psychological perspectives

Psychological PerspectivesPsychological Perspectives

Prof. Abby Ngwako, M.Ed.Prof. Abby Ngwako, M.Ed.

• What is Psychology?• Activity: What would you do?

• Roots of Psychology• Today’s Perspectives on

Psychology1.Neuroscience2.Psychodynamic3.Behavioral4.Cognitive5.Humanistic

• Name that Perspective…

• Mental processes, which are comprised of our thoughts (cognition), senses (perception), and feelings (emotion), help us to understand and make sense of the world and who we are within it (Corcini & Wedding, 2000)

• Why is it “Science”?• systematic method explains human behavior and mental processes

• reasons behind behavior, mental processes or capacity

• analyzing and conducting studies

reason why psychology needs to be “science”…

More on Bystander Effect: http://psychology.about.com/od/socialpsychology/a/bystandereffect.htm

• behavior from perspective of biological functioning

• Study of heredity & evolution• Influence behavior • Brain & nervous system

• Behavior motivated by inner forces & conflicts not aware or not in control (i.e. dreams, slips of tongue, etc.)

• Origins linked to Sigmund Freud• Criticized but helps to understand & treat psychological disorders

• Understand everyday phenomena ( i.e. prejudice & aggression)

Source: Syracuse.com

• Focuses on objective, observable behavior

• Rejected psychodynamic approaches

• 1920s-John B. Watson first behaviorist• elicit desired behavior by controlling environment

• B.F. Skinner -studied how people learn new behaviors, learning processes, treating mental disorders, drug addiction, etc.

• Focuses on how people think, understand & know about world

• influences our behavior• Human thinking=computer

(information processing)1. Takes in information2. Transforms3. Stores4. Retrieves

• how people make decisions, patterns & irregularities in operation of minds

• naturally strive to grow, develop & be in control

• Capacity to seek & reach fulfillment

• Positive perspective • Carl Rogers & Abraham

Maslow• strive to reach full potential if given opportunity

• Free will• Own choices• Self-fulfillment

most behavior inherited & adaptive

Pavlov experiment with salivating dog

Charles Darwin & theory of evolution

rejects free will & believes environment determines behavior

behavior determined by unconscious & childhood experiences.

people are similar to computers in processing information

Focus on memory, perception &attention 

each person is unique & has free to change at any time

Sigmund Freud & controversial theories

N=Neuroscience P=Psychodynamic B= Behavioral C=Cognitive H=Humanistic

most behavior inherited & adaptive

Pavlov experiment with salivating dog

Charles Darwin & theory of evolution

rejects free will & believes environment determines behavior

behavior determined by unconscious & childhood experiences

people are similar to computers in processing information

Focus on memory, perception &attention 

each person is unique & has free to change at any time

Sigmund Freud & controversial theories

N=Neuroscience P=Psychodynamic B= Behavioral C=Cognitive H=Humanistic

N H P

C N B

P C B

• Corcini, R. J., & Wedding, D. (2000). Current Psychotherapies (6th ed.). Itasca, IL: F. E. Peacock.

• Editorial Board (2011). Introduction to Psychology. Words of Wisdom, LLC.

• Watson, J.B. (1924/1925). Behaviorism. New York: People's Institute Publishing Company