Why do psychological theories exist?
These theories serve a number of important purposes. Let’s look at three key reasons why psychological theories exist. Theories provide a framework for understanding human behavior, thought, and development.
Is there a scientific approach to psychology that is correct?
Most psychologists would agree that no one approach is correct, although in the past, in the early days of psychology, the behaviorist would have said their perspective was the only truly scientific one. Each approach has its strengths and weaknesses, and brings something different to our understanding of human behavior.
Are there any theories that are still accepted today?
Some theories such as classical conditioning are still well-accepted today. Others, like Freud's theories, have not held up so well and have been mostly replaced by new theories that better explain human development. The overall strength of a scientific theory hinges on its ability to explain diverse phenomena.
What is the a theory of psychotherapy?
A theory of psychotherapy acts as a roadmap for psychologists: It guides them through the process of understanding clients and their problems and developing solutions. Psychoanalysis and psychodynamic therapies. This approach focuses on changing problematic behaviors, feelings, and thoughts by discovering their unconscious meanings and motivations.
What are the 4 psychological theories?
This article describes four psychosocial theories that have been useful in our practices: self-efficacy, stress and coping, learned helplessness, and social support.
What are the 7 main theories of psychology?
Here are seven of the major perspectives in modern psychology.The Psychodynamic Perspective. ... The Behavioral Perspective. ... The Cognitive Perspective. ... The Biological Perspective. ... The Cross-Cultural Perspective. ... The Evolutionary Perspective. ... The Humanistic Perspective.
What are the 3 psychological theories?
After three decades of research, three major psychological theories of time have emerged: psychodynamic theory, behavioral theory and cognitive theory.
What three 3 models or approaches theories are used to examine mental health disorders?
Mental Health Counseling TheoriesBehaviorism – Behavior is a result of life experiences, not the unconscious mind. ... Biological – This is a medical model of treating mental disorders. ... Psychodynamic – Like behaviorism, psychodynamic therapists view behavior as a result of experiences.More items...•
What is the humanistic theory?
The humanistic theory in education. In history humanistic psychology is an outlook or system of thought that focuses on human beings rather than supernatural or divine insight. This system stresses that human beings are inherently good, and that basic needs are vital to human behaviors.
What is the Behaviourism theory?
Behaviorism focuses on the idea that all behaviors are learned through interaction with the environment. This learning theory states that behaviors are learned from the environment, and says that innate or inherited factors have very little influence on behavior.
What are the 5 psychological theories?
Five Key Theories In PsychologyThe Behaviorist Theory. Behavior theory focuses on the stimulus-response behaviors. ... The Psychodynamic Theory. The psychodynamic theory of psychology helps people look at their subconscious mind. ... The Humanistic Theory. ... The Cognitive Theory. ... Biological Theory.
What is the cognitive theory?
Cognitive theories are characterized by their focus on the idea that how and what people think leads to the arousal of emotions and that certain thoughts and beliefs lead to disturbed emotions and behaviors and others lead to healthy emotions and adaptive behavior.
What is a psychodynamic theorist?
Psychodynamic theory (sometimes called psychoanalytic theory) explains personality in terms of unconscious psychological processes (for example, wishes and fears of which we're not fully aware), and contends that childhood experiences are crucial in shaping adult personality.
How does psychodynamic explain mental illness?
Psychodynamic theory states that events in our childhood have a great influence on our adult lives, shaping our personality. Events that occur in childhood can remain in the unconscious, and cause problems as adults.
How do psychodynamic cognitive behavioral theorists view mental health?
The psychodynamic theory views psychological disorders as a result of unconscious desires. The behavioral model is about the observable behaviors of the disorders. The cognitive approach seeks to change a person's thoughts in order to treat abnormality.
What are the 6 major psychological theories?
Some of the widely accepted psychological theories are the behavioral theories, the cognitive theories, humanist theories, biological theories, psychodynamic and the social psychology theories.
What are some theories that are still accepted today?
Each theory has helped contribute to our knowledge of the human mind and behavior. Some theories, such as classical conditioning , are still well accepted today. 2 Others, like Freud's theories, have not held up so well and have been mostly been replaced by new theories that better explain human development.
What are the cognitive theories of psychology?
Cognitive Theories. Cognitive theories of psychology are focused on internal states, such as motivation, problem-solving, decision-making, thinking, and attention. Such theories strive to explain different mental processes including how the mind processes information.
What do we know about human thought and behavior?
For example, behavioral theories demonstrated how conditioning can be used to promote learning. By learning more about these theories, you can gain a deeper and richer understanding of psychology's past, present, and future.
What is behavioral psychology?
