Contemporary Psychology

Psychodynamic Perspective

how behavior springs from unconscious drives and conflicts

Behavioral Perspective

behavior is acquired and modified through experience and environment

Humanistic Perspective

focuses on personal growth, interpersonal relationships, and self-concept

Cognitive Perspective

focuses on mental processes, memory, perception, language, problem solving and thinking

Biological Perspective

emphasizes the physical bases of human and animal behavior, including the nervous, endocrine and immune systems and genetics

Cross-Cultural Perspective

emphasizes diversity of behavior across cultures

Ethnocentrism

belief in the superiority of one's own ethnic group

Individualistic Cultures

cultures that emphasize the needs and goals of the individual over the needs and goals of the group

Collectivistic Cultures

cultures that emphasize the needs and goals of the group over the needs and goals of the individual

Culture

attitudes, values, beliefs and behaviors shared by a group of people

Evolutionary Perspective

applies the principles of evolution to explain psychological processes
- natural selection