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...Foundations of Psychology Denise Silven PSY/300 General Psychology April 8, 2013 Kaisa Freeman Foundations of Psychology “Psychology is the scientific investigation of mental processes (thinking, remembering, feeling, etc.) and behavior” (Kowalski & Westen, 2011, p. 3). In order to understand a person, his or her biology, psychological experiences, and cultural context must be deciphered (Kowalski & Westen, 2011). This paper will include a discussion of the major schools of thought in psychology and the major underlying assumptions of these schools of thoughts, or perspectives. In addition, the primary biological foundations of psychology that are linked to behavior are identified. Major schools of thought in psychology According to Kowalski and Westen (2011), psychology has several schools of thought “that can be used to understand psychological events” (p. 13). The earliest schools of thought were structuralism and functionalism. Structuralism used introspection to reveal the structure of consciousness and functionalism searched for reasons for the psychological processes that helped people adapt to their environment. Other perspectives in psychology are psychodynamic, behaviorist, cognitive, and evolutionary. These perspectives were developed independently of one another; however, they have all made considerable contributions to the psychology arena. There are phenomena at the center of each of these perspectives that the other perspectives do not consider...
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...Foundations of Psychology PSY 300 August 8, 2011 Teresa Neal Foundations of Psychology The human being is a complex and sometimes mystifying being. Our actions, behaviors, emotions, mannerisms, and functions are all so complicated and sometimes mystifying. Questioning why we do what we do, act the way we do, behave in a certain manner, or react to a situation, even asking these questions in general is the very reason for the study of Psychology. Psychology is the scientific investigation of mental processes and behavior, and as stated in our book, psychology lies in the intersection of biology and culture [ (Kowalski & Westen, 2009) ]. Throughout the journey of psychology there have been many brilliant and ground breaking scientists and psychologists who’ve laid the foundations for what is studied today. Through these journeys many schools of thought and perspectives have been formed into this foundation which we still use today. It is said that Psychology is between biology and culture, it is meaning that biology covers the central nervous system and within that system are the areas with which control many of our mental processes. Culture has a place on the opposite boarder of psychology because how and where we grew up effects the way we are in regard to our behavior and reactions to situations. While Psychology is said to border biology and culture, it is said to be born from philosophy. When Philosophers started looking for more answers in regard to the nature...
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...Foundations of Psychology Paper xxx PSY/300 October 24, 2011 Dr. Wilson Foundations of Psychology Paper Since, “psychology was born from the womb of philosophy” (Kowalski & Westen, 2009), any philosophical questions about behavior thought, and feelings, came from using logic and argumentation. As the late ninetieth century came along, a new alternative approach in trying to understand the mind and behavior emerged. This new approach was to study the mind and behavior scientifically. William Wundt, “who founded the first psychological laboratory in Germany, and was also described as the father of psychology, use scientific methods to uncover the elementary units of human consciousness that combine to form more complex ideas” (Kowalski & Westen, 2009). The method Wundt and his students used was called introspection, where observers reported verbally what goes on in their minds when presented with a task to do. After recording his observers responses, Wundt conclusion was that “the basic elements of consciousness are sensations and feelings” (Kowalski & Westen, 2009), and can become a more complex idea if a person focuses attention, and mentally manipulates them. Wundt considered experimentation essential for studying the basic elements of the mind, while other methods, such as, the study of myths and religion requires higher mental process. However it was the next generation, (Wundt’s student) who took a different view of psychology. The student did...
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...Foundations of Psychology PSY/300 General Psychology June 3, 2013 Foundations of Psychology Modern psychology combines four major and distinct schools of thought, with each one containing possessing fundamental assumptions. Even though each individual perspectives maintains it distinction and individuality, they all have made influences to the developing science of psychology. (Kowalski & Westen, 2011). While they each focus on a different domain and function, each of them remain intertwined and attempt to answer basic questions of how the body and mind work together. The Four Major Psychological Perspectives The Psychodynamic Perspective The psychodynamic perspective was developed in the late nineteenth century by Sigmund Freud. He concluded that psychodynamic perspective has three key premises: 1. “People’s actions are determined by the way thoughts, feelings, and wishes are connected in their minds. 2. Many of these mental events occur outside of conscious awareness. 3. These mental processes may conflict with one another, leading to compromises among competing motives.” (Kowalski & Westen, 2011) The Psychological Perspective remains to this day heavily debated with physiologist supporting its study and other calling for its abandonment. The Behaviorist Perspective The Behaviorist Perspective was developed by accident, early in the twentieth century by Ivan Pavlov. McLeod (2007) “Behaviorism is primarily concerned with observable...