Behavioral psychology, also known as behaviorism, is a theory of learning based on the idea that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning. Advocated by famous psychologists such as John B. Watson and B.F. Skinner, behavioral theories dominated psychology during the early half of the twentieth century. 7 Today, behavioral techniques are still widely used by therapists to help clients learn new skills and behaviors.
What is the purpose of psychology?
Purpose of a Psychology Theory. In psychology, theories are used to provide a model for understanding human thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Throughout psychology's history, a number of theories have been proposed to explain and predict various aspects of human behavior. It must describe a behavior.
Why is it important to study scientific theories?
Studying scientific theories can help you make better sense of what researchers mean when they talk about scientific study. It can improve your understanding of how scientific explanations for behavior and other phenomena in the natural world are formed, investigated, and accepted by the scientific community.
What is scientific theory?
A scientific theory presents an explanation about some aspect of human behavior or the natural world which is supported through repeated testing and experiments. This means that scientists have collected evidence that supports the theory. Many different researchers have gathered the evidence that supports the theory.
When did mental health parity change?
This changed with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, which requires group health plans and insurers to make sure there is parity of mental health services (U.S. Department of Labor, n.d.).
Who was the artist who ordered the removal of chains from patients at the Salpêtrière asylum in Paris?
This painting by Tony Robert-Fleury depicts Dr. Philippe Pinel ordering the removal of chains from patients at the Salpêtrière asylum in Paris. In the 19th century, Dorothea Dix led reform efforts for mental health care in the United States.
What did Dix discover about the mental health system?
She investigated how those who are mentally ill and poor were cared for, and she discovered an underfunded and unregulated system that perpetuated abuse of this population (Tiffany, 1891). Horrified by her findings, Dix began lobbying various state legislatures and the U.S. Congress for change (Tiffany, 1891).
How much did the Department of Agriculture invest in mental health?
At the end of 2013, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced an investment of $50 million to help improve access and treatment for mental health problems as part of the Obama administration’s effort to strengthen rural communities.
What does it mean to be voluntarily treated?
Other individuals might voluntarily seek treatment. Voluntary treatment means the person chooses to attend therapy to obtain relief from symptoms. Psychological treatment can occur in a variety of places. An individual might go to a community mental health center or a practitioner in private or community practice.
How long does a psychiatric hospital stay?
In all types of hospitals, the emphasis is on short-term stays, with the average length of stay being less than two weeks and often only several days.
How many shock treatments were given in 1943?
Electroshock treatment was also used, and the way the treatment was administered often broke patients’ backs; in 1943, doctors at Willard administered 1,443 shock treatments (Willard Psychiatric Center, 2009). (Electroshock is now called electroconvulsive treatment, and the therapy is still used, but with safeguards and under anesthesia.
What is behavioral theory?
tanding a certain aspect of human behavior. Behavioral theories, for example, provide a basis for understanding how people learn new things. Through the lens of these theories, we can take a closer look at some of the different ways that learning occurs as well as the factors that influence this type of learning.
Which psychologist proposed a sociocultural theory of development that is a good example of how new theories often build on older
Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory: Russian psychologist Lev Vygotsky proposed a sociocultural theory of development that is a good example of how new theories often build on older theories.
What are some examples of psychology?
Some examples of these theories include: 1 Psychoanalytic Theory: Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic theory suggests that unconscious urges and desires drive human behavior. 2 This perspective suggests that understanding these underlying and hidden thoughts can help alleviate different types of psychological discomfort and distress. 2 Behavioral Theory: The behavioral theories suggest that all human behavior can be explained by the learning processes. This approach to psychology emerged with the work of John B. Watson, who was interested in making psychology a more scientific discipline that focused exclusively on observable and measurable behaviors. 3 Inspired by the work of Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov, who had discovered and described the process of classical conditioning, Watson demonstrated how different behaviors could be conditioned. The later work of B.F. Skinner introduced the concept of operant conditioning, which looked at how reinforcement and punishment led to learning. 3 Cognitive Development Theory: Jean Piaget introduced another well-known grand theory. His theory of cognitive development described the intellectual growth of children from birth and into childhood. 4 This theory suggests that children act much like little scientists as they actively construct their knowledge of the world. 4 Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory: Russian psychologist Lev Vygotsky proposed a sociocultural theory of development that is a good example of how new theories often build on older theories. Piaget influenced Vygotsky, but his theory suggested that much of learning results from the dynamic interaction between individuals and their culture. 5
What is Freud's theory of unconscious urges?
Psychoanalytic Theory: Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic theory suggests that unconscious urges and desires drive human behavior. 2 This perspective suggests that understanding these underlying and hidden thoughts can help alleviate different types of psychological discomfort and distress.
What are some examples of grand theories?
