An introduction How psychologists explain human behaviour

1. Why do people behave the way they do? An introduction How psychologists explain human behaviour

2. Biological approach to understanding human behaviour • All behaviour is determined by genetic, physiological and neurological factors • The central nervous system and the ‘brain’ is a major influence • Normality is a properly functioning nervous system

3. Biological approach to understanding human behaviour The nature of psychological development • Stages of behavioural & psychological development are based on changes in brain growth which are genetically determined (maturation) Preferred method of study • Experiment (on animals often rats • and humans)

4. Biological approach to understanding human behaviour Major causes of abnormal behaviour • genetic disorders • organic (bodily) disorders • brain disease or injury • chemical imbalance / allergies • mental illness

5. Biological approach to understanding human behaviour Preferred methods of treatment • chemotherapy( drugs) • electroconvulsive therapy; psychosurgery Goals of treatment • To alleviate symptoms or to reverse the underlying cause (s) of the illness Key Studies • Maguire et al : Brains of London Taxi Drivers • Sperry: The split brain studies

6. Psychodynamic approach (perspective) to understanding human behaviour (Freud) • Behaviour determined by unconscious forces • The individual experiences unconscious conflict due to opposing demands made by different parts of the personality (id, ego, superego) Normality • A reasonable balance between id, ego, superego but there is always some conflict

7. Psychodynamic approach (perspective) to understanding human behaviour (Freud) The nature of psychological development • Five psychosexual stages whose sequence is determined by maturation • An individual is shaped by early childhood experiences

8. Psychodynamic approach (perspective) to understanding human behaviour (Freud) Preferred method of study is case study Key Studies: • Freud, S. (1909) Analysis of a phobia in a five-year-old boy. Pelican Freud Library, Vol. 8, Case Histories • Thigpen, C.H. & Cleckley, H. • (1954) • A case of multiple personality.

9. Psychodynamic approach (perspective) to understanding human behaviour (Freud) Major causes of abnormal behaviour • Emotional disturbance / neurosis caused by unresolved conflicts stemming from childhood Preferred methods of treatment • Psychoanalysis in which the unconscious is revealed Goals of treatment • To uncover unconscious conflict and to achieve balance between id, ego, superego

10. Behaviourist approach (perspective) to understanding human behaviour • All human behaviour shaped by environmental forces • behaviour is learned by • classical & operant conditioning • (Pavlov’s dogs) Normality • The possession of an adequately large repertoire of learned responses

11. Behaviourist approach (perspective) to understanding human behaviour Major causes of abnormal behaviour • learned maladaptive responses • no distinction between symptoms and behaviour disorder Key Study: • Little Albert: • J Watson & R Rayner (1926) • Conditioned emotional responses

12. Behaviourist approach (perspective) to understanding human behaviour Preferred methods of treatment • behaviour therapy • systematic desensitisation • aversion therapy, flooding therapy Goals of treatment • To eliminate maladaptive responses (phobias etc) and to acquire new ones

13. Behaviourist approach (perspective) to understanding human behaviour • Classical conditioning • With care & patience, it is possible to demonstrate the conditioning of the eye-blink reflex in humans. In pairs choose who will be the experimenter and the learner • Experimenter - blow carefully (use a drinking straw ) across the eyeball. Now pair the puff of air with a gentle tap on the back of the participants hand. Record the number of pairings required to produce the eye-blink to the tap on the hand alone.

14. Cognitive approach to understanding human behaviour • The human mind is compared to a computer (information processor) as cognitive processes select, code, store and retrieve information • Key Study Areas: Memory, Perception, Language • Normality • The proper functioning of cognitive processes & ability to use them to monitor & control behaviour

15. Cognitive approach to understanding human behaviour • The nature of psychological development • Stages of cognitive development (Key Names: Jean Piaget, L Vygotsky) • Preferred methods of study • experiment (mainly humans) • artificial intelligence

16. Cognitive approach to understanding human behaviour • The major causes of abnormal behaviour • unrealistic/irrational ideas about self & others • the inability to monitor behaviour through cognitive processes • Key studies: Loftus & Palmer – how leading questions reconstruct memory • Samuel & Bryant: Asking only one question in the conservation tasks

17. Cognitive approach to understanding human behaviour • Preferred methods of treatment • Rational Emotive Therapy • Cognitive Behaviour Therapy • e.g. Pain clinics / depression clinics • The goals of treatment • To correct unrealistic ideas so that thinking becomes an effective means of controlling behaviour

18. Key questions to ask about human behaviour • Do people behave the way they do • because of the sort of ‘person’ they are • the dispositional explanation • or • because of the situation they are in? • the situational explanation • or ‘a bit of both’

19. Key questions to ask about human behaviour • Do people behave the way they do • because of biological (nature) reasons • or • because of their environmental (nurture) experiences? • or ‘a bit of both’

20. Key questions to ask about human behaviour • How can metaphysical mental processes cause behaviour? • The ghost in the machine!

21. Psychology of why people behave the way they do !