Psychology Themes & Theories Of Psyc Week 3 Assignment
Psychology Themes & Theories Of Psyc Week 3 Assignment
Psychology Perspectives
Behaviorist Perspective
The psychology perspective of interest is the behaviorist perspective. As the name suggests, this is a psychological perspective concerned with behavior. Humans and other animals respond differently when exposed to different environments. Therefore, behavioral psychologists manipulate the environment (stimuli) and observe how animals or humans react (response) (Mcleod, 2023). This is an exciting psychology perspective because it involves experimenting and implies that something new is always learned. Constant experimenting also enables psychologists to get a lot of experience in their fields, allowing them to be more knowledgeable as they will make better decisions.
Nature and Nurture
From a psychological point of view, nature significantly refers to innate biological factors or genetics. These are characteristics that people and animals are born with; they do not need to be taught. For instance, a child will cry when they feel pain or discomfort; this is a natural behavior. On the other hand, nurture is concerned with acquired behaviors that are influenced by the environment. For instance, children raised in different environments will react differently to the same situation. Nature and nurture are significant to the behavioral perspective of psychology because they directly impact behavior.
Interplay Between Biology and Environment
Biology and environment significantly impact behavior; they are core factors in behavioral psychology (Eccleston, 2018). Biological factors determine how animals or people behave naturally without being manipulated. On the contrary, the environment presents situations that affect how people behave. Different backgrounds result in other behaviors. Biological factors are inbuilt behaviors that people are born with. Environmental factors enable animals to acquire new behaviors depending on what they are exposed to. Behavioral psychologists consider biological and environmental factors as they study the behavior of animals.
References
Mcleod, S. (2023). Perspectives in Modern Psychology. Retrieved from https://www.simplypsychology.org/perspective.html#:~:text=The%20five%20major%20perspectives%20in,%2C%20behavioral%2C%20cognitive%20and%20humanistic.
Eccleston, T. (2018). Behavioral Psychology: Understanding Human Behavior. New York: Clanrye International Publishers.
Bobo Doll Experiment
The Bandura’s Bobo doll experiment revealed that children could learn aggression through observation (Mcleod, 2023). Children are observant and likely to pick behaviors they observe in adults. They might not show a lot of reaction, but whatever they follow sticks with them, and they will exercise it at some point in their life. The significant implication of this experiment is that the social development of children is greatly affected by what they are exposed to or what they observe. In the modern world, parents tell their children to use different media types; some have aggressive or violent content. Children will learn these behaviors and will imitate what they see. This is a lesson to parents and guardians that they should only expose their children to moral and ethical behaviors because this will enable them to learn positive social behaviors. Therefore, controlling what children are exposed to is necessary because it affects their social development.
Limitations
One of the Bobo doll experiment’s significant limitations is that the children and models are strangers. This is a unique environment for children because they are not used to it; it is not a home or familiar environment; therefore, their behavior is likely unrealistic. This implies that the experiment does not reveal the entire truth regarding how children would react after observing aggression or violent behavior.
This limitation could be addressed by conducting the study in a familiar environment. For instance, the experiment should be conducted in homes, and the models should be adults that the children are familiar with, such as parents or older siblings (Schunk, 2011). This environment is more realistic, and the results would be more dependable. While conducting studies, researchers need to ensure the environment is as natural as possible.
References
Mcleod, S. (2023). Bandura’s Bobo Doll Experiment on Social Learning. Retrieved from https://www.simplypsychology.org/bobo-doll.html
Schunk, D. (2011). Learning Theories: An Education Perspective. London: Pearson Education.
When you have a strong grasp of the basic tenets, strengths, and weaknesses of key theories of psychology, you can make an informed decision as to which theory or theories best apply in understanding a particular set of behaviors. By keeping a journal of sorts, you can document the characteristics of each theory as you learn about it. Your journaling will be a useful reference for you long after you complete this course. The Psychology Theories Template provides a matrix where you can record what you have learned about each theory.
For this Assignment, you will explore key concepts found in psychodynamic theories and begin your journaling of this week’s theories.
Begin populating the Psychology Theories Template related to this week’s theories—psychodynamic theories. As you begin populating your template, consider the following:
Identify who or what contributed to the development of the theory. Were there key researchers or seminal research that led to the theory?
Record whether the theory emphasizes nature (biology), nurture (environment), or both.
List the primary characteristics or features of the theory (its key tenets and concepts). Be sure to include if a particular period of life is emphasized.
List the noteworthy strengths and weaknesses of the theory.
(Optional) Include any notes that you find helpful in understanding and applying the theory, such as potential contemporary themes or fields of research in which the theory could be applied.
