Unit 0 Notes

Psychological Perspectives (Overview)

  • 1) Psychodynamic perspective: influence of subconscious mind, childhood/past events, themes/patterns

  • 2) Cognitive perspective: focuses on internal processes—thoughts, memories, language/communication, etc.

  • 3) Behavioral perspective: focuses exclusively on observable behavior; internal processes can’t be “seen”

    • a) Classical conditioning (Pavlov)

    • b) Operant conditioning (rewards/punishments)

  • 4) Humanistic perspective: all people, regardless of where they are at the present, can improve—focus on one’s potential, achievement, goals, etc.

  • 5) Biological perspective: focuses on the anatomical/physiological aspects of our mental processes/behavior

  • 6) Evolutionary perspective: our common ancestry results in “passed-along” mental processes and behaviors (common phobias, universality of facial expressions, etc.)

  • 7) Social-cultural perspective: mental processes/behavior are influenced by fellow humans—cultural norms, religion, community, socioeconomic status, etc.

Psychodynamic (Psychoanalytic) Perspective (the thumb)

  • Originated with Sigmund Freud

    • Focuses on the unconscious mind (memories, feelings, urges)

  • How behavior springs from unconscious drives and conflicts

  • Early childhood experiences, interpersonal relationships explain human behavior & cognition

  • May delve into the person’s unconscious and discover childhood abuse

    • Abuse may have caused fear in getting close to others

Cognitive Perspective (the pointer finger)

  • Focuses on how we think (or encode information) and our mental processes: memory, thinking, problem solving, attitudes, emotions, language, and decision-making

  • Core questions

    • So how do we encode, process, store, and retrieve information?

    • How do we see (perceive) and interpret the world? Why?

Behavioral Perspective (the social finger)

  • Focuses on behaviors that can be observed and measured, putting feelings aside

  • How behaviors are learned and reinforced (rewarded or punished)

  • We behave because we have been conditioned to

  • To change behaviors, psychologists have to recondition the client

Humanistic Perspective (the ring finger)

  • Focuses on human issues like love, hope, creativity, nature, being, becoming, individuality

  • Emphasizes spirituality and free will

  • Highlights motivation, free will, potential for growth

  • Core concept

    • Self-actualization: striving to be the best we can be

    • Happiness is defined by the distance between our “self-concept” and “ideal self”

Biological (Neuroscience) Perspective (the pinky)

  • All feelings and behaviors come from the brain: genetics, body chemistry (hormones, neurotransmitters), brain structure

  • How the body and brain enable emotions, memories, and sensory experiences

  • Focuses on biological and medicinal treatments

Evolutionary Perspective (the wrist)

  • Focuses on Darwin’s survival of the fittest; natural selection

  • We behave the way we do because we inherited those behaviors

  • Mental processes exist because they serve an evolutionary purpose – they aid in survival, reproduction

Social-Cultural Perspective (the palm)

  • Your behavior and feelings are dictated by your culture, religion, ethnicity, gender, community, even income level

  • How does our culture influence our thinking and behavior?

  • Examples

    • Some cultures kiss each other when greeting, some bow, others shake hands

Science Practice #1: Concept Application

Concept Application

Students should be able to apply psychological perspectives, theories, concepts, and research

findings.

  1. A Apply psychological perspectives, theories, concepts,

and research findings to a scenario.

  1. B Explain how cultural norms, expectations, and

circumstances, as well as cognitive biases apply to behavior

and mental processes.