Overview
This lecture introduces the seven major perspectives in psychology, outlines their key features, and presents the integrative biopsychosocial model.
The Seven Major Perspectives
- Psychodynamic Perspective: Focuses on unconscious motives, conflicts, and early childhood experiences (Freud, defense mechanisms, repression).
- Behavioral Perspective: Emphasizes learning by observable behavior shaped by the environment (conditioning, reinforcement, punishment; Watson, Skinner).
- Humanistic Perspective: Highlights free will, self-actualization, and positive growth (Maslow, Rogers, unconditional positive regard).
- Cognitive Perspective: Studies conscious thought processes like thinking, memory, attention, and information processing.
- Biological Perspective: Examines the influence of genetics, brain, neurons, neurotransmitters, and hormones on behavior (medical/neuroscience model).
- Evolutionary Perspective: Focuses on how natural selection and adaptation shape behaviors and mental processes for survival and reproduction (Darwin).
- Sociocultural Perspective: Investigates how society, culture, social norms, and categories (e.g., gender, class) influence behavior and thinking.
The Biopsychosocial Model
- Integrates biological, psychological, and social perspectives to explain complex human behavior and mental processes.
- Most contemporary psychologists use this model (eclectic view).
Review Questions & Key Comparisons
- Cognitive: Focuses on conscious thought and thinking processes.
- Humanistic: Emphasizes personal growth and making positive choices.
- Evolutionary: Centers on adaptive behavior for survival and reproduction.
- Biological: Studies the influence of genes and biology on actions.
- Behavioral: Examines how learning and environment shape behavior.
- Biopsychosocial: Integrates multiple perspectives for a comprehensive view.
- Psychodynamic: Investigates unconscious conflicts rooted in childhood.
- Sociocultural: Explores the impact of social norms and culture on behavior.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Unconscious — mental processes outside awareness, often from early experiences.
- Conditioning — learning through association or reinforcement.
- Self-actualization — achieving one's full potential.
- Reinforcement — increasing behavior through rewards.
- Natural Selection — evolutionary process favoring traits for survival.
- Norms — accepted standards of behavior in a society or group.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the definitions and key features of each psychological perspective.
- Be able to identify perspectives based on scenarios or keywords.
- Prepare for quiz or discussion on how perspectives differ and integrate.