1. Six Main Theories to Psychology Approaches to explaining behavior and mental processes

2. Biological Major Contributors : None Belief: Behavior viewed in terms of biological responses Positives: Behaviors can be measured Negatives: Unable to study the process only the reactions Example: Alcohol Abuse –Questions that would be asked? Is alcoholism a disease? What role does heredity play? How does alcohol affect the brain?

3. Behaviorism Major Contributors: Pavlov, Skinner, Watson Belief: Behavior viewed as a product of learned responses. Positives: Evidence that we do many things because we learn them Negatives: Takes away a person’s free will Example: Alcohol Abuse –Questions that would be asked? Is alcoholism learned? Can it be unlearned? Can new habits replace drinking habits?

4. Humanism Major Contributors: James Rogers Belief: Behavior is viewed as a reflection of internal growth. Positives: See people as worthwhile who have a free will and a choice Negatives: Is it to good to be true? Don’t we all have thoughts that are not beautiful? Example: Alcohol Abuse –Questions that would be asked? Do people drink because they feel a sense of worth? Does alcohol give people a false sense of worth

5. Psychoanalysis Major Contributors: Jung, Freud, Erickson Belief: Behavior viewed as a reflection of unconscious aggressive and sexual impulses. Positives: Explains why people do things they wouldn’t normally do. Negatives: Is seen by many to be to negative? Today it is usually combined with other theories Example: Alcohol Abuse –Questions that would be asked? Is heavy drinking an indication of some deeper problem or conflict? Does drinking make people less inhibited, allowing unconscious desires to surface?

6. Cognitive Major Contributors: Wundt Belief: Behavior viewed as a product of various internal sentences or thoughts. Positives: Is seen as being very rational Negatives: Downplays the impact of emotions Example: Alcohol Abuse –Questions that would be asked What thoughts lead up to episodes of heavy drinking? If these thoughts are analyzed and changed, will drinking be curbed?

7. Sociocultural Major Contributors: None Yet Belief: Behavior viewed as strongly influenced by the rules and expectations of specific social groups or cultures. Positives: Looks at a big picture and the influences of the environment on people Negatives: Tends to deal with subjects on a social scale instead of an individual level Example: Alcohol Abuse –Questions that would be asked? How does alcoholism differ from one culture to another? What are the unique pressures within a certain culture that might contribute to alcohol abuse?