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7 Perspectives of Psychology. Different theoretical approaches to understand and explain why people behave and think as they do. Why so many perspectives?. Psychology is an INEXACT SCIENCE Technological advancements change old thinking Psychological theory often product of its times/culture
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7 Perspectives of Psychology Different theoretical approaches to understand and explain why people behave and think as they do
Why so many perspectives? • Psychology is an INEXACT SCIENCE • Technological advancements change old thinking • Psychological theory often product of its times/culture • Experiments change/disprove old thinking
Nature Nurture OR interactions with and observations of our environments and people Genetics & physiology • All psychology perspectives fall within the spectrum of the nature or nurture question Nurture 100% nature and nurture interact 100% Nature Biopsychology Psychoanalytic Cognitive Psych Evolutionary Psych Humanism Behavioral Psych Sociocultural Psych
Perspective 1: Biopsychology (AKA Neuropsychology) nature and nurture interact Nurture 100% 100% Nature • We are who we are due to biological and physiological causes and their interactions with nurture factors Biopsychology • Biopsychologist study how the following cause us to behave and think as we do: • Brain structures • Hormones, enzymes, chemicals • Genes (DNA)
Perspective 2: Evolutionary Psych Nurture 100% Nature and nurture interact 100% Nature • We are who/how we are due to “survival of the fittest” interaction of our genes with our environment Evolutionary Psych
Perspective 3: Cognitive Psych nature and nurture interact Nurture 100% 100% Nature • We are who we are/do what we do because we actively think about past and present and make predictions about our future as we interact with environment Cognitive Psych
Perspective 4: Humanism nature and nurture interact Nurture 100% 100% Nature • Every human has a desire to achieve to his or her fullest potential; humanists look at environmental factors that are necessary to reach fullest potential and what prevents others from doing so Humanism
Perspective 5: Psychoanalytic nature and nurture interact Nurture 100% 100% Nature • We are who we are/do what we do due to…bad or good childhood experiences and memories hidden in our subconscious Psychoanalytic
Perspective 6: Behavioral Psych nature and nurture interact Nurture 100% 100% Nature • We are who we are/do what we do due to involuntary reactions to environmental stimuli, reinforcement of behaviors, andobserving and imitating others Behavioral Psych
Perspective 7: Sociocultural Psych nature and nurture interact Nurture 100% 100% Nature We are who we are, do what we do due to…the culture in which we are raised and social expectations and norms Sociocultural Psych