Major Perspectives of Psychology

Perspectives Psychodynamic Psychodynamic Behaviorism Behaviorism Humanism Humanism Cognitive Cognitive Evolutionary Evolutionary Neuroscience Neuroscience

I. Psychodynamic The psychodynamic perspective originated with the work of Sigmund Freud. This perspective emphasizes the role of the unconscious mind, early childhood experiences, and interpersonal relationships to explain human behavior and to treat people suffering from psych disorders The psychodynamic perspective originated with the work of Sigmund Freud. This perspective emphasizes the role of the unconscious mind, early childhood experiences, and interpersonal relationships to explain human behavior and to treat people suffering from psych disorders

Our personality is a conflict between our unconscious id and our superego (our moral sense) and our ego (our sense of reality). Our personality is a conflict between our unconscious id and our superego (our moral sense) and our ego (our sense of reality).

Defense Mechanisms

Psychoanalysis Psychoanalysis is the form of treating psychological disorders, invented by Freud. Psychoanalysis is the form of treating psychological disorders, invented by Freud. It is famous for the couch. It is famous for the couch.

Psychoanalysis summary All methods deal with accessing the unconscious mind All methods deal with accessing the unconscious mind Psychoanalysis is therapist-centered, meaning the therapist has all the answers, not the patient. Psychoanalysis is therapist-centered, meaning the therapist has all the answers, not the patient.

Personality assessment Psychoanalysts use projective tests like the Rorschach Ink Blot test or the TAT test Psychoanalysts use projective tests like the Rorschach Ink Blot test or the TAT test

Criticisms of Freud’s theory: 1. Freud had no scientific data to support his 1. Freud had no scientific data to support his theories. theories. 2. Freud’s theories (unconscious, libido, etc.) 2. Freud’s theories (unconscious, libido, etc.) cannot be observed. cannot be observed. 3. Theory explains behavior after the fact. 3. Theory explains behavior after the fact. (also known as post-hoc) (also known as post-hoc) 4. Observations not representative of population 4. Observations not representative of population (very sexist and not multicultural). (very sexist and not multicultural).

Pros of Freud’s theory 1. Argued that childhood experiences are 1. Argued that childhood experiences are important in personality development. important in personality development. 2. Information outside of awareness does 2. Information outside of awareness does influence us. influence us. 3. Defense mechanisms—good descriptions of 3. Defense mechanisms—good descriptions of some of our behaviors. some of our behaviors.

II. Behaviorism

Behaviorism By the 1950s, most critics found Psychoanalysis to be too unscientific. By the 1950s, most critics found Psychoanalysis to be too unscientific. Behaviorists will bring science back into psychology, even if they overdo it a little. Behaviorists will bring science back into psychology, even if they overdo it a little. Behaviorism is NOT interested in the unconscious mind since it cannot be observed or measured in a laboratory. Behaviorism is NOT interested in the unconscious mind since it cannot be observed or measured in a laboratory.

A telling quote… Give me a dozen healthy infants, well-formed, and my own specified world to bring them up in and I’ll guarantee to take any one at random and train him to become any type of specialist I might select -- doctor, lawyer, artist, merchant-chief and, yes, even beggar-man and thief, regardless of his talents, penchants, tendencies, abilities, vocations, and race of his ancestors. --John Watson, Behaviorism, 1930 Give me a dozen healthy infants, well-formed, and my own specified world to bring them up in and I’ll guarantee to take any one at random and train him to become any type of specialist I might select -- doctor, lawyer, artist, merchant-chief and, yes, even beggar-man and thief, regardless of his talents, penchants, tendencies, abilities, vocations, and race of his ancestors. --John Watson, Behaviorism, 1930

Thorndike “law of effect” The law of effect principle developed by Thorndike suggested that responses closely followed by satisfaction will become firmly attached to the situation and therefore more likely to reoccur when the situation is repeated. Conversely, if the situation is followed by discomfort, the connections to the situation will become weaker and the behavior of response is less likely to occur when the situation is repeated.

Ivan Pavlov He was not a psychologist but a Russian physiologist. He discovered classical conditioning. Classical conditioning is associative learning. He trained a dog to drool to a bell. He was not a psychologist but a Russian physiologist. He discovered classical conditioning. Classical conditioning is associative learning. He trained a dog to drool to a bell.

Dog associates food with bell.

B.F. Skinner B.F. Skinner is the most famous of the Behaviorists. He is famous for operant conditioning. Operant conditioning (aka shaping) is learning through reinforcements (aka,rewards) and punishments. B.F. Skinner is the most famous of the Behaviorists. He is famous for operant conditioning. Operant conditioning (aka shaping) is learning through reinforcements (aka,rewards) and punishments.

Behaviorism Albert Bandura did a famous experiment that found our behavior does not have to be classically conditioned or operant conditioned. Albert Bandura did a famous experiment that found our behavior does not have to be classically conditioned or operant conditioned. We can simply observe behavior and copy it. We can simply observe behavior and copy it.

Behaviorism The behavioral perspective can explain why people get addicted to gambling (positive reinforcement) The behavioral perspective can explain why people get addicted to gambling (positive reinforcement) …or why you come home before curfew …or why you come home before curfew …or why you don’t like grape jelly. (yuck.) …or why you don’t like grape jelly. (yuck.)

