1. Contemporary Psychological Perspectives

2. Psychological Perspectives Each perspective explains the same behavior in a different way Also called “schools of thought” Also called “psychological approaches”

3. Perspectives Psychology has multiple perspectives –Biological –Psychodynamic –Behavioral/ Learning –Humanistic –Cognitive –Socio-Cultural –Evolutionary

4. Biological Perspective DEFINITION & KEY IDEAS: Attempts to explain the ways that the physical body influences one’s behavior. MAJOR TOPICS OF STUDY: Nervous System, Hormones, Brain Chemistry, Heredity, Evolutionary Influences SAMPLE FINDINGS OF VIOLENCE: Brain damage caused by birth complications or child abuse might incline people towards violence. Violence is a result of a chemical imbalance in the brain.

6. Cognitive Perspective DEFINITION & KEY IDEAS: Attempts to analyze how thoughts influence one’s behavior. Behavior is explained by how a person interprets the situation MAJOR TOPICS OF STUDY: Thinking, Memory, Language, Problem Solving, Perceptions SAMPLE FINDINGS OF VIOLENCE: Violent people are often quick to perceive others’ actions as an insult or provocative.

8. Humanistic Perspective DEFINITION & KEY IDEAS: Personal experiences are most important. Teaching awareness of one’s self, experiences and choices can help someone reach their potential as a person. MAJOR TOPICS OF STUDY: Reaching One’s Potential as a Person. SAMPLE FINDINGS OF VIOLENCE: Violent people at times choose poorly and need to be taught how to make better decisions.

10. Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic Perspective DEFINITION & KEY IDEAS: Attempts to explain how the unconscious mind influences human behavior. MAJOR TOPICS OF STUDY: Unconscious Thoughts, Desires, Conflicts, Dreams SAMPLE FINDINGS OF VIOLENCE: Violence may be the result of unconscious conflicts about one’s parents or sexuality.

12. Learning/Behavioral Perspective DEFINITION & KEY IDEAS: Examines how the environment influences observable behavior. MAJOR TOPICS OF STUDY: Environment and Experience, Habitual Behavior, Observational Learning, Reinforcement SAMPLE FINDINGS OF VIOLENCE: Violence increase when it pays off (there is a reward). Violent Role Models can influence some children to behave aggressively.

14. Social-Cultural Perspective DEFINITION & KEY IDEAS: Examines how society, gender, culture and socioeconomic status influence human behavior and mental processes. MAJOR TOPICS OF STUDY: Social Rules, & Roles, Groups, Relationships. Cultural Norms, Gender, Socioeconomic Status, Values, and Expectations. SAMPLE FINDINGS OF VIOLENCE: People are often more aggressive in a crowd than they would be on their own. The TV culture of today promotes violence as a good thing.

16. Perspectives Timeline