Grand theories attempt to describe many aspects of the human experience. Examples include Freud’s psychoanalytic theory and Erikson’s psychosocial theory. Mini-theories, on the other hand, focus on describing just a narrow range of behaviors. Emergent theories are those that are newer and often involve combining different aspects ...
What is emergent theory?
Emergent theories are those that are newer and often involve combining different aspects of various mini-theories. Vygotsky's sociocultural theory is an example of an emergent theory. Some examples of these theories include:
Why do we use theories in research?
They Inspire Future Research. Theories create a basis for future research. Researchers use theories to form hypotheses that can then be tested. As new discoveries are made and incorporated into the original theory, new questions and ideas can then be explored.
4 Popular Theories, Stages, & Models
The key figures in the history of developmental psychology are predominantly known for their own theories and models.
2 Questions and Research Topics
Developmental psychology has given rise to many debatable questions and research topics. Here are two of the most commonly discussed.
Fascinating Case Studies & Research Findings
Developmental psychology has included many fascinating case studies and research findings. Here are two that we found particularly interesting.
A Look at Positive Developmental Psychology
Contemporary theories of developmental psychology often encompass a holistic approach and a more positive approach to development.
Applying Developmental Psychology in Education
The theory and findings we have shown you from developmental psychology have implications in real life.
Resources From PositivePsychology.com
There are many valuable resources to help you foster positive development if you are working with children and students. Some of these tools are from our Positive Psychology Toolkit, a science-based tool for professionals with over 370 assessments, exercises, and other interventions.
A Take-Home Message
Earlier developmental psychology models and theories were focused on specific areas, such as attachment, psychosexual, cognitive, and social learning. Although informative, they did not take in differing perspectives and were fixed paradigms.
What are the different approaches to psychotherapy?
Approaches to psychotherapy fall into five broad categories: Psychoanalysis and psychodynamic therapies. This approach focuses on changing problematic behaviors, feelings, and thoughts by discovering their unconscious meanings and motivations.
What is behavior therapy?
Behavior therapy. This approach focuses on learning's role in developing both normal and abnormal behaviors.#N#Ivan Pavlov made important contributions to behavior therapy by discovering classical conditioning, or associative learning. Pavlov's famous dogs, for example, began drooling when they heard their dinner bell, because they associated the sound with food.#N#" Desensitizing " is classical conditioning in action: A therapist might help a client with a phobia through repeated exposure to whatever it is that causes anxiety.#N#Another important thinker was E.L. Thorndike, who discovered operant conditioning. This type of learning relies on rewards and punishments to shape people's behavior.#N#Several variations have developed since behavior therapy's emergence in the 1950s. One variation is cognitive-behavioral therapy, which focuses on both thoughts and behaviors. 1 Ivan Pavlov made important contributions to behavior therapy by discovering classical conditioning, or associative learning. Pavlov's famous dogs, for example, began drooling when they heard their dinner bell, because they associated the sound with food. 2 " Desensitizing " is classical conditioning in action: A therapist might help a client with a phobia through repeated exposure to whatever it is that causes anxiety. 3 Another important thinker was E.L. Thorndike, who discovered operant conditioning. This type of learning relies on rewards and punishments to shape people's behavior. 4 Several variations have developed since behavior therapy's emergence in the 1950s. One variation is cognitive-behavioral therapy, which focuses on both thoughts and behaviors.
What is cognitive behavioral therapy?
One variation is cognitive-behavioral therapy, which focuses on both thoughts and behaviors. Cognitive therapy. Cognitive therapy emphasizes what people think rather than what they do. Cognitive therapists believe that it's dysfunctional thinking that leads to dysfunctional emotions or behaviors.
Who are the major figures in cognitive therapy?
Major figures in cognitive therapy include Albert Ellis and Aaron Beck. Humanistic therapy. This approach emphasizes people's capacity to make rational choices and develop to their maximum potential. Concern and respect for others are also important themes.
Do therapists tie themselves to one approach?
Many therapists don't tie themselves to any one approach. Instead, they blend elements from different approaches and tailor their treatment according to each client's needs. Adapted from the Encyclopedia of Psychology. Date created: 2009.
Why do people suggest group therapy?
Instability of mood, thought, and interpersonal involvement. Many suggest group therapy because treatment on an individual basis has proved extremely difficult. The intensity and intimacy of one on one sessions is often too heavy a task for the BC.
What is combined therapy?
Combined therapy is. when a client is treated by the same therapist in both individual and group therapy. Conjoint therapy refers to. a treatment format in which the client is seen by one therapist for individual therapy and a different one for group therapy.
What is interpersonal compatibility?
Interpersonal compatibility (individuals who have interpersonal needs that happen to blend well with those of the other group members) 3. Other sociometric measures. Typically, young, well-educated, intelligent and introspective.
