Modern Views of Psychology

Question 1

What is the Biological Perspective?

Answer 1

Consists primarily of biopsychology (neuroscience perspective) and evolutionary psychology.
Biopsychology examines how the brain controls behaviour; focuses on the genetic components and predisposition, heredity. The therapy often includes medication.
Evolutionary psychology believes that certain human behaviours and mental abilities are encoded in our genetic makeup; instinctive programming for learning new skills and behaviours.

Question 2

Who are the key figures in the Biological Perspective?

Answer 2

Hebb (memories), Chombsky (language, evolutionary psychology), Gottesman (schizophrenia).

Question 3

What is the Learning Perspective?

Answer 3

Behaviourism and Social-Cognitive Learning Theories.
Behaviourism argued that all behaviour represents learned responses to stimuli; focused on overt behaviour (classical conditioning and stimulus-response); therapy consists of replacing dysfunctional behaviour with appropriate behaviour through learning.

Question 4

Who is John Watson?

Answer 4

Credited to Behaviourism; rejected the study of consciousness. Wanted to observe tangible behaviour. Argued that all behaviour represented learned responses to stimuli.

Question 5

Who was Pavlov?

Answer 5

Focused on overt behaviour, field of study was Classical Conditioning. Influenced Behaviourism.

Question 6

Who was Skinner?

Answer 6

Focused on overt behaviour, field of study was Stimulus-Response. Influenced Behaviourism.

Question 7

What is the Cognitive Perspective?

Answer 7

Focuses on mind processes including perception, memory, and thinking. People engage in behaviours (adaptive or not) because of ideas and thoughts (schemas - Bartlett).
Therapy examines how negative cognitions are influencing behaviour.

Question 8

Who is the Cognitive Perspective attributed to?

Answer 8

Badura, Ellis, and Beck (negative schemas/depression/anxiety). Bartlett (Schemas).

Question 9

What are Schemas?

Answer 9

Our interpretation of our experiences.

Question 10

What are Cognitions?

Answer 10

The thoughts and ideas that we have; mental processes.

Question 11

What is the Sociocultural Perspective?

Answer 11

Emphasizes social and cultural influences on behaviour. This includes social psychology, or the study of rules, roles, groups, and relationships. Cultural psychology or the study of cultural norms, values, and expectations. Ecological Systems Model.

Question 12

What is attributed to Sociocultural Perspective?

Answer 12

Bruner and Broffenbrenner (Ecological Systems Model).

Question 13

What is the Ecological Systems Model?

Answer 13

1. Meso (family)
2. Micro (interactions within Meso)
3. Exo (environments the child is not immediately a part of)
4. Macro (attitudes and ideologies of the culture)
5. Chrono (timing of events)

Question 14

What is the Humanistic view of Psychology?

Answer 14

A departure from other perspectives; emphasized the innate goodness of people and free will. Everyone strives for self actualization - to be as good as possible, strive for personal growth and self fulfillment.

Question 15

Who is attributed to the Humanistic view?

Answer 15

Rogers and Maslow.

Question 16

What was Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs?

Answer 16

When all of our needs have been fulfilled, we no longer need to be rewarded - we live for the goodness of others. In order to become self-actualized, all our needs need to be met. 
Physiological
Safety 
Love/Belonging
Esteem
Self Actualization

Question 17

What is Feminist Psychology?

Answer 17

Analyzes the influence of social inequities on gender relations and on the behaviour of the sexes.
Recognizes years of male bias data collection and psychotherapy; questioned the use of research in justifying women’s lower status or elevating women’s status (female bias).
Karen Horney.