Psychological Perspectives
PSY 103 Tele Course
Psychology is defined as the science that studies behavior and mental processes. Although psychology is explained in one simple definition, there are six different influential perspectives which psychologists may choose to use to study behavior.
Each of the six perspectives tend to concentrate on different areas of study as well as deal with each case study in different ways. The six perspectives are, biological, humanistic-existential, psychodynamic, learning, and socioculture.
Psychologists that use the biological perspective as their basis for understanding how and why we think or act the way that we do, highly concentrate on the links between the brain, it's biological functions and how these functions relate to our mental processes. Through use of CAT (Computerized axial tomography) and PET (Positron emission tomography) scans, corabined with electronic stimulation, psychologists are able to see how the brain behaves when dealing with emotions and thoughts. These tests also enable psychologists to see the brain activity of a person with mental disorders differs from that of normal brain activity. The biological perspective also deals with the different types of chemicals and hormones that are released by the brain and how they influence behavior. For instance, psychologists have learned that when the hormone prolactin is produced it stimulates milk production in women, but in laboratory rats, this hormone stimulated maternal behavior. So not only does the hormone affect physical changes or characteristics but it can also affect or create certain types of behavior. Another area that psychologists which use the biological perspective study, is genes. Psychologists try to find the connection between genes and how certain traits are passed on. Some examples may be mental disorders or levels of intelligence, they have even tried to find a link for addictions to narcotics or alcohol.
A psychologist who uses the biological perspective would say that there are two reasons why aggressive behavior may occur. One is, it could be the reaction of a hormone that is released when a certain situation arises and this hormone sparks this type of behavior. Or it could be a behavioral trait that was passed on through genetic structure to that person and aggressive behavior is part of their "nature". There is also the possibility that it could be a corabination of both.
Psychologists whom use the cognitive perspective believe that one must look inward and investigate the mental processes to understand how the mind works. They study how people solve problems, perceive the world, daydream and dream. The cognitive perspective is separated in to two parts, the Cognitive - Developmental Theory and Information Processing. The Swiss biologist Jean Piaget (1896 - 1980)is known for using the Cognitive Perspective to focus on how children and adults reason and view the world. Through studies Piaget and his followers stated that a child's conception becomes more refined as the child grows older. He also stated that even though experience is essential for children, their perception and understanding of the world seems to be related to a biological clock, which allows them to be able to understand certain situations at the right time. The other half of the cognitive perspective is Information Processing. This area of study relates the way that humans store and remeraber information to the way that computers store and retrieve information. Just as information has to be entered into a computer, placed into memory and then retrieved at a later date, our brains work in similar ways. We receive information as input, store it in our memory, and then retrieve at a later date when we need it. They have also stated that just as you need a password to get into a data file that was stored in the memory of a computer, there usually is some type of cue that helps us to bring back information that is stored in our memory banks.
The cognitive perspective can view aggressive behavior in two different ways. One way is that a person is exposed to this type of behavior as they were growing up and chooses to behave in this manner. They could also this as behavior which occurs when a certain cue sets off some deeply hidden memory and that created a reaction of aggressive behavior.
Carl Rogers, Rollo May, and Abraham Maslow were all psychologists that said that humans have the freedom to decide how we are going to behave and that we are in a constant battle to find the true meaning of ourselves and our existence. These ideas are all part of the Humanistic-Existential Perspective. This perspective is made up of two similar ideas. The humanism part highly concentrates on the fact that humans have the ability to make choices and that these choices are related to the human's need for self- fulfillment. It also concentrates on the fact that subjective and personal experiences are the most important part of our decision making. The existentialism part sees people as having the freedom to make their own choices and the ethical conduct that comes along with that freedom. This perspective became very popular in the 1970's as it helped people to "get in touch" with their inner self's, to better understand their feelings and what they were capable of doing. Although this type of perspective is not easily measured or able to be observed objectively, many of the psychologist which study this perspective agree that human experiences are necessary to understanding our human nature.
