Download Five Major Approaches in Psychology

Five Major Approaches in Psychology
Cognitive
Psycho-analytic or
Psycho-dynamic (EG
Freud)
Case-study (Clinical
method)
Behaviorist or
Stimulus-Response
(EG Skinner)
Experiment (Animals and
Humans)
Humanistic –
Existential
(EG Maslow)
Case study
Neuro-Biological or
Psycho-biological or
Biogenic
Experiment (Animals and
Humans)
Emotional disturbance
or neurosis caused by
unresolved conflicts
stemming from
childhood. Abnormal
behavior is
symptomatic of such
conflicts. Main feature
is anxiety.
The learning of
maladaptive responses or
the failure to learn
adaptive ones in the first
place. No distinction
between symptoms and
the behavior disorder.
Inability to accept and
express one’s true
nature, to take
responsibility for one’s
own actions and to make
authentic choices.
Anxiety stems from
denying part of self.
Referred to as identity
crisis or ontological
insecurity.
Genetic disorders, organic
(bodily) disorders (e.g.
brain disease or injury),
chemical imbalance, food,
allergies, MENTAL ILLNESS
gives rise to behavioral and
psychological symptoms.
Preferred
method(s) of
treatment
Insight-oriented
psychotherapy (eg
psychoanalysis). The
unconscious is revealed
through dream
interpretation freeassociation,
transference.
Behavior therapy or
modification. Eg
systematic
desensitization, aversion
therapy, flooding,
behavior shaping, token
economy.
Client-centered therapy;
insights come from the
client as present
experiences are explored
with the therapist.
Physical treatments. Eg
chemotherapy (drugs),
electro-convulsive therapy
(E.C.T.). psychosurgery.
Eg cognitive behavior
therapy, rational emotive
therapy. Zen meditation
and behavioral selfcontrol.
Goals of
treatment
To uncover and work
through unconscious
conflicts to make them
conscious. To achieve
reasonable balance
between id, ego and
superego.
To eliminate maladaptive
responses and to acquire
adaptive ones.
To rediscover the Whole
self which can then
To alleviate symptoms
and/ or to actually reverse
the underlying cause(s) of
the illness.
To correct these
unrealistic irrational ideas
and beliefs so that
thinking becomes an
effective means of
controlling behavior.
Preferred
methods(s) of
study
Major cause(s)
of abnormal
behavior
proceed towards selfactualization.
Experiment (Mainly
humans and Artificial
intelligence)
Unrealistic or irrational
ideas and beliefs about
self and others, inability
to monitor or control
behavior through
appropriate cognitive
processes.
Five Major Approaches in Psychology
HumanisticExistential
(Eg Maslow)
Neuro-Biological or
Biogenic
Psycho-Analytic or
Psycho-Dynamic (Eg
Freud)
Behaviorist or
Stimulus-Response
(Eg Skinner)
Nature of
human beings
Individual is in conflict
due to opposing demands
made by different parts
of the personality –ID.
EGO. SUPEREGO.
Behavior is largely
determined by
unconscious forces.
The individual is unique,
free, rational and selfdetermining. Free-will
and self actualization
makes human beings
distinct from animals.
Present experience is as
important as past
experience.
Behavior is determined
by genetic physiological
and neurobiological
factors and processes.
The influence of the
central nervous system
(especially the brain) is
crucial.
Nature of
psychological
normality
Adequate balance
between id, ego,
superego. But conflict is
always present to some
degree.
Human behavior is
shaped by
environmental forces
(REINFORCEMENT) and
is a collection of
learned responses to
external stimuli. The
key learning process is
conditioning (classical
and operant).
Possession of an
adequately large
repertoire of adaptive
responses.
Ability to accept oneself,
to realize one’s potential,
to achieve intimacy with
others, to find meaning in
life.
Properly functioning
nervous system.
None as such. No
stages of development.
Different behavior is
selectively reinforced at
different ages but the
differences between a
child and an adult are
merely QUANTITATIVE.
Development of selfconcept, in particular selfregard (self-esteem).
Satisfaction of lower-level
needs as prerequisite for
high-level (growth)
needs.
Stages of behavioral/
psychological
development based on
changes in brain growth,
which are genetically
determined (ie
maturation).
Nature of
psychological
development
PSYCHOSEXUAL stages:
oral (0-1)
Anal (1-3)
Phallic (3-5/6)
Latency (5/6-puberty)
Genital (pubertymaturity)
Sequences determined by
maturation. The
individual is shaped by
early childhood
experiences.
Source: R.D. Gross. Psychology, The Science
of Mind and Behavior, Hodden & Stoughton, 1992
Cognitive
The human mind is
compared to a computer.
People are
INFORMATIONPROCESSORS, selecting
information, coding it,
storing and retrieving it
when needed. Memory,
perception and language
are central.
Proper functioning of
cognitive processes and
the ability to use them to
monitor and control
behavior.
• Stages of Cognitive
Development (eg Piaget):
sensorimotor (0-2):
Pre-operational (27);concrete operational
(7-11); formal operational
(11-15)
• Information-Processing
approach- development
of memory, perception,
language, attention, etc.