Psychological Perspectives (Sem 1)

Question 1

Explain the Psychodynamic Perspective and give one big name.

Answer 1

(Sigmund Freud)
This perspective theorises that actions are determined by thoughts, wishes and feelings and how they are connected in the brain.
Much of mental life is unconscious.
Personality Traits begin to emerge from childhood and affect the way one forms social relationships.

Mental processes, including affective and motivational processes, operate simultaneously and in parallel, so that individuals can have conflicting feelings toward the same person or situation and can craft compromises outside of awareness.

Personality development involves regulating sexual and aggressive feelings as well as moving from immature and dependant to mature independent.

Question 2

Explain the Humanistic Perspective and give one big name.

Answer 2

(Carl Rogers)
This perspective theorises that all people are motivated to become self-actualised (reach their full potential).
An optimistic view that focusses on the uniqueness of an individual.

Question 3

Explain the Behaviourist Perspective and give one big name.

Answer 3

(B.F Skinner)
This perspective theorises that behaviour follows its consequence.
Rejects the concept of a “mind”, views mental events as contents of a black box that cannot be known or studied scientifically.
Identifies mental events as a by-product of environmental stimulation.

Question 4

Explain the Cognitive Perspective and give one big name.

Answer 4

(Descartes)
This perspective focuses on the way that people perceive, understand and recall information.
Treats the mind like a computer.
Thinking = processing, Environment = Inputs.
These are retrieved using various mental ‘programs’ which produce outputs.
The way in which we categorised information affects how easily accessible it is.

Question 5

The Evolutionary Perspective and give one big name.

Answer 5

(Charles Darwin)
This perspective theorises that our behaviours are influenced and are evolved from the behaviours that allowed our ancestors to survive.
Natural Selection.
Based on the idea that all of our human functions have a biological basis.
Biological factors predispose people to certain traits or experiences but they are only manifested from environmental stimulation.