Perspectives of Psychology. Psychology Essay Paper

Psychology
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Psychology
Part I: Perspectives of Psychology
The Behavioral perspective mainly talks about behaviorism that focusses on observable traits that may be caused by the environment. In this perspective, behaviors may be formed through learning or experiences of an individual (King, 2010). One example in this perspective is classical conditioning, which explains that behaviour may be conditioned in an individual or animal through associating it with a particular action.
The cognitive perspective defines the mental processes of individuals that mainly involve memory, such as problem-solving. The cognitive aspects lie in the acknowledgement of internal mental states such as motivation and belief while rejecting introspection as a mode of investigation (Robertson, 2016). For example, the cognitive theory of development tries to explain the impact of growth in children over time. It explains how there is a significant shift in how children think and reason as they become older.
Apart from that, the humanistic perspective takes a holistic approach to understand human behaviour with existence based on concepts such as self-actualization, meaning and freedom. This means that human beings act on free will thus have the capability and potential for achievement of different attributes (King, 2010). An example of this perspective is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs that explains the desires of human beings to reach their full potential throughout their lifetime. Therefore, harmony and contentment may only be achieved at the peak of this hierarchy of needs that range from basic amenities such as food and water.
The socio-cultural perspectives relate to the impact of both societal and cultural forces that impact behaviour. These forces include religion, politics, traditions, gender roles and racial identities. For instance, cognitive bias evidently affects the behaviour of human beings as well as how they perceive the world around them (King, 2010). Such bias can be used to explain the cause and effects of racism due to discrimination on the part of particular individuals.
Part II: Importance of course objectives
Define the science of Psychology
Through the definition of the science of psychology, learners can understand the basics of psychology and the reasons why it is essential. Psychology involves the scientific study of behavior in human beings, thus highlighting how brain functions and environments affect human beings. Furthermore, learners can, therefore, prepare to link this behavior to understand shed light on how humans live on earth. By understanding how psychology works, it is then possible to understand its scientific nature and how it can be applied across various secto...