1. Modern Approaches to Psychology

2. Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic
Early Psychoanalysts like Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung believed that unconscious drives and urges motivated our behavior.
Modern day Psychodynamic psychologists believe that our early childhood experiences affect our adult behavior (even things we can’t remember).
They believe we are not aware of why we behave the way we do.

3. Behavioral
Psychologists who believe in the behavioral approach believe our environment shapes our behavior.
They believe we learned to behave the way we do because we were rewarded for behaving that way… or we stop a behavior because we were punished for it.
John Watson and B.F. Skinner are big names in Behaviorism and the early Behavioral approach

4. Humanistic
They believe we behave the way we do because we choose to. They focus on “the individual” and the “self.”
You are the “captain of your own ship.”
They believe that people will improve their lives when they realize their potential.
Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers are important psychologists in the Humanistic approach

5. Cognitive
They believe our behavior is motivated by our conscious memories and experiences and how we think and interpret the world around us.
They believe that changing behavior involves changing our thinking.
Noam Chomsky and Jean Piaget contributed to the Cognitive Psychology Approach

6. Socio/Socialcultural
Ethnicity, gender and culture affect our behavior.
We have to take into consideration a person’s cultural background and gender, for example, before we can accurately interpret and explain behavior.
There are cultural differences in dealing with grief, for example.

7. Using the Approaches to Psychology to explain: Why do I avoid social situations?
Psychoanalytic Approach says I avoid social situations because of an unconscious fear of being rejected. When I was a young child, my parents were unresponsive to my needs.
Behavioral Approach says I avoid social situations because I was treated badly in the past by adults and kids at school. I found it painful and learned that I could stop the pain by not interacting with other people.
Humanistic Approach says I avoid social situations because I choose to be a loner.
Cognitive Approach says I avoid social situations because I think that people don’t like me.
Social-Cultural Approach says I avoid social situations because in the American culture it is not unexpected (and it’s acceptable) for me to be alone.