...Week One Psychology Theories Comparison and Contrast SSCI206-1205B-32: Aspects of Psychology Brittany Shalice Herrig Abstract The purpose of this paper is to define, compare and contrast three perspectives of psychology. In detail this paper will define and examine the theories of; behaviorism, psychodynamic, and cognitive. This paper will include a description of each perspective and provide an example for each. Included in this paper will be a comparison of the three perspectives. This paper will conclude with an example of how each perspective influences psychology today. Psychology Theories Psychology is the word that is used to define the science of mind and behavior. The word psychology is derived from the Greek word psyche, which means “breathe, spirit, soul” and the Greek word logia, which means the study of something (Nordqvist, 2009). By derivative definition psychology is the study of every aspect of human function and behavior. The human being is extremely complex, evolutionary individual, and new discoveries regarding human development are discovered often. Because of constant stream of new discoveries regarding human psyche, there are many different perspectives that when combined in an eclectic manner provide a unique insight into what makes us, as human beings, so special. The behaviorist perspective is an approach in psychology that proposes that learning comes from either rewards or punishment in association with specific behaviors (Editorial...
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...Theories of Psychology Unit 1 Individual Project Theories of Psychology What is Psychology? Psychology is science that studies the mind, mental & emotional problems and behavior problems (Editorial Board). Psychology has evolved since its beginning and there are several perspectives (theories) of psychology which include: Behaviorism, Cognitive, Culture and Diversity, Evolutionary, Functionalism, Gestalt, Humanistic, Physiological, Psychodynamic, and Structuralism (Editorial Board). Throughout his paper I will discuss and compare three of these theories which are: Behaviorism, Structuralism and Functionalism. Behaviorism was founded by a man named Ivan Pavlov who was a psychologist that was researching dogs digestion (Editorial Board). Through his research he was able to prove that learning results from rewards or punishment that are associated with a specific behavior his theory was called the behaviorist approach (Editorial Board). John B. Watson and B.F. Skinner continued to research the behaviorist approach in shaping behavior. It is based on the belief that individuals behaviors can be measured, trained and changed (Cherry). In simple terms the Behaviorism theory believes that all behaviors are learned. To be more specific Behaviorism is a theory of learning that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning. Conditioning occurs through interaction with the environment (Cherry). There are two major types of conditioning: Classic Conditioning and Operant...
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...Theories in Psychology Unit One Individual Project SSCI206-1204A-13 August 25, 2012 Abstract This essay will analyze main theories of psychology in today’s world. Each generation develops a technique that makes diagnosis of a patient easier. The following essay will focus on three of the key theories used today. References will follow the body of the essay to back up any information used from a source. Theories in Psychology Emily Dickenson once said, “The brain is wider than the sky." In today’s society with technology thriving and medical advancements around every corner, the sky is the limit where psychology is concern. There are new theories being proved true on a daily basis. The following text will have three of the many theories proved to be true over the centuries before us. Psychodynamic Theory Psychodynamic is defined as an interaction between conscious and unconscious mental states. This will affect the personality, attitude and behavior patterns in a person (Definition of Psychodynamic, 2000). In recent studies, the military psychologists have been using this theory on PTSD patients just coming home from war. This theory and its techniques are implemented over several sessions and the patient is evaluated over time to see how effective the treatment plan has worked (Tull, M., Ph.D., 2012, January 29). The process of psychodynamic therapy can often be stressful on the patient but with the right doctor, those stressful feelings can be redirected to a better...
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...While a few different schools of thought dominated the early years of psychology, the number of topics studied by psychologists has grown dramatically since the early 1960s. Today, few psychologists identify their outlook according to a particular school of thought. While you may still find some pure behaviorists or psychoanalysts, the majority of psychologists instead categorize their work according to their specialty area and perspective. Every topic in psychology can be looked at in a number of different ways. For example, let’s consider the subject of aggression. Someone who emphasizes a biological perspective would look at the how the brain and nervous system impact aggressive behavior. A professional who stresses a behavioral perspective would look at how environmental variables reinforce aggressive actions. Another psychologist who utilizes a cross-cultural approach might consider how cultural and social influences contribute to aggressive or violent behaviors. The following are just a few of the major perspectives in modern psychology. The Biological Perspective The study of physiology played a major role in the development of psychology as a separate science. Today, this perspective is known as biological psychology. Sometimes referred to as biopsychology or physiological psychology, this perspective emphasizes the physical and biological bases of behavior. This perspective has grown significantly over the last few decades, especially with advances in our...