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...Jimmy Paku January 24, 2013 Psychology The Historic Perspective in Psychology Many roots can be traced back to psychology but psychology didn’t begin its peek until Wilhelm Wundt established the psychology phenomena. Wundt’s main focus was to study the mind and how it is built; this later brought him to conduct his own perspective which was known as structuralism, which “focuses on uncovering the fundamental mental components of consciousness, thinking, and other types of mental states and activities” (Feldman, 2009). Other psychologists questioned structuralism and the perspective of functionalism was formed; instead of focusing on how the mind is made up and its components, functionalism focuses on what the mind does and how it functions. The perspective was led by William James, an American psychologist, whose proposal was to question what role behavior had in helping people adapt to their surroundings. Another perspective that stimulated from structuralism was the Gestalt psychology, looked at the human mind and behavior as a whole. This was led by Herman Ebbinghaus and Max Wertheimer and they proposed that our understanding of different things is much more important than the little things that make up our understanding. Today psychology is broken down into five major perspectives. The five major perspectives show that different components of behavior and mental processes. The first perspective is neuroscience which breaks down how we function biologically. Next there...
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... Psychology has been around for some thousands of years which started from an independent experimental field of study. Psychology is when you study the human mind, brain and its functions. It is research to understand and explain how we think, act and feel. A big part of psychology is devoted to diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues. Science is the study structure and behavior of the physical and natural world. This is observed by physical evidence as the basis of that understanding. Psychology investigates an enormous range of perspectives. These perspectives underpinned a shared set of assumptions of what people are like. It is also detailed biological studies of the brain. Just like science, psychology focuses on issues and seeks cause and effects. Psychology evolved into science with two existing sciences: philosophy and physiology. Psychology is considered a science because it uses the scientific method. Psychology evolved into science due to the study of human behavior. The mind is source of ideas and thoughts which correlates from the brain. Psychology asks and answers the fundamental question. We identify them as major perspectives. Major perspectives are assumptions that underlie the research. There are many different ways of thinking about human behavior. There are so many different psychology perspectives. Each one has its own strengths and weaknesses, and brings different perspectives to our understanding of human behavior. There are five major perspectives...
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...Psychology is the science of behavior and mental processes. The field of psychology is so diverse and always evolving. Due to its expanding nature, there is not on theory that can truly explain or answer all questions that are associated with psychology. Psychology is and has always been defined by its diversity. The unique diversity of psychology allows psychologists to elaborate and expand on the areas of diagnosis, explanation and assessment of the discipline. The diverse nature of psychology is evident in its 54 divisions of the American Psychological Association (APA), each addressing a different perspective of psychology and a unique aspect of human interaction (Plante, 2011). Psychology permeates and has a broad implication for human interaction as well as for the sciences and other disciplines. The psychological science, through its diverse distinctions and studies a variety of perceptions and perspectives, serving and honoring the individuality of the human experience (Shiraev & Levy, 2010). Psychological diversity influences the major concepts and contributes to a unique perspective of human behavior. Behavioral genetics is the field of study that examines the role of genetics in human and animal behavior. It is often associated with the “nature versus nurture” debate. “Nature versus nurture” concerns the relative importance of an individual’s innate qualities, versus personal experiences in determining differences in physical and behavioral traits. Behavioral...
