Perspectives in psychology

Question 1

What is the biological perspective ?

Answer 1

Thoughts, feelings, and behaviour can be explained biologically. Focuses on the functioning of the genes, hormones, brain structure and nervous system and how this can relate to certain condition eg depression is related to specific levels of hormones within the body.

Question 2

What are perspectives in psychology ?

Answer 2

• The different ways in which psychologists explain behaiour - A theoretical framework.
• Behavioural perspective
  -Psychodynamic perspective
  -Cognitive perspective
• Humanistic perspective.

Question 3

What is the cognitive perspective ?

Answer 3

• The study of how people think.
• The human-computer
• People behave in a certain way depending on how the internal workings of the brain process this information.
• EG memory, attention, perception
• This leads to the reaction/ output being different.
• Cognitive behavioural therapy is closely linked to this; a professional try to understand the thoughts a person has about depression.

Question 4

What is the humanistic perspective ?

Answer 4

• Based on the belief that individuals have free will and an inherent capacity to develop to their maximum potential.
• Maslow hierarchy of needs. As people move up the pyramid.
• Self-actualisation.
• The goal is to help patients build up self-worth- and empower them to take self-control and make changes.

Question 5

What is the psychodynamic perspective ?

Answer 5

• Sigmund Freud
• Problems occur when there is a conflict between a person’s conscious thoughts and suppressed thoughts and memories in the subconscious thoughts from the past.
• Behaviour is explained in terms of attempts to resolve conflicts.
• Talk therapy – Identify unconscious memories and resolve them through therapy.

Question 6

What is the behavioural perspective ?

Answer 6

• Focuses on “learned behaviours.”
• The importance of the environment in shaping our behaviour
• Classical conditioning – Pavlov – learns through associations, a learnt response. Learn external stimuli which influence behaviour.
• Operant Conditioning – Positive and negative reinforcement, e.g. rewards and punishment, e.g. losing weight or achieving a target at slimming word.
• Social learning theory