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...THE PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORY This theory was proposed by Sigmund Freud which he believed that a child passes five major stages in which the pleasure‐seeking energies of the ‘id’ become focused on certain erogenous areas. These stages are the oral, anal, phallic, latency and genital. If psychosexual stages are completed successfully, the result is a healthy behavior or personality. If certain issues are not resolved at the appropriate stage, fixation occurs. Fixation is the tendency to stay at a particular if not properly satisfied on its appropriate period. PSYCHOSOCIAL THEORY This theory was proposed by Erick Erickson. His theory states that human’s lifespan undergo the Eight (8) Stages of major crises or conflict. This theory describes the impact of social experience of a person across the whole lifespan. He believed that human beings are rational creatures whose thoughts, feelings and actions are largely controlled by the ego. Individuals must first understand the realities of the social world in order to adapt successfully. The Eight Stages across the human’s lifespan are as follows: a. Basic Trust vs. Mistrust – from 0 to 1 year old or the Infancy Stage b. Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt – from 1 to 3 years old or the Early Childhood Stage c. Initiative vs. Guilt – from 3 to 6 years old or the Middle Childhood Stage d. Industry vs. Inferiority – from 6 to 12 years old or the Late Childhood Stage ...
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...Guide to Writing a Basic Essay Write the Body Paragraphs In the body of the essay, all the preparation up to this point comes to fruition. The topic you have chosen must now be explained, described, or argued. Each main idea that you wrote down in your diagram or outline will become one of the body paragraphs. If you had three or four main ideas, you will have three or four body paragraphs. Each body paragraph will have the same basic structure. Start by writing down one of your main ideas, in sentence form. If your main idea is "reduces freeway congestion," you might say this: Public transportation reduces freeway congestion. Next, write down each of your supporting points for that main idea, but leave four or five lines in between each point. In the space under each point, write down some elaboration for that point. Elaboration can be further description or explanation or discussion. Supporting Point Commuters appreciate the cost savings of taking public transportation rather than driving. Elaboration Less driving time means less maintenance expense, such as oil changes. Of course, less driving time means savings on gasoline as well. In many cases, these savings amount to more than the cost of riding public transportation. If you wish, include a summary sentence for each paragraph. This is not generally needed, however, and such sentences have a tendency to sound stilted,...
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...mental processes. The primary tenet of this school of thought is that behaviour is a response to a stimulus determined by a previous experience of similar events or stimuli. A useful link: http://www.psychlotron.org.uk/newResources/approaches/AS_AQB_approaches_BehaviourismBasics.pdf Cybernetics Cybernetics is a transdisciplinary approach to exploring regulatory feedback systems, their structures, constraints and possibilities. What I gain from this theory is the idea of feedback and reciprocal effects. I have come to perceive the mind as being interconnected with the environment in a 2-way system, each and responding to the other Cognitivism In contradiction to Behaviouralists, Cognitivists are primarily concerned with thinking and brain function in order to explain behaviour. Behaviorists acknowledged the existence of thinking, but identified it as a behavior. Cognitivists argued that the way people think impacts their behavior and therefore cannot be a behavior in and of itself. Constructivism This theory suggests that that human knowledge is actively constructed. It stemmed from a critique of the “associationist” approach, which postulates that the mind is a passive receiver of information from its environment that, through knowing, produces a copy in the act of knowing, it is the human mind that actively gives meaning and order to that reality to which it is responding” Embodied Cognition Embodied mind theorists believe that just as the mind influences...
