PSYCHOLOGY 1010: Online chap 1: outline. CHAPTER 1:Introduction to Psychology A.
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PSYCHOLOGY 1010: Online chap 1: outline. CHAPTER 1:Introduction to Psychology A. INTRODUCTION: 1. Definition of Psychology 2. History and Background of Psychology 3. Three Early Psychologies: Structuralism, Functionalism, Psychoanalysis. B. CONTEMERORY PSYCHOLOGY 1. The Biological Perspective. 2. The Behavioral Perspective. 3. The Cognitive Perspective. 4. The Sociocultural Perspective. 5. The Psychodynamic Perspective. Assignment 1: Q.1. Elaborate and explain each of the contemperory perspectives of psychologyExplanation / Answer
Psychology is the science of human and animal behavior. Different schools of thought (like structuralism, functionalism, psychoanalysis, behaviorism and humanism) helped in understanding the field of psychology in the initial stages of its development. It is important to note that from early 1960s, the field of psychology is being nurtured and developed via research and investigations to include a variety of novel topics and perspectives. From classical, psychology has become modern, involving new perspectives. Some of the contemporary perspectives of psychology are the Biological Perspective, Behavioral Perspective, Cognitive Perspective, Sociocultural and Psychodynamic Perspective. These perspectives are described below:-
The biological perspective focuses on physiological underpinnings of behavior. This area of psychology deals with the study of nervous system, genetics, brain, immune system and endocrine systems in relation to specific behavioral patterns. This perspective throws light on the fact that human physiology can explain and influence behavior and personality. The study of human physiology can identify the root causes of behavioral malfunctioning and personality disorders.
The behavioral perspective throws light on learned behaviors. This perspective keeps one's internal state in the dark and only focuses on observable behaviors. It deals with how behaviors are learned and reinforced. The area is concerned with external environmental stimuli as the determinants of behavior. The perspective focuses on the fact that a person can be trained to behave in a given way. Thus, the perspective reduces the importance of free will. Behavioral psychologists consider that learning is possible via reinforcements and punishment.
Nurtured by psychologists like Jean Piaget and Albert Bandura, the key elements of the developing cognitive perspective are mental processes like memory, thinking, problem-solving, language and decision-making. This perspective has forwarded an information-processing model and compares the human mind to a computer so as to develop a framework regarding how information is grasped, processed, stored and utilized by an individual. Thus, this perspective treats people like machines, devoid of free will. It considers that behavior is influenced by one's expectations and emotions.
The sociocultural perspective focuses on the impact of cultural differences on behavior. One's culture has the capacity to infulence thought, feelings and actions. Socio-cultural psychologists focus on how ethnocentrism (that is, a tendency to judge other cultures, by using one's own culture as a standard) affects actions, thoughts and feelings as well as communication with individuals belonging to other cultures.
Developed from the findings of the father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, the psychodynamic perspective focuses on the unconscious mind, early childhood experiences and interpersonal relationships to know the underlying or root causes of behavior, which can thereby help in treating clients with psychological disorders. This area of psychology is concerned with unconscious drives and experiences to explain behavior.
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