The humanistic - existential perspective views aggressive behavior as a choice that a person makes freely according to his or her own personal experiences. It would also say that the choice to behave aggressively could be a person's way to feel powerful and therefore be a way to achieve self-fulfillment.
Another perspective of psychology, which was very popular among psychologists in the 1940's and 50's, is the psychodynamic perspective. This perspective suggests that we have an unconscious process, which occurs, when we are confronted with certain decisions. Many renowned artists have used this perspective to try and unleash their unconscious thoughts to try and create unique, brilliant, works of art. Psychologists have said that this unconscious process also can becomes a defensive mechanism which may led us make decisions that we normally wouldn't make, and not even know why we've made that decision. Psychologists have contributed this type of unconscious defensive process to possible early childhood conflicts.
Aggressive behavior in the psychodynamic perspective could be viewed as an impulsive behavior rather than a deliberate choice. The reasoning behind this is because aggressive behavior could be the reaction to an unconscious process that relates back to a childhood trauma which more than likely the person does not even remeraber.
The learning perspective is another area of psychological study that is also broken up into two parts. Although the term learning is the main basis for psychologists to explain, predict and control behavior, the meaning of learning is different to psychologists, with different beliefs on how learning affects behavior. Both behaviorists and social - cognitive theorists believe that environmental influences, learning thorough repetition, and reinforcement are the core of this type of perspective. Yet they are separated when it comes to how these different types of learning, influence how people make choices. The behavioral perspective in relation to learning was led by a behaviorist, John B. Watson. Dr. Watson felt that when people constantly repeat the same action or decision making over and over again, it changes the way that the mind can represent a certain situation. This perspective can say that a person chooses to do certain things because of how they have learned and the outside influences and rewarRAB that come this choice, not because it was a conscious choice. The second part of the learning perspective is the social cognitive perspective, which states that individuals are able to change their environmental influences and because of this they are able make conscious choices. They also say that when people choose to learn by observing others they retain a bank full of responses to life's situations, which helps to influence their own conscious, decision making.
Aggressive behavior in the learning perspective would be explained by saying that either a person has viewed this type of reaction to a situation repetitively or that outer influences which are in their environment, created this type of behavior.
The final perspective which is mentioned, is the social-cultural perspective which states that a persons gender, ethnicity, culture, and socioeconomic status influence their decision making. Because different cultures, ethnicity groups, and social statuses have many different imaginary guidelines by which they follow, decisions are made based on these different aspects. For example a young child from a minority background may not feel that school is with worth while, one because they do not have any of their own people to observe that choose to do well in school. Or two they may feel that because they are labeled " minority " the fact of ever becoming anything more than that may be unrealistic. There is also the fact many of these children may not see any positive role models in their environment make good decisions. On the other hand a young white child from a financially well off economic background could view education and higher education as the "norm". This child could be positively influenced by other white people in their neigrabroadorhood, who are successful and who do make good decisions, this in turn could influence them to make better choices in life because they know that a better life is possible.
In the socio-perspective aggressive behavior would be viewed as behavior that is influenced or created by the differences between the different social factors such as ethnic background, culture, and economic status. Possibly children who grow up in a hostile home environment, continue this type of behavior into adult hood. Or people could choose to act aggressively because they are in a position where this type of behavior is conceived as normal because they have leaned it by learned by observing others.
The contemporary perspectives that psychologist use today are varied yet the same in so many ways. Many of the perspectives agree that behavior is as complex as a living organism that has many different influences which control it. Just as many similarities that psychologist use in order to try and decipher how the mental process works, as well as what makes people behave in certain ways, there are just as many differences. From environmental influences to genetic factors each different perspective has it's own argument as to which has the most influence on human behavior. Although there is a vast range between these similarities and differences psychologist look toward the future with hope, that soon these different perspectives will start to corabine or least learn from each other in order to further the study of our complex behavior.
