ch 02 Perspectives of Psychology from different angels.pptx

psychology

1. Perspectives of Psychology Ch 02

2. Perspective Means What? Psychological perspectives are different ways to understand why people think, feel, and act the way they do. Psychological perspectives are different ways psychologists’ study and explain human behavior, thoughts, and feelings. Each perspective looks at different reasons for why we act the way we do and offers ways to understand or treat mental health issues.

3. Biological Perspective This perspective suggests that behavior, thoughts, and feelings are influenced by biological factors such as the brain, genes, hormones, and the nervous system. Examples: Depression:  Linked to low levels of the brain chemical serotonin. Aggression:  Linked to high levels of the hormone testosterone. ADHD-like behavior:  Might be inherited through genes from a parent.

4. Behavioral Perspective The behavioral perspective focuses on how our behaviors are learned from the environment through rewards (reinforcement), punishments, and observation. This perspective focuses on observable behaviors, not internal thoughts or feelings. Examples: Reward:  A child cleans their room for candy and repeats the behavior. Punishment:  A student stops talking in class after being scolded. Observation:  A boy raises his hand after seeing his friend get praised for it.

5. Cognitive Perspective This perspective emphasizes that our thoughts affect our feelings and behaviors . It focuses on mental processes like thinking, remembering, learning, and problem-solving. Examples: Test Anxiety:  Thinking "I will fail" leads to nervousness and poor performance. Friend Not Replying:  Thinking "They are ignoring me" causes upset, while thinking "They are busy" leads to calmness. The way you think about a friend not replying to a message—either that they're busy or ignoring you—will change how you feel. Memory:  Repeating a phone number to remember it.

6. Psychodynamic Perspective Started by Sigmund Freud, the psychodynamic perspective highlights that behaviour & personality is shaped by the unconscious mind , childhood experiences, hidden feelings, and  internal conflicts  that we are not aware of. Freud's Iceberg Model: Conscious (tip):  What you are aware of. Subconscious (middle):  Memories you can recall. Unconscious (base):  Hidden fears, shames, and childhood trauma. Examples: Unexplained Social Anxiety:  Caused by a buried memory of childhood bullying. Guilt/Anxiety:  Driven by unresolved unconscious conflicts from past mistakes. an adult's shyness might stem from a childhood memory of being criticized by their parents, even if they don't consciously remember the event.

7. Humanistic Perspective The humanistic perspective is based on the idea that people are naturally good , have free will, and are motivated to grow, improve and achieve their full potential, or self-actualization , when they feel supported and accepted. Free will, self-growth, self-actualization, and the need for acceptance. Examples: Pursuing a Passion:  Taking art classes to grow and express yourself. Choosing Your Path:  Becoming a teacher instead of a doctor against parental wishes. P ursuing a passion like painting to express yourself or choosing to become a teacher instead of a doctor to follow your own goals. Helping Others:  Volunteering to make a difference and find meaning. Feeling valued when a friend listens without judgment is also a key part of this perspective

8. Sociocultural Perspective This perspective examines how a person’s behaviour is influences by society, culture, family, and friends norms and they influence their thoughts, feelings, and behavior. How the people and culture around us shape our thinking, feelings, and actions. Examples: Greeting Customs:  Shaking hands vs. bowing based on culture. Clothing Choices:  Wearing a shalwar kameez vs. jeans based on society and tradition. Family Pressure:  Choosing a career to meet family expectations. Social Media:  Feeling pressure to post a "perfect" life because others do.

9. Evolutionary Perspective The evolutionary perspective explains behavior as an adaptation that helped our ancestors survive and reproduce . Thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are  adaptations  that helped our ancestors  survive, reproduce, and pass on their genes . Explaining modern behavior through its evolutionary advantage in our past. Examples: Fears:  Fear of snakes or heights helped early humans avoid danger. Attraction:  Being attracted to healthy, strong partners helped ensure healthy offspring. Protectiveness:  Parents protecting children helped keep the family line alive. Seeking Status:  Wanting power and resources (e.g., climbing the corporate ladder) for better survival and mating opportunities.

