The Seven Perspectives of Psychology

1) Neroscience/ Biological: focuses on how the physical body and brain creates our emotion, memories and sensory experiences.
-Ex: After years of research, a neuroscientist believes that she has found a hormone that is related to eating disorders.


2) Evolutionary: focuses on Darwinism, we behave the way we do because we do because we inherited those behaviors. Thus, those behaviors must have helped ensure our ancestors survival.
-Ex: which modern perspective focuses on explaining behavior in terms of the adaptive value of abilities preserved over time by natural selection?


3) Psychodynamic: Fathered by Sigmund Frued, our behavior comes from unconscious drives, usually stemming from our childhood.
-Ex: which historical school of thought explained behavior in terms of the adaptive value of abilities preserved over time by natural selection?


4) Behavioral perspective: Focuses on our observable behaviors, only cares about the behaviors that impair our living, and attempts to change them.
-Ex: which perspective would most agree with the statement that "psychology should only study what is observable and measurable"


5) Cognitive: Focuses on how we think (or encode information), how did we learn to act sad or happy? cognitive therapist attempt to change the way we think.
-Ex: a psychologist believes that depression is the result of irrational and excessively negative thoughts. 


6) sociocultural: focuses on how your culture affects your behavior.
-Ex: a psychologist explores the differences in how Asian and North Americans express emotion publicly. 


7) Humanistic: focuses on positive growth, attempts to seek self- actualization.
-Ex: which perspective would say that aggression occurs when individuals are blocked from achieving their goals and prevented from achieving the most out of life. 

Click here to learn more!

Comments