Comparison of Approaches in Psychology

This section provides a comparison of the approaches in psychology. Each psychological approach offers unique insights into human behaviour and mental processes, differing in assumptions, methods, and focus. This comparison highlights the core similarities and differences between the Learning Approaches, Cognitive Approach, Biological Approach, Psychodynamic Approach, and Humanistic Psychology.

Determinism vs. Free Will

Learning Approaches: Primarily deterministic, viewing behaviour as determined by environmental influences and conditioning. In behaviourism, individuals are largely controlled by stimuli and reinforcement patterns in their environment. Social Learning Theory (SLT), however, allows some role for free will by acknowledging cognitive processes and the ability to choose behaviours to imitate.

Cognitive Approach: Soft determinism; it recognises that internal mental processes guide behaviour, suggesting that individuals can make choices based on their cognitive processing. However, it implies that these choices are influenced by information processing constraints.

Biological Approach: Biologically deterministic, suggesting that behaviour is strongly influenced by genetic, neurochemical, and structural factors. The approach argues that biological factors set the parameters within which behaviour occurs, with little room for free will.

Psychodynamic Approach: Psychic determinism; it posits that behaviour is driven by unconscious forces, early experiences, and unresolved conflicts. Freud argued that much of behaviour is beyond conscious control, determined by the Id, Ego, and Superego’s conflicts.

Humanistic Psychology: Emphasises free will, viewing individuals as active agents capable of making choices and taking responsibility for their actions. This approach argues that people are not controlled by biology or environment but are motivated by the drive towards self-actualisation.

Nature vs. Nurture

Learning Approaches: Emphasises nurture. Behaviourism argues that behaviour is learned from the environment through conditioning. SLT also stresses environmental learning, though it acknowledges that cognitive factors (potentially influenced by biology) play a role.

Cognitive Approach: Interactionist, considering both nature and nurture. Cognitive processes are thought to have a biological basis, but experiences shape how individuals think and process information.

Biological Approach: Strongly on the nature side, it focuses on genetic inheritance, neurochemistry, and brain structure as determinants of behaviour. Evolutionary psychology within this approach also considers the role of natural selection.

Psychodynamic Approach: Interactionist but leans toward nature. Freud believed in innate drives and instincts (like the sexual and aggressive drives). However, he also stressed the importance of early experiences (nurture) in personality development.

Humanistic Psychology: Interactionist, acknowledging both nature and nurture. While individuals have an innate drive towards self-actualisation, their environment (such as conditions of worth and relationships) also influences development.

Scientific Methods and Evidence

Learning Approaches: Highly scientific, especially in behaviourism. This approach relies on controlled laboratory experiments (e.g., Pavlov’s and Skinner’s research) to study observable behaviour. SLT uses experimental methods but also incorporates observational research.

Cognitive Approach: Scientific, using rigorous experimental methods to study mental processes. Cognitive psychologists often rely on laboratory studies and computer models to make inferences about cognitive functions, although some argue that studying cognition is less directly observable than behaviour.

Biological Approach: Highly scientific, using methods like brain scans, drug trials, and genetic testing to investigate biological influences on behaviour. The use of advanced technology allows precise measurement and objective evidence.

Psychodynamic Approach: Less scientific, as it relies heavily on case studies (e.g., Little Hans) and subjective interpretations, particularly through methods like dream analysis and free association. Its concepts (e.g., the unconscious mind) are difficult to test empirically, leading to criticism regarding scientific validity.

Humanistic Psychology: Not scientific in the traditional sense; it values qualitative methods such as interviews, aiming to understand subjective experiences rather than measurable behaviour. The humanistic approach is often criticised for lacking objective evidence and falsifiability.

Approach to Treatment

Learning Approaches: Behavioural therapies (e.g., systematic desensitisation for phobias) focus on reconditioning maladaptive behaviours. SLT principles are applied in social skills training and behavioural modelling, particularly for social or observational learning deficits.

Cognitive Approach: Led to Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which addresses dysfunctional thoughts to modify behaviour. CBT has been highly effective in treating disorders like depression and anxiety by focusing on altering maladaptive thinking patterns.

Biological Approach: Biological treatments focus on physical interventions, such as medication (antidepressants, antipsychotics) or surgery in severe cases. Drug therapies are based on understanding neurochemical imbalances and aim to correct these imbalances.

Psychodynamic Approach: Developed psychoanalysis, which aims to uncover unconscious conflicts and unresolved childhood issues. Techniques such as dream analysis, free association, and transference are used to gain insight into unconscious motivations and work through repressed conflicts.

Humanistic Psychology: Influential in counselling psychology through client-centred therapy, which focuses on empathy, unconditional positive regard, and helping clients achieve congruence. This approach promotes self-acceptance and personal growth, rather than focusing on diagnosis or pathology.

Views on Development

Learning Approaches: Focuses on learning processes throughout the lifespan but does not have a specific developmental framework. Behaviourists believe learning occurs through continuous interactions with the environment.

Cognitive Approach: Cognitive development is central, with frameworks like Piaget’s theory explaining how thought processes evolve with age. Cognitive psychologists often study changes in information processing across the lifespan.

Biological Approach: Considers development as largely driven by genetic and biological maturation. Emphasis is on how genes and neurobiology influence behaviour over the lifespan, but it does not have a stage-based model of development.

Psychodynamic Approach: Focuses on psychosexual stages, suggesting that personality development occurs through stages influenced by early childhood experiences. Freud’s theory highlights the importance of childhood in shaping adult personality and psychological health.

Humanistic Psychology: Emphasises ongoing development towards self-actualisation. Rogers and Maslow viewed development as a lifelong journey focused on personal growth, without specific stages or age-based milestones.

Reductionism vs. Holism

Learning Approaches: Highly reductionist, breaking behaviour down into stimulus-response associations or reinforcement patterns. Behaviourists believe complex behaviours can be understood by examining basic learning processes.

Cognitive Approach: Machine reductionism; it likens the human mind to a computer, reducing mental processes to input, processing, and output. However, cognitive psychology also considers complex mental processes that cannot be fully explained by reductionism alone.

Biological Approach: Highly reductionist, reducing behaviour to biological factors, such as genetics, neurochemistry, and brain structure. Critics argue this approach overlooks the complexity of psychological and environmental influences.

Psychodynamic Approach: Interactionist, combining biological drives with unconscious processes, but still somewhat reductionist due to its focus on repressed childhood conflicts. Freud’s model simplifies personality into the Id, Ego, and Superego structure.

Humanistic Psychology: Holistic, viewing individuals as whole beings whose experiences cannot be reduced to components. It values the entire person’s subjective experience, personal meaning, and interconnectedness of thoughts, emotions, and behaviour.

Summary Table

Conclusion

Each approach provides a unique perspective on human behaviour, with strengths and limitations in their methodologies and assumptions. The Learning and Biological Approaches offer more scientific, reductionist frameworks with clear applications in treatment, while the Humanistic and Psychodynamic Approaches provide a holistic and less scientific view, emphasising individual experiences and the unconscious mind. The Cognitive Approach balances scientific rigour with a focus on mental processes, representing an integration of measurable and abstract concepts. These differences highlight the diversity of psychological theories and the importance of multiple perspectives in understanding human behaviour comprehensively.