What is crosstalk in therapy?
Crosstalk can be any direct inquiry, suggestion, advice, feedback or criticism. AA prohibits "crosstalk" and some clients may be unfamiliar with the concept when engaging in mainstream group therapy. The common misconceptions held by group therapists and by members of AA: i.
What is extragrouping in social studies?
extragrouping is the precursor to subgrouping. They socialize, get coffee and if they come back and share it with the group as a whole, it can enhance the group. If they don't share with the group, it becomes subgrouping, which is detrimental to the group process. the effects of subgrouping.
What is the first stage of here and now?
1. socialization anxiety. 2. social norms (don't want to feel free to comment on the behaviors of others) 3. fear of retaliation. 4. power maintenance (playing the game to move up) The first stage of the here-and-now. activating phase- the therapist's task is to move the group into the here and now.
What is the human struggle?
The human's paramount struggle is with the "givens" of existence, the ultimate concerns of the human condition: death, isolation, freedom, and meaninglessness. Anxiety emerges from basic conflicts in each of these realms: 1. we wish to continue to be and yet are aware of inevitable death.
What is personality theory?
Personality is an individual's characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting. Psychodynamic theories view personality from the perspective that behavior is a dynamic interaction between the conscious and unconscious mind. These theories trace their origin to Sigmund Freud's theory of psychoanalysis.
What did Freud conclude about unconscious thoughts?
In treating patients whose disorders had no clear physical explanation, Freud concluded that these problems reflected unacceptable thoughts and feelings, hidden away in the unconscious mind. To explore this hidden part of a patient's mind, Freud used free association and dream analysis. Click again to see term 👆.
What did Freud draw attention to?
They give Freud credit for drawing attention to the vast unconscious, to the struggle to cope with our sexuality, to the conflict between biological impulses and social restraints, and for some forms of defense mechanisms (false consensus effect/projection; reaction formation) and unconscious terror-management defenses.
What is Freud's view of the unconscious?
But his concept of repression, and his view of the unconscious as a collection of repressed and unacceptable thoughts, wishes, feelings, and memories, cannot survive scientific scrutiny. Freud offered after-the-fact explanations, which are hard to test scientifically.
What do trait theorists see in personality?
Trait theorists see personality as a stable and enduring pattern of behavior. They describe our differences rather than trying to explain them. Using factor analysis, they identify clusters of behavior tendencies that occur together. Genetic predispositions influence many traits.
What is projective personality test?
Projective tests attempt to assess personality by showing people ambiguous stimuli (open to many possible interpretations) and treating their answers as revelations of unconscious motives . One such test, the Rorschach inkblot test, has low reliability and validity except in a few areas, such as hostility and anxiety.
What do psychologists believe about our childhood experiences?
They stress, with support from modern research findings, the view that much of our mental life is unconscious, and they believe that our childhood experiences influence our adult personality and attachment patterns. Many also believe that our species' shared evolutionary history shaped some universal predispositions.
What is a psychology perspective?
An approach is a perspective (i.e., view) that involves certain assumptions (i.e., beliefs) about human behavior: the way they function, which aspects of them are worthy of study and what research methods are appropriate for undertaking this study.
What is the layperson's idea of psychology?
If your layperson's idea of psychology has always been about people in laboratories wearing white coats and watching hapless rats try to negotiate mazes in order to get to their dinner, then you are probably thinking about behavioral psychology.
What is humanistic psychology?
Humanistcic Perspective. Humanistic psychology is a psychological perspective that emphasizes the study of the whole person (know as holism). Humanistic psychologists look at human behavior, not only through the eyes of the observer, but through the eyes of the person doing the behaving.
What are the five perspectives of psychology?
The five major perspectives in psychology are biological, psychodynamic, behavioral, cognitive and humanistic. You may wonder why there are so many different psychology approaches and whether one approach is correct and others wrong. Most psychologists would agree that no one approach is correct, although in the past, ...
What are the two processes that behaviorists propose?
The behaviorist perspective proposes two main processes whereby people learn from their environment: namely classical conditioning and operant conditioning. Classical conditioning involves learning by association, and operant conditioning involves learning from the consequences of behavior.
What is Freud's theory of psychosexual development?
An aspect of psychoanalysis is Freud's theory of psychosexual development. It shows how early experiences affect adult personality. Stimulation of different areas of the body is important as the child progresses through the important developmental stages. Too much or too little can have bad consequences later.
Why are testosterone deprived men less aggressive?
Testosterone-deprived men are less likely to wander off in search of new mates to inseminate. They are also less aggressive, which is useful when there is a baby around. Biological psychologists explain behaviors in neurological terms, i.e., the physiology and structure of the brain and how this influences behavior.
