zacpsychology - Approaches to psychology

Biopsychological Approach

Examine behavior in terms of physical changes that take place
Study the physical processes that take place when you panic and relax
How the physical “you” affects your behavior
Behavioral Approach
- People are the product of learning and associations
- B. F. Skinner: Focused only on what could be observed
  - People are a creation of their environment

Psychoanalytic Approach

- Individuals are the product of unconscious forces
- Freudian Slip: When you accidentally say one thing and mean another
- Humanistic Approach
  - Believe that people are basically good and will reach
  - personal perfection if all goes well
  - Personal growth in internal and individual
  - Cognitive Approach
    - Emphasizes how humans use mental processes to handle problems or develop certain personality characteristics
    - Humans can take information from the environment, analyze it and solve problems
    - Very popular today
    - Sociocultural Approach
      - Studies the impact of specific social, ethnic, racial, and religious groups on behavior
      - Every culture has different rules and expectations