The Big 7 Contemporary Psychological Perspectives Most common

“The Big 7” Contemporary Psychological Perspectives Most common ways psychologists view behavior Emphasize different influences that shape behavior Focus on different topics to further investigate the differing interpretations of psychology

Learning/Behavioral Perspective Subject matter/forces that influence Environmental Learning Observational Learning Major belief Personal experience and reinforcement guide individual development ○ What you do, not what you know ○ You recognize when circumstances call for certain behavior

Learning/Behavioral Perspective Ivan Pavlov-dogs learned to salivate at sound of bell John Watson-Little Albert experiment B. F. Skinner-Skinner box experiments Edward Thorndike-Puzzle boxes with cats. Trial & error learning

Psychoanalytic Perspective Subject matter/forces that influence Unconscious processes Early childhood experiences Observational learning Major belief Unconscious motives influence behavior ○ Sexual and aggressive impulses

Psychoanalytic Perspective Sigmund Freud-unconscious desires & conflicts Carl Jung-collective unconsciousness Alfred Adler-inferiority complex Karen Horney “horn-eye”-parental indifference/child’s perception

Cognitive Perspective Subject matter/forces that influence Interpretation of mental images Thinking Language Values, perceptions, and choices Major belief Perceptions and thoughts influence behavior Computer analogy

Cognitive Perspective Elizabeth Loftus-Memory/eyewitness testimony George Miller-”Magic number 7” chunking memory Herman Ebbinghaus-maintenance rehearsal

Biological Perspective Subject matter/forces that influence Nervous system Glands and hormones Genetic factors Major belief Biological processes influence behavior and mental processes.

Biological Perspective Franz Gall-Localization of mental functions in brain James Olds & Peter Milner-electrodes in rats’ brains/”pleasure center” Wilder Penfield-electro brain stimulation/sensor & motor maps Paul Broca & Carl Wernicke-language centers in brain

Evolutionary Perspective Subject matter/forces that influence Physical traits/ Inherited tendencies Social behavior Major belief Adaptive organisms survive and transmit their genes to future generations ○ Evolution of behavior and mental processes ○ Inherited tendencies influence people

Evolutionary Perspective Charles Darwin-father of evolution Thomas Bouchard-twin studies Nancy Pedersen-twin studies Dmitry Belyaev-silver fox breeding David Buss-mating strategies/gender differences

Humanistic Perspective Subject matter/forces that influence Self concept/self fulfillment Major belief People make free and conscious choices based on their unique experiences ○ Importance of self-fulfillment, consciousness, self-awareness, and choices ○ We “invent” ourselves

Humanistic Perspective Carl Rodgers-free choice, self-concept Abraham Maslow-hierarchy of needs, self actualization

Sociocultural Perspective Subject matter/forces that influence Ethnicity Gender (cultural expectations & social roles) Culture Socioeconomic status Major belief Sociocultural, biological, and psychological factors create individual differences

Sociocultural Perspective John Williams & Deborah Best-sexual stereotypes, masculinity/femininity Soloman Asch-social conformity Lev Vygotsky-a child's development is a direct result of his or her culture

Big 7 Review Perspectives (match letter to following statements) A-Learning/Behavioral B-Psychoanalytic C-Cognitive D-Biological E-Evolutionary F-Humanistic G-Sociocultural

Big 7 Review Statements 1. Jamal is 13 and very moody. His parents think it is because of his raging hormones. 2. Melissa didn’t talk to anyone Friday night because she thought that everyone hated her. 3. Jose hits all the girls in class because he unconsciously loves them all.

4. Chris is unable to get good grades because he is having problems at home. 5. William usually avoids everyone from the suburbs. 6. Diana gets $5 each week for cleaning her room. Diana loves cleaning. 7. Basha is very outgoing like her mother and brother. Who thinks that they got a perfect score?

Answers 1 -D Biological Jamal/hormones 2 -C Cognitive Melissa/thought 3 -B Psychoanalytic Jose/unconsciously 4 -F Humanistic Chris/home 5 -G Sociocultural William/suburbs 6 -A Behavioral Diana/$ 7 -E Evolutionary Basha/mom&brother

Big 7 Review Alcoholism as an example…possible views… A-Learning/Behavioral-learned from parents B-Psychoanalytic-repressed anger C-Cognitive-lots of booze is normal D-Biological-chemical imbalance E-Evolutionary-genetic predisposition F-Humanistic-chose booze over jogging/karate G-Sociocultural-drinking more acceptable in culture