Psychological Perspective

Introduction to Psychological Perspective:

 There are numerous different methods in psychology that involves various assumptions regarding human/animal behavior.

For every perspective, it has its own strengths and weaknesses, and brings something different to our understanding of human (animal) behavior.

It is important that psychology does have diverse perspectives to understanding and study of human and animal behavior.

Brief summary of main psychological approaches/perspectives in psychology given below.

Biological/Neuroscience Perspective

 It focuses on the biological and physical causes of human behavior. The perspective is that human behavior has a physiological base and can be determined by biological. It is said that human forms

Examples

1. In studies on stress it has been found that, in exams, boys get more stressed than girls - it was discovered that boys produced more of the stress hormone cortisol than girls.

2. One more example related to eating disorders - twin studies were carried out and it was revealed that if either of the identical twin suffered from an eating disorder then the other one would also be more likely to suffer from a disorder as well. However, this did not happen with non-identical twins, proposing that the cause is biological as there was a clear difference between non-identical and identical twins, however every look-alikes share the similar upbringing etc.

Psychodynamic Perspective

 It is stated that we all have a death instinct and aggression is the drive that allows us to satisfy it. He thought we have to please our ego, whereas still keeping our super ego happy.

 Ego – It is a part of our personality that tries to satisfy our urges.

 Superego – This is a moral part of our personality.

 The inner forces, which may stem from one’s childhood, continually influence behavior throughout the life

Examples

1. Suppose that a person develop the wrong belief that “doing well in exam is critical to my entire future” whenever you take an exam. But with cognitive therapy, you might learn to hold the further realistic and less anxiety-producing thought that, “my entire future is not dependent on this one exam.”

2. It is the study of how language is learnt, comprehended and formed. It also centers on the psychology of reading.

Behavioral Perspective

 Behaviorism psychology is the psychology that concerns with the observable behavior of humans and animals, and not with the unobservable measures that takes place in their minds.

 It focuses on learned behaviors and is still concerned with how behaviors are learned and reinforced.

Examples

1. Pretend that you fail psychology class and you become depressed. In turn, you to binge and gain weight.

What do you consider a behaviorist might do? They would perhaps ignore the fact that you are disheartened and focus on your overeating. May be he/she make you run a mile every time you eat over 2000