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Psychological Perspectives Evaluation

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Submitted By hasina1997
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In this essay I will be assessing the different psychological perspective to study. In order to do this will be looking at the strengths and weaknesses of the Behaviourist Perspective, Psychodynamic approach and the Cognitive Perspective

Firstly the Behaviourist Perspective has a number of strengths including the fact that it can successfully be applied to classical and operant conditioning to its theories. Systematic desensitisation is based on classical conditioning to treat phobias. Another strength is that it uses scientific methods of research. This is particularly strength because the experiments are objective, measureable and observable. On the other hand this perspective comes with its weaknesses, including the approach focuses heavily on the nurture side of the nature/nurture debate. It suggests that all behaviour is learned but cognitive and biological elements have been proved to affect behaviour. The Behaviourist perspective also arises some ethical issues such as using animals in their experiments. This is because animals cannot give consent to take part and wasn’t able to withdraw.

The psychodynamic approach strengths is that they focused on the effects of childhood experiences have on the developing personality. This is strength because Freud was the first psychologist to realise the importance of childhood. This led other psychologist including Piaget to develop theories on childhood. Another strength is that it takes nature and nurture into account. This is important because it emphasises the importance of both.
A weakness of the psychodynamic approach is that it is deterministic. This is considered a weakness because it suggests that behaviour is pre-determined and people do not have free will. This is shown in the psychosexual stages.

The cognitive perspective looks through processes, which are ignored by other psychologist,

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