Psychological Perspectives

Bell Ringer

1. Take a piece of blank paper2. Divide it into SIX squares3. Write the name of one of the perspectives in

each square4. Create a symbol to represent that

perspective in the box

Concept Attainment

1.) Biological Perspective• Cause of behavior, feelings, and thought is your brain. To

change behavior, you have to change the way the brain functions.

• Terms you’ll hear: neuroscience, traits, brain, nervous system, genes, hormones, electrodes, neurons, etc.

• Example 1: Is personality already predetermined at birth?• Example 2: How is blood chemistry linked with moods

and motives?

2.) Learning Perspective• Behavior is acquired or modified by environmental

consequences (e.g. rewards and punishments)

• Terms you’ll hear: positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, stimulus, observation, reward, punishment, response, etc.

• Example 1: What is the most effective way to alter our behavior to stop smoking?

• Example 2: How can I train my dog?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4Rb9n_sQDg&feature=related

3.) Cognitive Perspective

• Emphasizes mental processes in reasoning, memory, perception, language, problem solving, and beliefs.

• Terms you’ll hear: reason, remember, think, sense, perceive, language, etc.

• Example 1: Is your boyfriend dumping you traumatic or do you just think it is, therefore you are depressed?

• Example 2: Children do not think like adults. Why?

4.) Sociocultural Perspective• Focuses on the influence of social and cultural forces on

behavior.

• Terms you’ll hear: culture, religion, tradition, ethnicity, birthplace, family, peer pressure, groupthink, etc.

• Example 1: How does kissing vary amongst different cultural regions?

• Example 2: Why do people sometimes act differently in groups than when alone?

5.) Psychodynamic Perspective• People’s thoughts and behaviors are motivated by powerful,

unconscious drives and inner-conflicts.

• Terms you’ll hear: Sigmund Freud, unconscious, “Freudian slip,” “Oedipus Complex,” sexuality, fears, desires, free association

• Example 1: Do we unconsciously sexually desire our parent of the opposite sex?

• Example 2: Does being abused as a child unconsciously influence future parenting ability?

5.) Psychodynamic Perspective• Also called “psychoanalytic”

• Unconscious motives are motives that you are not aware of. For example, if someone with brown hair rejects you, then you might not talk to people with that hair color.

• Conscious motives are motives you are aware of.

• Freud use a technique called “free association.” He would say a word and you would say the first word that popped in your head and he would then analyze what is going on in your unconscious.

6. Humanist Perspective• People are innately good and capable of choice.

• Terms you’ll hear: free will, potential, self-actualization, fulfillment, goals, “feel good” approach, etc.

• Example 1: How can we help the individual meet his/her fullest potential?

• Example 2: How did your career goals influence your decision of where to attend college?

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Psychology

Biological Perspective

Learning Perspective

Cognitive Perspective

Sociocultural Perspective

Psychodynamic Perspective

Humanist Perspective