Contemporary Perspectives Chapter One Section 4

Essential Question: What are some of the psychological perspectives used by psychologists? Found on pages (chart on pg 20)

Biological Perspective Subject Matter: Nervous System, glands and hormones, and genetic factors Key Assumption: Biological processes influence behavior and mental processes

Cognitive Perspective Subject Matter: Mental images, information processing, thinking and language Key Assumption: Perceptions and thoughts influence behavior

Humanistic Perspective Subject Matter: Subjective Experience Key Assumption: People make free and conscious choices based on their unique experiences.

Psychoanalytic Perspective Subject matter: Unconscious processes, early childhood experiences Key Assumption: Unconscious motives influence behavior.

Learning Perspective Subject Matter: Environmental influence, habitual behavior, and observational learning. Key Assumptions: Personal experience and reinforcement guide individual development.

Sociocultural Perspective Subject Matter: Ethnicity, gender, culture, and socioeconomic status Key Assumption: Sociocultural, biological, and psychological factors create individual differences.

EXAMPLE: Johnny does not do his homework and is sleeping in class frequently. The psychologist with this perspective would have Johnny come into the hospital and have a CAT scan performed for any abnormalities on Johnny’s brain. What Perspective was this?

ANSWER: Biological Perspective

EXAMPLE Jane hits her step sister every day. When asked she states that she does not like her step sister. Jane was abused by her biological dad, until recently. A psychologist with this perceptive would say that the prior events in Jane’s life were the reasons she acts out in such ways and that she makes these choices on her own. Which psychological perspective does this doctor use?

ANSWER: Humanistic Perspective

EXAMPLE: Matt does not socialize with the other children. A psychologist with this perspective would consider that Matt is a male and that males inherently do not socialize as frequently as females. Matt is also Asian which can account for his cultural difference in placing value on friendships. What perspective was this?

Answer: Sociocultural Perspective

EXAMPLE Ashley sees that the teacher pays attention to only the students who raise their hands. Ashley starts to raise her hand. A psychologist with this perspective would say that Ashley saw the situation and chose to start raising her hand. What perspective does this psychologist use?

ANSWER: Learning Perspective

EXAMPLE Rebecca intentionally bumps into three freshmen in the hallway. A psychologist that had this perspective would think that Rebecca is venting unconscious anger toward her parents. This would be which psychological perspective?

ANSWER Psychoanalytical Perspective

EXAMPLE Sandra does not like to be told she is “big boned”. Yet when Sandra has to describe someone she knows, she uses the term “big boned” without feeling she has insulted that person. A psychologist with this perspective would believe that Sandra has a different perspective on how “insults” apply to her, then to others. What perspective does this psychologist use?

ANSWER Cognitive perspective