Behavioral and Psychodynamic Psychology in the Treatment of Addictions

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Assignment One - Introduction to Psychology

With 2,405,518,376 (World Statistics, 2014) users around the world there is no doubt that some users are bound to develop addiction. “Internet addiction is when a person has a compulsive need to spend a great deal of time on the Internet, to the point where other areas of life (such as relationships, work or health) are allowed to suffer.” (Better Health Channel, 2011). With this scientists around the world are fighting to beat these addictions. Two theoretical perspectives that play heavily into the treatment process are Behavioural and Psychodynamic psychology. “Behavioural psychology is a branch of psychology that focuses on observable behaviours. Conditioning, reinforcement and punishment are key concepts used by behaviourists. Learn more about classical conditioning and operant conditioning as well as some of the major behaviourist thinkers,” (About, 2014). Where as, “The basis of the psychodynamic perspective is to understand what is going on in the mind of an individual or "to get in the head" of a patient to see what is going on in the unconscious part of the mind. This will provide insight into how the patient views his relationships, experiences, and the world and how that affects his preferences, behaviours, and drives, and therefore personality,” (Your Dictionary, 2014).

A well known theoretical perspective of psychology, Behaviorism was developed into it modern state with the extensive research conducted by John Watson. Watson’s exploration lead to the notion that behaviours can be “measured, trained and changed”(Cherry, 2014)

"Give me a dozen healthy infants, well-formed, and my own specified

world to bring them up in and I'll guarantee to take any one at rand...

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...cus in Significant Sessions of Master Therapists: A Comparison of Cognitive-Behavioral and PsychodynamicInterpersonal Interventions. Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 66 (5).

KIMBERLY S. YOUNG, Psy.D, (1998). Internet Addiction: The Emergence of a New Clinical Disorder. CyberPsychology & Behavior. 1 (3).

Joanna Saisan, M.S.W., Melinda Smith, M.A., Lawrence Robinson, and Jeanne Segal, Ph.D (2013). Internet & Computer Addiction Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.helpguide.org/mental/internet_cybersex_addiction.htm.

Victorian State Government (2011). Internet Addiction. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Internet_addiction?open.

Kendra Cherry (2014). What Is Behaviorism?. [ONLINE] Available at: http://psychology.about.com/od/behavioralpsychology/f/behaviorism.htm.

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