PSY 103 Tele Course
Psychology is defined as the science that studies behavior and mental processes. Although psychology is explained in one simple definition, there are six different influential perspectives which psychologists may choose to use to study behavior.
Each of the six perspectives tend to concentrate on different areas of study as well as deal with each case study in different ways. The six perspectives are, biological, humanistic-existential, psychodynamic, learning, and socioculture.
Psychologists that use the biological perspective as their basis for understanding how and why we think or act the way that we do, highly concentrate on the links between the brain, it's biological functions and how these functions relate to our mental processes. Through use of CAT (Computerized axial tomography) and PET (Positron emission tomography) scans, corabined with electronic stimulation, psychologists are able to see how the brain behaves when dealing with emotions and thoughts. These tests also enable psychologists to see the brain activity of a person with mental disorders differs from that of normal brain activity. The biological perspective also deals with the different types of chemicals and hormones that are released by the brain and how they influence behavior. For instance, psychologists have learned that when the hormone prolactin is produced it stimulates milk production in women, but in laboratory rats, this hormone stimulated maternal behavior. So not only does the hormone affect physical changes or characteristics but it can also affect or create certain types of behavior. Another area that psychologists which use the biological perspective study, is genes. Psychologists try to find the connection between genes and how certain traits are passed on. Some examples may be mental disorders or levels of intelligence, they have even tried to find a link for addictions to narcotics or alcohol.
A psychologist who uses the biological perspective would say that there are two reasons why aggressive behavior may occur. One is, it could be the reaction of a hormone that is released when a certain situation arises and this hormone sparks this type of behavior. Or it could be a behavioral trait that was passed on through genetic structure to that person and aggressive behavior is part of their "nature". There is also the possibility that it could be a corabination of both.
Psychologists whom use the cognitive perspective believe that one must look inward and investigate the mental processes to understand how the mind works. They study how people solve problems, perceive the world, daydream and dream. The cognitive perspective is separated in to two parts, the Cognitive - Developmental Theory and Information Processing. The Swiss biologist Jean Piaget (1896 - 1980)is known for using the Cognitive Perspective to focus on how children and adults reason and view the world. Through studies Piaget and his followers stated that a child's conception becomes more refined as the child grows older. He also stated that even though experience is essential for children, their perception and understanding of the world seems to be related to a biological clock, which allows them to be able to understand certain situations at the right time. The other half of the cognitive perspective is Information Processing. This area of study relates the way that humans store and remeraber information to the way that computers store and retrieve information. Just as information has to be entered into a computer, placed into memory and then retrieved at a later date, our brains work in similar ways. We receive information as input, store it in our memory, and then retrieve at a later date when we need it. They have also stated that just as you need a password to get into a data file that was stored in the memory of a computer, there usually is some type of cue that helps us to bring back information that is stored in our memory banks.
The cognitive perspective can view aggressive behavior in two different ways. One way is that a person is exposed to this type of behavior as they were growing up and chooses to behave in this manner. They could also this as behavior which occurs when a certain cue sets off some deeply hidden memory and that created a reaction of aggressive behavior.
Carl Rogers, Rollo May, and Abraham Maslow were all psychologists that said that humans have the freedom to decide how we are going to behave and that we are in a constant battle to find the true meaning of ourselves and our existence. These ideas are all part of the Humanistic-Existential Perspective. This perspective is made up of two similar ideas. The humanism part highly concentrates on the fact that humans have the ability to make choices and that these choices are related to the human's need for self- fulfillment. It also concentrates on the fact that subjective and personal experiences are the most important part of our decision making. The existentialism part sees people as having the freedom to make their own choices and the ethical conduct that comes along with that freedom. This perspective became very popular in the 1970's as it helped people to "get in touch" with their inner self's, to better understand their feelings and what they were capable of doing. Although this type of perspective is not easily measured or able to be observed objectively, many of the psychologist which study this perspective agree that human experiences are necessary to understanding our human nature.
