Major Psychology Theories Flashcards
Define theory in Psychology
A theory presents a concept or idea that is testable. Scientists can test the theory through empirical research and gather evidence that supports or refutes it.
A scientific theory presents an explanation about some aspects of human behavior or the natural world which is supported through repeated testing and experiments. This means that scientists have repeated these experiments and replicated these findings. They have also collected evidence that supports the theory. Many different researchers have gathered evidence that supports the theory.
The purpose of theories in Psychology is to do two things
- It must describe a behavior
2. It must make predictions about future behaviors
They are 4 Different Types of Psychological Theories: Discuss Developmental Theories
They provide a framework for thinking about human growth, development, and learning. They provide a useful insight into individuals and society by looking into what motivates human thought and
behavior.
Developmental theories provide a set of guiding principles and concepts that describe and explain human development.
They are 4 Different Types of Psychological Theories: Discuss Grand Theories
Grand theories are those comprehensive ideas often proposed by major thinkers such as Sigmund Freud, Erik Erikson,4 and Jean Piaget.
Grand theories of development include psychoanalytic theory, learning theory, and cognitive theory. These theories seek to explain much of human behavior but are often considered outdated and incomplete in the face of modern research.
Psychologists and researchers often use grand theories as a basis for exploration but consider smaller theories and recent research as well.
They are 4 Different Types of Psychological Theories: Discuss Mini-Theories
Mini-theories describe a small, very particular aspect of development. A mini-theory might explain relatively narrow behaviors, such as how self-esteem is formed or early childhood socialization.
These theories are often rooted in the ideas established by grand theories, but they do not seek to describe and explain the whole of human behavior and growth.
Some theories are based within branches of Psychology including: Humanistic Theories
Humanistic psychology theories began to grow in popularity during the 1950s. While earlier theories often focused on abnormal behavior and psychological problems, humanist theories instead emphasized the basic goodness of human beings. Some of the major humanist theorists included Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow.
Some theories are based within branches of Psychology including: Personality Theories
Personality psychology looks at the patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behavior that make a person unique. Some of the best-known theories in psychology are devoted to the subject of personality including the trait theory of personality, the “big 5” theory of personality, and Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development
Some theories are based within branches of Psychology including: Social Psychology Theories
Social psychology is focused on helping us understand and explain social behavior. Social theories are generally centered on specific social phenomena, including group behavior, prosocial behavior, social influence, love and much more.
Some theories are based within branches of Psychology including: Behavioral Theories
Behavioral psychology, also known as behaviorism, is a theory of learning based on the idea that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning. Advocated by famous psychologists such as John B. Watson and B.F. Skinner, behavioral theories dominated psychology during the early half of the twentieth century.7
Today, behavioral techniques are still widely used in therapeutic settings to help clients learn new skills and behaviors.
Some theories are based within branches of Psychology including: Cognitive Theories
Cognitive theories of psychology are focused on internal states, such as motivation, problem-solving, decision-making, thinking, and attention. Such theories strive to explain different mental processes including how the mind processes information.
