2. Current approaches/ perspectives/ models
The major approaches to study Psychology are
following:
i) The biological approach/ model
ii) The psychodynamic approach/model
iii) The cognitive approach/ model
iv) The behavioral approach/ model
V) The humanistic approach/ model
3. i) The biological approach/ model
According to this approach, the behavior of people
and animals should be considered from the view of
their biological functioning.
The study of brain and nervous system helps us
interpret perception, memory emotions and
psychological disorders, etc.
4. ii) The psychodynamic approach/model
The psychodynamic theory emphasizes unconscious
motivation and the influence of sexual and aggressive
drives on behavior. It has major impact in the fields of
personality, psychological disorders and therapy
5. iii) The cognitive approach/ model
This approach includes the study of mental processes,
such as thinking, perception, memory and problem
solving. Cognitive psychologists seek to explain how
we process information and how our ways of thinking
about the world influence our behavior.
6. iv) The behavioral approach/ model
The behavioral approach concentrates on observable
behavior. It suggests that an understanding and
control of a person’s environment is sufficient to fully
explain and modify behavior.
7. V) The humanistic approach/ model
The humanistic approach emphasizes that people are
unique and complex organism; each person has a
capacity to reach his or her maximum potential. It is
specially important in the field of personality ,
motivation and psychotherapy.
8. Psychology today
All these five approaches have come to dominate
psychology in the 21st
century. These models add to
our understanding of why human beings behave the
way they do.
Psychologists with different view points have
different things to say; each tackles the issue from
different angle and contribute different insights.
9. Psychology today
They are now more likely to have an eclectic
approach to study behavior and cognitive processes.
10. Psychology as a science
Psychology is a science of behavior including a
person’s overt behavior and his cognitive mental
processes.
As a science, psychology shares goals and scientific
methods with other sciences, such as biology,
chemistry, etc.
Psychologist begin with a body of knowledge and
then proceed to investigate. They use a variety of
methods
11. Psychology as a science
for this purpose. These research methods allow them
to reach the goals of description, explanation,
prediction and control.
Psychology is comprised of systematized knowledge
that is gathered by carefully measuring and observing
events.
Theories are used to summarize observation and to
predict the outcomes of
12. Psychology as a science
future observations.
Another important aspect of psychology as a science
is its use of measurement_ the assignment of
numbers to objects or events according to certain
rules.