The humanistic - existential perspective views aggressive behavior as a choice that a person makes freely according to his or her own personal experiences. It would also say that the choice to behave aggressively could be a person's way to feel powerful and therefore be a way to achieve self-fulfillment.
Another perspective of psychology, which was very popular among psychologists in the 1940's and 50's, is the psychodynamic perspective. This perspective suggests that we have an unconscious process, which occurs, when we are confronted with certain decisions. Many renowned artists have used this perspective to try and unleash their unconscious thoughts to try and create unique, brilliant, works of art. Psychologists have said that this unconscious process also can becomes a defensive mechanism which may led us make decisions that we normally wouldn't make, and not even know why we've made that decision. Psychologists have contributed this type of unconscious defensive process to possible early childhood conflicts.
Aggressive behavior in the psychodynamic perspective could be viewed as an impulsive behavior rather than a deliberate choice. The reasoning behind this is because aggressive behavior could be the reaction to an unconscious process that relates back to a childhood trauma which more than likely the person does not even remeraber.
The learning perspective is another area of psychological study that is also broken up into two parts. Although the term learning is the main basis for psychologists to explain, predict and control behavior, the meaning of learning is different to psychologists, with different beliefs on how learning affects behavior. Both behaviorists and social - cognitive theorists believe that environmental influences, learning thorough repetition, and reinforcement are the core of this type of perspective. Yet they are separated when it comes to how these different types of learning, influence how people make choices. The behavioral perspective in relation to learning was led by a behaviorist, John B. Watson. Dr. Watson felt that when people constantly repeat the same action or decision making over and over again, it changes the way that the mind can represent a certain situation. This perspective can say that a person chooses to do certain things because of how they have learned and the outside influences and rewarRAB that come this choice, not because it was a conscious choice. The second part of the learning perspective is the social cognitive perspective, which states that individuals are able to change their environmental influences and because of this they are able make conscious choices. They also say that when people choose to learn by observing others they retain a bank full of responses to life's situations, which helps to influence their own conscious, decision making.
Aggressive behavior in the learning perspective would be explained by saying that either a person has viewed this type of reaction to a situation repetitively or that outer influences which are in their environment, created this type of behavior.
The final perspective which is mentioned, is the social-cultural perspective which states that a persons gender, ethnicity, culture, and socioeconomic status influence their decision making. Because different cultures, ethnicity groups, and social statuses have many different imaginary guidelines by which they follow, decisions are made based on these different aspects. For example a young child from a minority background may not feel that school is with worth while, one because they do not have any of their own people to observe that choose to do well in school. Or two they may feel that because they are labeled " minority " the fact of ever becoming anything more than that may be unrealistic. There is also the fact many of these children may not see any positive role models in their environment make good decisions. On the other hand a young white child from a financially well off economic background could view education and higher education as the "norm". This child could be positively influenced by other white people in their neigrabroadorhood, who are successful and who do make good decisions, this in turn could influence them to make better choices in life because they know that a better life is possible.
In the socio-perspective aggressive behavior would be viewed as behavior that is influenced or created by the differences between the different social factors such as ethnic background, culture, and economic status. Possibly children who grow up in a hostile home environment, continue this type of behavior into adult hood. Or people could choose to act aggressively because they are in a position where this type of behavior is conceived as normal because they have leaned it by learned by observing others.
The contemporary perspectives that psychologist use today are varied yet the same in so many ways. Many of the perspectives agree that behavior is as complex as a living organism that has many different influences which control it. Just as many similarities that psychologist use in order to try and decipher how the mental process works, as well as what makes people behave in certain ways, there are just as many differences. From environmental influences to genetic factors each different perspective has it's own argument as to which has the most influence on human behavior. Although there is a vast range between these similarities and differences psychologist look toward the future with hope, that soon these different perspectives will start to corabine or least learn from each other in order to further the study of our complex behavior.