Overview
This lecture reviews and compares key psychological approaches, focusing on methodology, debates, reductionism, determinism, and their application to psychological treatments.
Comparing Approaches: Methodology
- Biological approach uses objective measures like fMRI and genetic tests, making it highly scientific.
- Behavioral approach relies on observable stimulus-response behaviors in controlled experiments, allowing for replication.
- Social learning theory uses experiments but studies internal mediational processes, which must be inferred and are less directly observable.
- Cognitive psychology uses controlled experiments for theoretical models but infers internal processes, so it's not fully scientific.
- Psychodynamic approach uses introspective case studies, leading to bias and lack of operational definitions, making it less scientific.
- Humanistic psychology rejects scientific methods, arguing behavior is too complex and lacks empirical evidence.
Determinism vs. Free Will
- Behaviorists are hard environmental determinists, claiming behavior is shaped entirely by environmental reward and punishment.
- Social learning theorists are environmentally deterministic but include reciprocal determinism (environment and behavior influence each other).
- Cognitive psychologists are soft determinists, allowing for conscious modification of thought processes (e.g., cognitive restructuring).
- Biological approach is biologically deterministic, attributing behavior to genetics and brain chemistry.
- Psychodynamic approach supports psychic determinism, behaviors result from unconscious drives shaped in childhood.
- Humanistic psychology uniquely argues for free will and personal agency.
Nature-Nurture Debate
- Behaviorists stress nurture, focusing on environmental stimuli and reinforcement, though innate reflexes (nature) also play a role.
- Social learning theory emphasizes nurture, with behavior shaped by observation and social experiences.
- Cognitive psychologists accept both, but focus more on nurture (learning schemas from experience).
- Biological psychologists advocate nature, attributing behavior to hereditary and biological processes.
- Psychodynamic approach integrates both—biological stages and environmental experiences.
- Humanists are holistic, considering both nature (genes) and nurture (experiences, culture).
Reductionism and Holism
- Behavioral and biological approaches are highly reductionist, reducing behavior to simple or chemical processes.
- Social learning theory is less reductionist, considering internal processes.
- Cognitive approach is criticized for machine reductionism, oversimplifying mental processes.
- Psychodynamic approach is less reductionist, considering multiple interacting factors.
- Humanistic psychology rejects reductionism, advocating for holistic explanations that include a broad range of influences.
Application to Psychological Treatments
- Behaviorist treatments: flooding and systematic desensitization for phobias.
- Social learning theory treatments: use of modeling to change maladaptive behaviors.
- Cognitive approach: development of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to restructure irrational thoughts.
- Biological treatments: drug therapies and brain surgery to alter biological processes.
- Psychodynamic treatment: psychoanalysis and talking therapies focusing on unconscious processes.
- Humanistic therapy: client-centered therapy emphasizing personal growth and unconditional positive regard.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Determinism — the view that behavior is caused by factors outside individual control.
- Reductionism — explaining complex behavior by reducing it to simpler components.
- Holism — explaining behavior by considering a wide range of factors.
- Empirical evidence — information gained by observation or experiment.
- Reciprocal determinism — concept that behavior and environment influence each other.
- CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) — therapy to change negative thought patterns.
- Systematic desensitization — behavioral therapy for phobias using gradual exposure.
- Client-centered therapy — humanistic therapy focused on personal growth.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Fill out the provided comparison sheet for each approach using these core topics.
- Prepare to answer comparison essay questions by directly contrasting approaches on each issue.