Behaviorism Summary Behaviorism says we do what we do because of classical conditioning, operant conditioning or we simply learn the behavior from watching or copying it. Behaviorism says we do what we do because of classical conditioning, operant conditioning or we simply learn the behavior from watching or copying it. In its extreme, they think we are simply rats in a cage pressing buttons. In its extreme, they think we are simply rats in a cage pressing buttons. WE ESSENTIALLY HAVE NO FREE WILL! WE ESSENTIALLY HAVE NO FREE WILL!

III. Humanism

Humanistic Humanism came about in the 1960s in reaction to psychoanalysis and behaviorism. Humanistic psychology was instead focused on each individual’s potential and stressed the importance of growth and self- actualization. The fundamental belief of humanistic psychology was that people are innately good. We are not rats in a cage! We are not id-driven animals! We are humans with free will.

Humanism Abraham Maslow said we have a hierarchy of needs Abraham Maslow said we have a hierarchy of needs

Humanism Carl Rogers revolutionized talk therapy. His therapy is client-centered, where the client has all the answers instead of the therapist. Therapists treat the client with unconditional positive regard (no judgments). Group therapy comes from Humanism. Carl Rogers revolutionized talk therapy. His therapy is client-centered, where the client has all the answers instead of the therapist. Therapists treat the client with unconditional positive regard (no judgments). Group therapy comes from Humanism.

Humanism summary Humanists are really touchy-feely, but without them we are just rats in a cage. Humanists are really touchy-feely, but without them we are just rats in a cage. Rogers and Maslow put the “human” element back into psychology and therapy. Rogers and Maslow put the “human” element back into psychology and therapy. Their philosophy: We are all humans striving to maximize our potential. A therapist’s job is to remove obstacles to self actualization. Their philosophy: We are all humans striving to maximize our potential. A therapist’s job is to remove obstacles to self actualization.

IV. Cognitive Perspective What does the word cognitive mean? How about cognition? Or Recognition? What does the word cognitive mean? How about cognition? Or Recognition? It is the study of how people perceive, remember, think, speak, and solve problems. It is the study of how people perceive, remember, think, speak, and solve problems. Cognitive therapy is about changing the maladaptive thoughts of a person. Cognitive therapy is about changing the maladaptive thoughts of a person.

Cognitive Psychologists Jean Piaget studied cognitive development in children. Jean Piaget studied cognitive development in children.

Cognitive perspective on depression We are depressed because we are irrational. Our expectations are too high and misplaced. We want everyone to love us and accept us. We want every thing to go our way. We stay angry about issues or events that happened a long time ago. WE MUST CHANGE THE WAY WE THINK TO BE HAPPY AND SUCCESSFUL. We are depressed because we are irrational. Our expectations are too high and misplaced. We want everyone to love us and accept us. We want every thing to go our way. We stay angry about issues or events that happened a long time ago. WE MUST CHANGE THE WAY WE THINK TO BE HAPPY AND SUCCESSFUL.

Cognitive Therapy Cognitive therapy is about changing the maladaptive (bad) thoughts. Albert Ellis, Aaron Beck and William Glasser are famous for reality therapy. They challenged their patients to ask, “Are my thoughts realistic or rational?” Cognitive therapy also “educates” the client, teaches him/her proper behaviors/thoughts Cognitive therapy is about changing the maladaptive (bad) thoughts. Albert Ellis, Aaron Beck and William Glasser are famous for reality therapy. They challenged their patients to ask, “Are my thoughts realistic or rational?” Cognitive therapy also “educates” the client, teaches him/her proper behaviors/thoughts

V. Evolutionary Psychology Evolutionary psychology examines psychological traits — such as memory, perception, or language — from a modern evolutionary perspective. It seeks to identify which human psychological traits are evolved adaptations, that is, the functional products of natural selection. Evolutionary psychology examines psychological traits — such as memory, perception, or language — from a modern evolutionary perspective. It seeks to identify which human psychological traits are evolved adaptations, that is, the functional products of natural selection.

Evolutionary Psychology This branch explains why humans do what they do in terms of adaptive value (survival of the species). This branch explains why humans do what they do in terms of adaptive value (survival of the species). Examples? Why do we do that? Examples? Why do we do that?

Evolutionary Psychology Why do the spending patterns of modern American ment and women differ so greatly? Why do the spending patterns of modern American ment and women differ so greatly? Evolutionary psychologists try to explain this behavior with comparisons to hunter-gather cultures. Evolutionary psychologists try to explain this behavior with comparisons to hunter-gather cultures.

VI. Neuroscience Perspective This perspective is among the most respected right now. Here, there is a focus on our brain, nervous system, neurotransmitters and hormones to explain our behaviors. This perspective is among the most respected right now. Here, there is a focus on our brain, nervous system, neurotransmitters and hormones to explain our behaviors.

Neuroscience Perspective “I don’t know the cause of your depression or your anxiety. But this medicine may help.” “I don’t know the cause of your depression or your anxiety. But this medicine may help.” Abnormalities in brain function directly affect your behavior. Abnormalities in brain function directly affect your behavior. Dr. Ramachandran, Dr. Ramachandran, leading researcher*

Surgery Cut the corpus callosum to keep seizures from spreading to other side of brain. Cut the corpus callosum to keep seizures from spreading to other side of brain.

Common medicines Prozac – antidepressant – blocks reuptake of serotonin. Prozac – antidepressant – blocks reuptake of serotonin. Xanax – anti-anxiety Xanax – anti-anxiety