Six important theories in psychology

Six Important Schools of Thought in Psychology

By PresenterMedia.com

DESCRIPTION

• Behaviour is studied based on the biological responses, physical changes that take place

• Is alcoholism a disease?• What role does heredity

play?• How does alcohol affect the

brain and behaviour?

Sample Research QuestionDo genes affect your

intelligence and personality?

APPROACH TO STUDYING ALCOHOL ABUSE

•Biopsychology

THEORY DESCRIPTION

• Behaviour is viewed as being strongly influenced by the expectations of social groups or cultures

• Ethnicity, gender, culture, and socioeconomic status influence our behaviour

• How does alcoholism differ among cultures?

• What social pressures might cause alcohol abuse?

• Research Question• How do people of different genders and ethnicities interact with one another?

APPROACH TO STUDYING ALCOHOL ABUSE

•Sociocultural Psychology

DESCRIPTION

• Take information from environment

• Analyze it• Come up with a solution to the problem

• Behaviour is a product of internal sentences or thoughts

• How we process, store, and retrive information influences our behaviour

• What thoughts lead up to episodes of heavy drinking?

• If analyzed can drinking patterns be changed?

• Research Question• How does caffeine affect memory?

APPROACH TO STUDYING ALCOHOL ABUSE

•Cognitive Approach

DESCRIPTION

• Behaviour viewed as a reflection of internal growth

• Environment does not force us to become anything, it acts as a background for our internal growth

• Individual or self-directed choices influence our behaviour

• Do people drink because they don’t feel a sense of worth? Does alcohol provide a false esteem?

• Research Question• Do I believe I can prepare

for and pass the test?

APPROACH TO STUDYING ALCOHOL ABUSE

•Humanism

DESCRIPTION

• Behaviour is viewed as a reflection of unconscious aggressive and sexual impulses.

• Is the heavy drinking happening because of a conflict raging in the unconscious?

• Does drinking release inhibitions allowing the unconscious desires to surface?

• Research • How have the negative

childhood experiences affected the way I handle stressful situations?

APPROACH TO STUDYING ALCOHOL ABUSE

•Psychoanalysis

DESCRIPTION

• Behaviour is viewed as a product of learned responses.

• Events in the environment (rewards and punishments) influence our behaviour

• Is alcoholism learned?• Can it be unlearned?• Can new habits replace

drinking habits?

• Research• Can good study habits be

learned?

APPROACH TO STUDYING ALCOHOLISM

•Behaviorism

• Each theoretical outlook can explain behaviour• Can combine them to make your own explanation• Do handout

•Eclecticism Synthesis

COGNITIVE

BIOPSYCHOLOGICAL

PSYCHO-ANALYTICAL

BEHAVIORAL

HUMANISTIC

SOCIOCULTURAL

• Psychoanalytic

• Behaviourism

• Humanism

• Sociocultural

Analyze him:•Michael Jackson

• Psychoanalytic• HIS ALLEGED MISBEHAVIOUR WITH YOUNG BOYS, OBSESSION VIS A VIS

PLASTIC SURGERY SUGGEST HIS PERSONALITY IS ID DRIVEN. • His ego was not functioning as it should have.

Analyze him:•Michael Jackson

• Behaviourism• HIS INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR CONTINUES TO BE REWARDED WITH

EITHER GOOD OR BAD PUBLICITY. EITHER WORKS AS ATTENTION.• HE CONTINUES TO BE REWARDED WITH CONTRACTS AND VARIOUS

MUSIC AWARDS• EVEN THOUGH TWICE ACCUSED OF CHILD MOLESTATION, CONCERTS

ARE SOLD OUT• Addiction to pain killer: he was able to sleep only with these pain

killers.• Humanism

• HE IS COMPELLED TO SEEK LOVE FROM IMPERSONAL SOURCES AND HAS NO ONE TO ASSIST HIM

Analyze him:•Michael Jackson

• Humanism• HE IS COMPELLED TO SEEK LOVE FROM IMPERSONAL SOURCES AND

HAS NO ONE TO ASSIST HIM

• Sociocultural• HE LITERALLY CARVES AWAY ALL TRACES OF AFRICAN AMERICAN

FEATURES PERHAPS DUE TO THE LOWER ESTEEM IN WHICH AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE HELD.

Analyze him:•Michael Jackson

• Study the causes of behaviour

• Research Psychologists

• -Recently Mr.. Sheen has been in the news regarding his exploits with drugs, alcohol, domestic violence, prostitutes, and generally, erratic behavior. His family has intervened several times and he has attended rehab centres on numerous occasions.

•Charlie Sheen

• Sheen's personal life has also made headlines, including reports about alcohol and drug abuse and marital problems as well as allegations of domestic violence. He was fired from his role on Two and a Half Men by CBS and Warner Bros. on March 7, 2011. Sheen subsequently announced a nationwide tour.[2]

• Based upon what you know about Sheen, indicate below how each school of thought would assess his behavior.

•CHARLIE SHEEN

Use research to solve problems•Applied Psychologists

READ pages 9-13DO Questions for Discussion Page 13

READ Pages 17-19DO Questions for Discussion Page 19

Schools of Thought Handout