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...Foundations of Psychology Camille Sere' PSY/300 September 25, 2012 Shari Tumlin Foundations of Psychology In this paper I will identify and discuss the major school of thought in psychology and their underlying assumptions. I will also identify the primary foundations of psychology linked to behavior. After reading this it is my hope for readers to have a better understanding of these points. There are four schools of thought or perspectives that I am going to discuss. These are the psychodynamic perspective, behaviorist perspective, the cognitive perspective, and the evolutionary perspective. According to the text book Psychology, Sixth Edition, perspectives are broad ways of understanding psychological phenomena, including theoretical propositions, shared metaphors and accepted methods of observation. The first perspective or school of thought I am going to discuss is the psychodynamic perspective. According to the book the psychodynamic perspective rests on three key premises, the first being that people’s actions are determined by the way thoughts, wishes, and feelings are connected in their minds. Next, many of our mental events occur outside of conscious awareness. Third, our mental processes may conflict with one another, causing people to compromise among competing motives. This means that people most likely do not precisely know the chain of psychological events that leads to their conscious thoughts, intentions, feelings, or behaviors. In the...
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...The Diverse Nature of Psychology Dawn Morris PSY/490 December 16, 2013 Cassandra Ferreira The Diverse Nature of Psychology Psychology itself attempts to define people’s behavior through aspects of the human minds ability to process information and stimulants. The diversity of psychology is very evident within the many different branches of the American Psychological Association, each addressing a unique perspective within psychology of understanding human behavior (Plante, 2011). This diversity within psychology, allows psychologists the ability to expand in all areas of explanation, assessment, and diagnoses, which furthers the science of psychology through many different subfield specialties. This paper will discuss the subfields of psychology, the importance of diversity, and the practical applications of psychological principles. The Impact of Diversity in Psychology Each of the major concepts within psychology emphasizes different parts of human behavior, such as the cognitive, social, spiritual, and unconscious factors, which contribute to a person’s behavior. One main defining feature of psychology is that it is a data based scientific study of behavior, in which each step of research used to procure knowledge has contributed to advancements in the development of sound theories within psychology. Three important features related to the science of psychology include the use of systematic empiricism, the production of public awareness, and...
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...The Diverse Nature of Psychology Paper Kristina Gonzalez August 01, 2013 Darin Browser-Anderson Psy/490 Diverse Nature of Psychology Fifty four divisions in the American Psychological Association are distinct within the diverse nature of psychology. Each division deals with a different appearance of human interactions and with a different outlook of psychology (Plante, 2011). Assumptions within psychology spread through human interactions along with sciences and additional disciplines. Through psychological science diverse analyzes and supports an assortment of perceptions and perspectives, recognizing and serving the character of human experience (Plante, 2011). Major concepts are influenced by psychological diversity and a different perspective is contributed to an individual’s behavior. Considering extended and diverse nature the complete psychology has a larger ability to enclose humanity’s complex (Plante, 2011). Diversity Influence on Psychology Major Concepts The cognitive behavioral, psychodynamic, humanistic and perspectives, varied perceptions of human behavior, each offers an absolute theory on human nature, or a unfamiliar solution to a psychological challenge (Landrum, 2010). Different appearances of human behavior are maintained by each major concept, such as spiritual, unconscious factors, social, and cognitive. The diverse natures of reasonable thought between the human populations are reflected by the assortment...
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...Foundations of Psychology This paper will identify the major schools of thought in psychology and examine their major assumptions. The two beginning schools of thought were structuralism and functionalism. The major schools of thought in psychology are the psychodynamic, behaviorist, cognitive, and evolutionary perspective. This paper will also identify the primary biological foundation of psychology linked to behavior. These primary biological foundations are the central nervous system and the behavioral genetics. Psychodynamic Perspective The Psychodynamic perspective is a school of thought that was initially developed by Sigmund Freud. This perspective focuses on three main points. The first point is that an individual’s actions are determined by the way thoughts and emotions are connected in the individuals mind. The second point is that most of the mental events happen outside of conscious awareness. The third point is that the mental events that happen tend to conflict with each other. Many psychologists disagree with this theory because there is nothing that relates scientifically. The psychologists that agree with this theory are working on incorporating the concepts into scientific psychology (Kowalski & Weston, 2011). Behaviorist Perspective The behaviorist perspective focuses on what is common between the environmental events and the actual observable behaviors. “According to behaviorist, scientific knowledge comes from using experimental methods to study...
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