10. Exercise: Identification of Psychological Perspectives Instructions: Below are various scenarios or behaviors. Read each one carefully and then identify which psychological perspective best explains the behavior. For each scenario, choose one of the following perspectives: Behaviorism Cognitive Psychology Humanistic Psychology Psychodynamic Psychology Biopsychological Perspective Sociocultural Perspective Evolutionary Psychology After identifying the perspective, briefly explain why you chose that perspective.

11. 1. Scenario: Sarah has a fear of public speaking. She remembers an incident in childhood where she was laughed at while speaking in front of her class. This fear has persisted into her adulthood. Perspective: Psychodynamic Psychology Explanation: This scenario relates to Freud's psychodynamic theory, which emphasizes how early childhood experiences (in this case, being laughed at) influence adult behavior and emotions. Sarah's fear is tied to unconscious memories and unresolved childhood experiences. 2. Scenario: John feels happier and more satisfied when he spends time helping others. He volunteers regularly at a local shelter and feels like he is fulfilling his potential. Perspective: Humanistic Psychology Explanation: Humanistic psychology focuses on personal growth and self-actualization. John’s sense of fulfillment from helping others reflects the humanistic emphasis on achieving one’s potential and finding meaning in life. 3. Scenario: Daniel often finds himself feeling overwhelmed with the thoughts of his past mistakes. He feels guilty and anxious about situations that occurred years ago and they continue to affect his decisions today. Perspective: Psychodynamic Psychology Explanation: Daniel’s anxiety and guilt about past mistakes point to unresolved unconscious conflicts from earlier in life. Psychodynamic psychology focuses on how unresolved issues from the past influence current behaviors and emotions.

12. 4. Scenario: Tom always feels a rush of excitement when he wins a game. He believes that the more he practices and wins, the more rewarding the game becomes. Perspective: Behaviorism Explanation: This scenario illustrates operant conditioning, a concept from behaviorism. Tom’s excitement from winning is reinforced each time he practices and succeeds, which strengthens the behavior (playing the game and winning). 5. Scenario: Maya often feels very connected to her cultural traditions, especially during the holidays. She enjoys participating in communal events and feels a strong sense of belonging with her family and community. Perspective: Sociocultural Perspective Explanation: This behavior reflects the influence of culture and social norms. Maya’s sense of belonging and participation in cultural traditions shows how societal and cultural factors shape behavior and emotional connection. 6. Scenario: Liam finds that when he has enough sleep and eats well, his mood and focus improve. He is also more productive and able to deal with stress much better. Perspective: Biopsychological Perspective Explanation: The biopsychological perspective examines the relationship between the brain, body, and behavior. Liam's improved mood and productivity from proper sleep and nutrition are physiological factors influencing his mental state and behavior.

13. 7. Scenario: Emily tends to choose her romantic partners based on physical appearance and health. She is more attracted to people who seem physically fit and have clear skin. Perspective: Evolutionary Psychology Explanation: Evolutionary psychology suggests that physical traits like health and fitness are signals of genetic fitness and reproductive success. Emily's attraction to healthy, fit partners could be an evolved preference for traits that increase the likelihood of healthy offspring. 8. Scenario: Alice struggles with remembering important details, like people's names or dates, even though she has been repeatedly exposed to the information. Perspective: Cognitive Psychology Explanation: This scenario relates to cognitive psychology, which studies mental processes like memory and learning. Alice’s struggle with remembering names and dates can be attributed to issues in her cognitive processing, such as encoding, storage, or retrieval of information. 9. Scenario: Mark feels a deep need to climb the corporate ladder at his job. He believes that if he gains more power and recognition, he will have better opportunities and resources for himself and his family. Perspective: Evolutionary Psychology Explanation: From an evolutionary perspective, individuals may be driven to seek status and power because it increases access to resources, protection, and mating opportunities. Mark’s desire to climb the corporate ladder could be rooted in instincts for survival and resource acquisition.