Psychological Approaches Notes

Major Psychological Approaches

Learning Goal 1.0

  • Trace the development of different psychological perspectives and distinguish among them.

Structuralism (Historical)

  • Focus: The structure of the mind by looking inward and reflecting on experiences.
  • Key terms: Introspection, elements of the mind.
  • Famous psychologists: Edward Titchener, Wilhelm Wundt.
  • Example: When you look at a rose, what are your immediate sensations? What emotions do you feel? What images or memories come up?

Functionalism (Historical)

  • Focus: How our thoughts and behavior function and help us to survive and thrive.
  • Key terms: Purpose of thoughts and behaviors.
  • Famous psychologists: William James.
  • Example: Jealousy. What purpose does it serve?

Behaviorism

  • Focus: How we learn to respond to stimuli in our environment.
  • Key terms: Observable behavior, rewards/punishments, stimulus/response.
  • Famous psychologists: Ivan Pavlov, B.F. Skinner, John Watson.
  • Example: How do we learn to fear particular objects or situations? What is the most effective way to alter our behavior?

Psychoanalysis/Psychodynamics

  • Focus: How unconscious thoughts and feelings drive our behavior.
  • Key terms: Defense mechanisms, fixations, id/ego/superego, psychosexual stages, unconscious, childhood trauma.
  • Famous psychologists: Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung.
  • Example: How can someone’s personality traits and disorders be explained by childhood traumas and unfulfilled wishes?

Humanism

  • Focus: How to meet human needs so that we may reach our full potential (Hierarchy of needs).
  • Key terms: Free will, potential for growth, self-actualization, unconditional positive regard.
  • Famous psychologists: Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers.
  • Example: How can we reach our full potential or overcome barriers to personal growth?

Biological Psychology

  • Focus: How genetic and biological processes influence our experiences and behaviors.
  • Key terms: Brain structures, heritability, hormones, neurotransmission.
  • Famous psychologists: Michael Gazzaniga, Roger Sperry.
  • Example: How does the body experience stress? How do messages of pain travel through the body? How do your genes affect your temperament?

Evolutionary Psychology

  • Focus: How natural selection has caused certain traits to emerge in a population.
  • Key terms: Adaptation, (heritability), survival of the fittest.
  • Famous psychologists: Charles Darwin.
  • Example: What traits in women are found to attract men?

Cognitive

  • Focus: How we think, remember, analyze, and interpret the world.
  • Key terms: Perception, problem solving, thinking.
  • Famous psychologists: Noam Chomsky, Jean Piaget, (Lev Vygotsky).
  • Example: How does your interpretation of a situation affect your anger? How does that anger affect your thinking?

Socioculturalism

  • Focus: How situations, environments, and cultures shape thinking and behavior.
  • Key terms: Family influence, group interactions, impact of society, media influence, religion/values.
  • Famous psychologists: Philip Zimbardo, Stanley Milgram, Lev Vygotsky.
  • Example: How do expressions of frustrations vary across cultures? Why might people from different cultures have trouble communicating?

The Nature vs. Nurture Spectrum

  • Nature: Traits/behaviors are innate and inherited.
  • Nurture: Traits/behaviors are learned from experience.

The Biopsychosocial (Eclectic) Model

  • Integrates biological, psychological, and social-cultural factors.
    • Biological factors: Genetics, hormones, natural selection, brain functions.
    • Psychological factors: Emotions, expectations, beliefs, thoughts, perceptions.
    • Social-cultural factors: Culture, media, family expectations, group interactions.

Perspectives within the Biopsychosocial Model

  • Biological
  • Evolutionary
  • Cognitive
  • Sociocultural
  • Behaviorist
  • Humanistic
  • Psychodynamic