Psychological Perspectives

Different Perspectives 9 Different Perspectives or viewpoints characterize modern psychology. Each viewpoint sees psychology in a slightly different way.

Biological Perspective Emphasizes how our physical makeup and the operation of our brains influence our personality, preferences, behaviors, and abilities Study nervous system, glands and hormones, genetic factors, and heredity in attempt to understand the causes of behavior.

Variations of the Biological Perspective Neuroscience – The enterprise of biological psychology, coupled with biology, neurology, and other disciplines interested in the brain processes. Evolutionary Psychology – Suggests that Human traits arise from hereditary characteristics established in our remote ancestral past. Genetic makeup (both the good and bad) shed by the conditions our ancestors faced thousands of years ago.

The Developmental Perspective Change is a constant part of human life. Developmental Perspective – States that psychological change results from an interactions between the heredity programmed in our genes and the experiences presented by our environment. Nature vs. Nurture Studies how we change throughout the course of our lives.

Cognitive Perspective Emphasizes that our actions are profoundly influenced by the way we process information from our environment. Thoughts and actions arise from the way we interpret our experiences. Study all sorts of mental processes. Thoughts, expectations, perceptions, memories, and states of consciousness.

Psychodynamic Perspective Stresses that we are motivated primarily by the irrational desires generated in our unconscious minds. Study unconscious processes, early childhood experiences and their impact on behavior. Psychoanalysis

Humanistic Perspective Stresses that our actions are hugely influenced by our self concept and by our need for personal growth and fulfillment. Free will. Study subjective experiences.

Behavioral / Learning Perspective Emphasizes that rewards and punishments shape how we act. Looks for causes of behavior in the environment rather than in the mind. Study environmental influences, habitual behavior, observational learning.

Sociocultural Perspective Emphasizes the effects of ethnicity, gender, culture, and socio-economic status on behavior. Makes the idea of social influence the focus of psychology. Study ethnicity, gender, culture, and socioeconomic status.

The Evolutionary/Sociobiological Perspective Looks at behavior as both adaptive and hereditary. Applies the evolutionary theories of Charles Darwin to individual behavior. Looks at genetics not as the key to what makes people different, but as the means by which we have evolved.

The Trait View Traits – Long-lasting personality characteristics. Example – Introversion and Extroversion Trait View – Psychological perspective that views behavior and personality as the products of enduring psychological characteristics.