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...In the book Theories of Development Psychology, chapter 2 reflects on Piaget’s Cognitive-Stage Theory and the Neo-Piagetian. Where it is discussed the Stage Approach that Piaget claims to be the cognitive development that proceeds from different stages. Piaget believed that a stage is a period of time where the child is experiencing the thinking process and behavior to situations under a mental structure that develops between an age group that will categorize their stage. On the other hand, chapter 5 discusses the Social Learning Theory where it concentrates on the observational learning that models of an environment where it focuses on the socialization that the society attempts to teach children the way they need to behave as adults. In which...
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...Learning theories has been a subject of great interest in psychology ,this makes it fundamental to teaching and learning.The essay will assess contributions of educational psychology with reference to learning theories in teaching and learning .Key terms will be discussed in the next paragraph .The conclusion shall synthesize learning theories and the contribution of educational psychology and their educational implications . https://en.m.wikipedia.org / learning theories are conceptual frameworks describing how information is absorbed, processed and retained during learning .That is learning theories helps to predict and explain relationship between learning conditions and the learning outcomes. Zindi,Peresuh and Mpofu,(1997) says “educational psychology is knowledge gained from psychology and applied to activities of the classroom.” Santrock (2011) deals with human behavior and its application in education .According to the above two definitions educational psychology refers to the provision to the teachers with theories which help them to be flexible and adaptable to different situations which can happen in the teaching and learning at primary and secondary level. Educational psychology contributes a lot in the teaching and learning. It helps the teacher in selecting materials suitable for learners and suitable teaching methodologies. When the teacher is well versed with theories, he or she find how to explain, describe and control behavior. In the classroom, when the teacher...
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...Discussion on how theory and research in health psychology has been helpful or unhelpful in addressing human problems. Areas important in health psychology involve studies of behaviour which courses illness and also a way to try motivate individuals to leave healthy with the influence from hospitals and care professionals in the society. ‘Health psychology is the aggregate of the specific educational, scientific and professional contribution of the discipline of psychology to the promotion and maintenance of health, the prevention and treatment of illnesses’ Matarazzo (1980). As health psychology is widely related to health the definition of healthy is by the World Health Organization (WHO) 1948 saying that health is ‘the state of complete physical, social and spiritual well-being, not simply the absences of illnesses’. As psychology is the science of behaviour and change; psychologists have helped to influence change in people’s life. As health psychology is interested mainly in health and health maintenance rather than on diseases and disease prevention. It was found in the 1970s when many countries (western) began to suffer from diseases and death in result to declining expenditures, to resolve the situation health promotion strategies were introduced. As there are many factors that courses diseases for example smoking which leads to diseases like cardiovascular disease, to investigate the relationship between health behaviours, health and disease outcomes studies would...
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...To what extent does biological psychology contribute to our understanding of human emotion? This essay will briefly consider some definitions and early theories of emotion. It will evaluate evidence from studies which suggests that biological psychology makes a major contribution to our understanding of human emotion. It will, however, acknowledge that there are limitations to the biological aspect of emotion, and that interaction with other areas of psychology including evolutionary, developmental, cognitive and social must also be considered. Finally, it will include ways in which this knowledge can be applied. Watson (1924, cited in Plutchik 1994, p 3) suggests ‘An emotion is a hereditary pattern-reaction involving profound changes of the bodily mechanisms….’ McLean (1963, cited in Plutchik 1994, p3) suggests ‘Emotional feelings guide our behaviour with respect to the two basic life principles of self-preservation and the preservation of the species.’ Arguably, these definitions allude to evolutionary nature and innateness of emotion, but the former refers also to physiological changes. Plutchik (1994) highlights some confusion over what qualifies as an emotion, and suggests that emotions are goal orientated: - emotion fear – goal escape. Lewis, Sullivan, Stanger and Weiss (1989, cited in Slater & Muir, 1999) distinguish between the primary emotions of joy, fear, anger, sadness, disgust and surprise, found in babies, and the secondary emotions of embarrassment...
