1. Contemporary Psychological Perspectives

2. Psychological Perspectives
Method of classifying a collection of ideas
Also called “schools of thought”
Also called “psychological approaches”
To view behavior from a particular perspective

3. Perspectives Perspective is a way of viewing phenomena
Psychology has multiple perspectives
Biological
Psychodynamic
Behavioral
Humanistic
Cognitive
Cross Cultural
Evolutionary

4. Cognitive Perspective
Focus: On how people think and process information
Behavior is explained by how a person interprets the situation
How is knowledge acquired, organized, remembered, and used to guide behavior?
Influences include
Piaget – studied intellectual development
Chomsky – studied language
Cybernetics – science of information processing

6. Biological Perspective
Focus: How our biological structures and substances underlie a given behavior, thought, or emotion
Behavior is explained by brain chemistry, genetics, glands, etc.
Focus may be at various levels
individual neurons
areas of the brain
specific functions like eating, emotion, or learning
Interest in behavior distinguishes biological psychology from many other biological sciences

8. Social-Cultural Perspective
Focus: How thinking and behavior change depending on the setting or situation
Behavior is explained by the influence of other people present

9. Cross-Cultural Perspective
The study of psychological differences among people living in different cultural groups
How are people’s thoughts, feelings and behavior influenced by their culture?
What are the common elements across culture? Are these innate?
Keywords: cultural psychology

11. Behavioral Perspective
Focus: How we learn through rewards, punishments, and observation
View of behavior based on experience or learning
Classical conditioning - Pavlov
Operant conditioning – Skinner
Founded by James Watson

13. Humanistic Perspective
Focus: How healthy people strive to reach their full potential
Behavior is explained as being motivated by satisfying needs (safety, hunger, thirst, etc.), with the goal of reaching one’s full potential once basic needs are met.
Developed by Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers
behavior reflects innate ‘actualization’
focus on conscious forces and self perception
more positive view of basic forces than Freud’s

15. Psychodynamic Perspective
Focus: How behavior is affected by unconscious drives and conflicts
Behavior is explained through unconscious motivation and unresolved inner conflicts from one’s childhood.
Modern version of psychoanalytic perspective (Sigmund Freud)

16. Psychodynamic Perspective
View of behavior is based on experience treating patients
Psychoanalytic approach (Sigmund Freud)
both a method of treatment and a theory of the mind
behavior reflects combinations of conscious and unconscious influences
drives and urges within the unconscious component of mind influence thought and behavior
early childhood experiences shape unconscious motivations
Keywords: psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud

18. Perspectives Timeline

19. Psychology’s Horizon

20. Behavior Genetics
Focus: How behavior is affected by genes and the environment
Combines biology and behaviorism
Emphasis on the importance of both genetic and environmental factors on behavior

21. Evolutionary Psychology
Influenced by Darwin and the emphasis on innate, adaptive behavior patterns
Combines aspects of biological, psychological, and social perspectives
Behavior is explained by how the behavior may have helped our ancestors survive long enough to reproduce successfully.

22. Positive Psychology
Focus: To study and promote optimal human functioning
Martin E.P. Seligman is a major advocate
Should promote building positive qualities of people rather than focus on what’s wrong with people

23. Review
MSOffice clip art

25. Evolutionary perspective
Psychology should study how behavior and mental processes allow organisms to adapt to their environments
School/Approach
Evolutionary perspective
Founder
Charles Darwin

26. School/Approach Humanistic Founder Maslow
Psychology should emphasize people’s unique potential for psychological growth
School/Approach
Humanistic
Founder
Maslow

27. School/Approach Behaviorism Founder Watson/Skinner
Psychology should only study observable behavior
School/Approach
Behaviorism
Founder
Watson/Skinner