1. How psychologists explain human behaviour
Why do people behave the way they do?
An introduction
How psychologists explain human behaviour

2. Biological approach to understanding human behaviour
All behaviour is determined by genetic, physiological and neurological factors
The central nervous system and the ‘brain’ is a major influence
Normality is a properly functioning nervous system

3. Biological approach to understanding human behaviour
The nature of psychological development
Stages of behavioural & psychological development are based on changes in brain growth which are genetically determined (maturation)
Preferred method of study
Experiment (on animals often rats
and humans)

4. Biological approach to understanding human behaviour
Major causes of abnormal behaviour
genetic disorders
organic (bodily) disorders
brain disease or injury
chemical imbalance / allergies
mental illness

5. Biological approach to understanding human behaviour
Preferred methods of treatment
chemotherapy( drugs)
electroconvulsive therapy; psychosurgery
Goals of treatment
To alleviate symptoms or to reverse the underlying cause (s) of the illness
Key Studies
Maguire et al : Brains of London Taxi Drivers
Sperry: The split brain studies

6. Psychodynamic approach (perspective) to understanding human behaviour (Freud)
Behaviour determined by unconscious forces
The individual experiences unconscious conflict due to opposing demands made by different parts of the personality (id, ego, superego)
Normality
A reasonable balance between id, ego, superego but there is always some conflict

7. Psychodynamic approach (perspective) to understanding human behaviour (Freud)
The nature of psychological
development
Five psychosexual stages whose sequence is determined by maturation
An individual is shaped by early childhood experiences

8. Psychodynamic approach (perspective) to understanding human behaviour (Freud)
Preferred method of study is case study
Key Studies:
Freud, S. (1909) Analysis of a phobia in a five-year-old boy. Pelican Freud Library, Vol. 8, Case Histories
Thigpen, C.H. & Cleckley, H.
(1954)
A case of multiple personality.

9. Psychodynamic approach (perspective) to understanding human behaviour (Freud)
Major causes of abnormal behaviour
Emotional disturbance / neurosis caused by unresolved conflicts stemming from childhood
Preferred methods of treatment
Psychoanalysis in which the unconscious is revealed
Goals of treatment
To uncover unconscious conflict and to achieve balance between id, ego, superego

10. Behaviourist approach (perspective) to understanding human behaviour
All human behaviour shaped by environmental forces
behaviour is learned by
classical & operant conditioning
(Pavlov’s dogs)
Normality
The possession of an adequately large repertoire of learned responses

11. Behaviourist approach (perspective) to understanding human behaviour
Major causes of abnormal behaviour
learned maladaptive responses
no distinction between symptoms and behaviour disorder
Key Study:
Little Albert:
J Watson & R Rayner (1926)
Conditioned emotional responses

12. Behaviourist approach (perspective) to understanding human behaviour
Preferred methods of treatment
behaviour therapy
systematic desensitisation
aversion therapy, flooding therapy
Goals of treatment
To eliminate maladaptive responses (phobias etc) and to acquire new ones

13. Behaviourist approach (perspective) to understanding human behaviour
Classical conditioning
With care & patience, it is possible to demonstrate the conditioning of the eye-blink reflex in humans. In pairs choose who will be the experimenter and the learner
Experimenter - blow carefully (use a drinking straw ) across the eyeball. Now pair the puff of air with a gentle tap on the back of the participants hand. Record the number of pairings required to produce the eye-blink to the tap on the hand alone.

14. Cognitive approach to understanding human behaviour
The human mind is compared to a computer (information processor) as cognitive processes select, code, store and retrieve information
Key Study Areas: Memory, Perception, Language
Normality
The proper functioning of cognitive processes & ability to use them to monitor & control behaviour

15. Cognitive approach to understanding human behaviour
The nature of psychological development
Stages of cognitive development (Key Names: Jean Piaget, L Vygotsky)
Preferred methods of study
experiment (mainly humans)
artificial intelligence

16. Cognitive approach to understanding human behaviour
The major causes of abnormal behaviour
unrealistic/irrational ideas about self & others
the inability to monitor behaviour through cognitive processes
Key studies: Loftus & Palmer – how leading questions reconstruct memory
Samuel & Bryant: Asking only one question in the conservation tasks

17. Cognitive approach to understanding human behaviour
Preferred methods of treatment
Rational Emotive Therapy
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
e.g. Pain clinics / depression clinics
The goals of treatment
To correct unrealistic ideas so that thinking becomes an effective means of controlling behaviour

18. Key questions to ask about human behaviour
Do people behave the way they do
because of the sort of ‘person’ they are
the dispositional explanation or
because of the situation they are in?
the situational explanation
or ‘a bit of both’

19. Key questions to ask about human behaviour
Do people behave the way they do
because of biological (nature) reasons or
because of their environmental (nurture) experiences?
or ‘a bit of both’

20. Key questions to ask about human behaviour
How can metaphysical mental processes cause behaviour?
The ghost in the machine!

21. Psychology of why people behave the way they do !