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...Environmental Psychology Environmental psychology is a discipline or field of psychology dealing with conservation and health psychologies. There are many theoretical approaches to environmental psychology. Several of these theories also tie into individual psychology as well. Two of the theories that connect both these psychologies are the alderian theory and Barker’s theory of under population. Research is very important to both the theories and environmental psychology as a field. Research and the lack of visible results was one of the reasons this field was born from the conservationist field of psychology. Environmental Psychology Environmental psychology examines the interrelationship between environments and human behavior and in this field the term environment is defined very broadly to include all that is natural on the planet as well as social settings, built environments, learning environments and informational environments (Young, 1999). From the beginning, environmental psychology has included researchers concerned with the health of the environment, and a great deal of research relevant to conservation psychology has been done by environmental psychologists (Clayton & Myers, 2009). Environmental psychologies roots come from late 1960s studies and research of other fields, although its exact origin is somewhat unknown (Clayton & Myers, 2009). There are many theories about this particular field of study – environmental psychology. Theories of Environmental...
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...Dispositional, Biological, and Evolutionary Psychology University of Phoenix Dispositional, Biological, and Evolutionary Psychology Personality theory has come a long way since its beginning in psychology. Many theorists have based their work on theorists before them, but made changes that indicate that the characteristics of the individual affects the ideas behind their work (Feist, Feist, & Roberts, 2013). Comparing dispositional, biological, and evolutionary theories indicates the similarities and differences between the theories; as well as their strengths and weaknesses. The use of these theories has led to research and tests, such as the big five test, that help indicate personality characteristics of individuals (Feist, et al. 2013). Comparison Dispositional personality theory identifies types and traits of characteristics to help determine personality (Feist, Feist, & Roberts, 2010). It then attributes behavior to these characteristics (Westmont.edu, 2002). Many previous theorists had looked at subconscious thoughts as motivation for human personality and behavior. Dispositional theory does not dismiss the sub-conscious, but focuses on the individual and conscious thought as the center of personality (Westmont.edu, 2002). It centers on humans having free will to determine their future (Fesit et al, 2013). Biological psychology theories are based on what many others theorists denied, that is, that personality and behavior are affected by biology (Feist...
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...fascination with themselves and each other has led to various theories. Most important the fascination with human nature has led to the development of the science of psychology. Psychology’s answer to man’s fascination and wondering has come about through the roots in other discipline; disciplines such as philosophy, biology, and physiology. This led to a science that aims to describe and explain how human thinks, how human feel, and how human acts. Psychology is the scientific study of human behavior and mental processes. The science of psychology has a history that goes back to ancient past. Back to the time of Plato and Aristotle but began to flourish and take shape in the 1600’s. For one to have an appreciation for this science he or she must consider the root and various perspectives of psychology. Modern psychology has come a long way since Rene Descartes and john Locke in the 16th century. The science of psychology began to flourish in the 1600’s with philosophers Descartes and Locke contributing significant theories on human behavior, impacting the rise of modern psychology. “As a science psychology evaluates competing ideas with careful observations and vigorous analysis” (Myers, 2007. p. 2). Rene Descartes was a French philosopher and mathematician who became influential and well-known in the field of psychology. He is the father of the mind-body interaction also known as the dualism theory. According to the dualism theory the mind and body are separate entities working together...
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...Foundations of Psychology Foundations of Psychology Psychology is an advanced study of human behavior, involving the mind and science. The ultimate goal is to understand humanity; however, many proposals have been rejected while some agreed upon. Psychology has not been an easy subject to understand fully or comprehend. Debates started when psychology established a subject different than biology or philosophy. The debate was to properly explain human behavior and the human mind. Many theories began to emerge, while others questioned the reliability and sources of the theorist. Many schools of thought have been created to teach and establish an understanding of the concepts involved (Psychology, 2003). Major Schools of Thought in Psychology Structuralism is the first school of thought created that is the most general. The concept is to break down the mental processes into the most basic concepts. Next functionalism was created from the concept of structuralism; it was formed to create a reaction to structuralism. Behaviorism was the next concept created in the 1950s. Behaviorism was based upon the environment and how the external environment has power over internal sources. Behaviorism is also constructed of observable behavior, the theories involved included classical conditioning and operant condition. Sigmund Freud founded psychoanalysis, which is the psychodynamic theory that addresses the influence of the unconscious mind on behavior. Freud believed that...
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