Deirdre Martyn March 3rd 2014 Psych 100 Exam 1 Question One There are five perspectives on psychology Cognitive Theory Behavioral Theory Humanistic Theory Psychodynamic Theory and Biological Neuroscience Theory Each of the five perspectives explain child development and abnormal psych Some of the theories overlap with each other some complement each other and some theories strongly disagree Cognitive theory is a nomothetic approach that focuses on how the thinking process explains human behavior Cognitive theorists ask How do individuals process information and compare the human brain to a computer because it inputs stores and retrieves information In cognitive theory it is assumed that that humans are logical beings that can make their own choices The three main components of cognitive theory are schemas processes and development stages The first component of Cognitive theory is Schemas the building blocks of knowledge refers to a cognitive framework that helps organize and interpret information Schemas allow us to sort through massive amounts of information and focus on what is important albeit this can lead us to focus on things that confirm our pre existing ideas and beliefs enforcing stereotypes The second component of cognitive theory processes refers to the processes that enables intellectual growth equilibration assimilation and accommodation Cognitive theorists do not believe that people learn at a steady rate but equilibration moves the process along When people are trying to understand new information that does not fit with their existed schemas they are in an unpleasant and uncomfortable process of learning assimilation Another process of learning is accommodation which is when balance is sought out to be restored by the learner as they master the new challenge The third major component of Cognitive theory is the four stages of development sensorimotor preoperational concrete operational and formal operational Although many criticize cognitive theory for not focusing directly on measurable processes and for being too broad many people also stand behind it A Behavioral Theory psychologist would say that If you want to change behavior you must change the enviornment Behavioral Theory is an observable theory that claims all behavior is learned and that personality is a result of interactions between an individual and their environment The theory explains that we all influence each other in every way and that different events in our lives happen to punish or reward behavior A main component of the Behavioral Theory is that we learn in three ways classical conditioning operant conditioning law and affect and modeling and imitation Classical conditioning is defined at learning through interactions with one s environment An example of classical conditioning is a study that was done involving a boy and a white rat Initially the boy was not afraid of the rat The boy was then exposed to a harsh loud ringing sound when he saw the rat Eventually the boy feared the rat because he associated it with the scary sounds That is an example of a phobia developed through classical conditioning The second way we learn is through operant conditioning Operant conditioning is a type of learning where behavior is modified by its consequences For example is a young boy is congratulated and praised for receiving good grades and chastised and yelled at for getting bad grades the boy will strive to get good grades The last way we learn is through modeling an imitation People are likely to mirror what they see their role models do or even people who they are around constantly Behavioral Theory explains abnormal behavior in a couple ways The first is that unusual physical reactions phobias and predispositions are a result of classical conditioning e g the example of the bot and the white rat The second is that witnessing and experiencing violence as a child desensitizes the act and can lead to violent acts in adulthood Overall behavioral psychologists see humans as robots born with a blank slate and effected by experiences and interactions forming who they become as adults Humanistic Theory explains that individuals have the freedom in directing their future It really puts an emphasis on feelings and emotions rather than anything scientific Humanistic Theorists believe that humans are innately good people can determine the state of their mental health there is no predetermination and that abnormal psychological states can be overcome Abraham Maslow was a major contributor to the Humanistic Theory He created a developmental hierarchy of needs and as each level of need is satisfied one becomes closer to self actualization The levels in order are physiological needs such as food and water safety needs love and belonging needs self esteem needs and finally self actualization As each level progresses less and less people reach satisfying the needs It is a common belief that many people never reach the last level of self actualization Abraham Maslow also claimed that other theories do not account for emotions as much as they should Maslow believed in choice creativity and self realization Another humanistic theorist Carl Rodgers contributed a major concept the person centered theory He believed that one s sense of self or self concept evolves from childhood and adolescents He thought that impulsive behavior was acting outside of one s self concept creating discomfort and contributing to abnormal psychological states Humanistic theorists would say that anxiety is a motivating source of change that occurs when self concepts are threatened From that stems depression because individuals are unable to cope with that pressure to change Another abnormal behavior explained by this theory is addiction Addiction is caused by failure to reach self actualization because people feel the need to fill the void of true self concept Many criticize Humanistic Theory for being too vague and for lacking scientific background Neuropsychology explains how the brain and nervous system affect human behavior It focuses on the mind body connection by showing that what the mind experiences affects the body Neuropsychologists believe that the brain starts to develop in the womb but is not ready to experience the world until their nine month due date They believe that good nutrition and repeated experiences are required to reach genetic potential When experiences are repeated the neurons that travel and connect in the brain are
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