A school of thought is the viewpoint of group of people who have similar opinions or perceptions about an
idea; a special way of thinking. As psychology emerged as a separate
science from biology and philosophy, the debate began over describing and
explaining human thought and behavior. As a result, different psychological
schools represent the main theories of psychology.
The first trend, structuralism,
was supported by the founder of the first psychology laboratory, Wilhelm Wundt.
But, almost immediately, other theories began to emerge and compete for
dominance in psychology. In the past, psychologists often identified
only one tendency. Today, most psychologists have an eclectic approach to
psychology. It is often based on ideas and theories from different schools
rather than standing on one point of view.
Six school trends affect knowledge and understanding of
psychology.
Structuralism
Wilhelm Wundt, the founder of the
first psychiatric clinic, supported the first school of thought. Structuralism
focuses on the division of mental processes into critical concepts.
Structuralists use methods such as observation to study the inner workings of
the human mind.
For example; ORANGE
Objectively; you can tell the
difference between an orange by looking at its shape, color, pattern, and taste.
Subjectively; you will recognize
the orange if you remember how good it was to catch it!
Functionalism
The movement grew in response to
the teachings of the school of instructions and was greatly influenced by the
work of William James. However, the main idea is the inspiration of John Dewey
and Harvey Carr. Functionalist focuses on the purpose of consciousness
and behavior. They are emphasized individual differences,
Structuralism VS Functionalism
Structuralism studies the different aspects of consciousness.
Functionalism examines how the mind changes according to the environment.
Behaviorism
Behaviorism became the dominant
school of thought in the 1950s. It is based on the work of thinkers including John
B. Watson, Ivan Pavlov, and BF Skinner. The operation
states that environmental reasons can explain all actions rather than internal
forces. Behaviorism focuses on visible behavior. Learning theories, including
classical and operant concepts, have been the focus of many studies.
The School of Behavioral
Psychology has had a significant impact on psychology, and many of the ideas
and methods that emerged from this school of thought are still widely used to
this day. Behavioral training, rational economics, antidepressant therapy, and
other methods are commonly used in psychotherapy and behavior change programs.
Several principles distinguish behavioral psychology from other
psychological methods.
Two Types of
Conditioning
There are two
major types of conditioning, classical conditioning, and operant conditioning.
Classical Conditioning
Classical conditioning is a
commonly used technique in behavioral training where neutral stimuli are
combined with natural stimuli. Finally, a neutral stimulus responds similarly
to a natural stimulus, even if the natural stimulus does not appear. Related
stimuli are called conditional stimuli. A conditional response is given to the
associated stimulus.
Operant Conditioning
Operant conditioning (sometimes
called instrumental conditioning) is a learning method that takes place through
reinforcement and punishment. The function of operant conditioning creates a
relationship between an action and the consequences of that action. If
the desired result follows an action, the action is more likely to recur in the
future. On the other hand, side effects and subsequent consequences are less
likely to occur in the future.
Learning
through Association
Classical conditioning works by
creating a link between environmental and natural stimuli. In a classic
experiment by physiologist Ivan Pavlov, dogs linked food donations (which
require a natural and automatic saliva response) by ringing the bell first and
then looking at the research assistant's research coat. Finally, the research
coat retrieved a saliva response from the dog.
Gestalt psychology
Gestalt psychology, born out of
the work of Max Wertheimer, was formed partially in response to the
structuralism of Wilhelm Wundt.
Structuralist followers were
interested in breaking down psychological problems into the smallest parts
possible, but Gestalt psychologists wanted to see the mind and behavior as a
whole. Guided by holistic principles, Wertheimer and his followers have
identified cases in which our perception is based on seeing things as a whole
and not as an individual component.
Gestalt principles
Gestalt psychology has helped to
introduce the idea that human perception does more than see what actually
exists in the world around us. It is strongly influenced by our motivation and
expectations.
Wertheimer has created a
principle to explain how Gestalt perception works. Some of the most important
principles of Gestalt theory are:
Prägnanz: This basic principle shows that things are perceived naturally in the simplest form or organization.
Example
Similarity: This principle suggests that we
naturally perceive similar objects in groups based on factors such as color,
size, and orientation.
Example
Proximity: The principle of proximity
states that nearby objects tend to be seen as a group.
Example
Continuity: According to this principle, we
will perceive elements arranged on a line or curve as related to each other,
while elements that are not on the line or curve are seen as separate.
Example
Closure: This indicates that the
elements that make up the closed object are recognized as a group. You can also
enter missing information to create closures and understand objects.
Example
Common region: This principle shows that objects tend to be grouped when they are in the same bounded area. (For example, objects in the box tend to be considered groups.)
Example
Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis is a form of
therapy designed to elicit emotions and memories or to guide clients to
catharsis and treatment. In other words, the purpose of psychoanalysis is to
remember something at an unconscious or subconscious level up to conscious.
This is achieved by telling others about the great questions of life, the
essentials, and delving into the complexities below.
The Founder of
Psychoanalysis
It is very likely you have heard
of the influential but controversial founder of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud.
Models of the
Mind
Freud's most influential idea was
his model of the human mind. His model divides the mind into three layers, or
regions:
1. Consciousness: this is where our thoughts,
feelings, and concentration are currently located;
2. Pre-conscious: (sometimes called
subconscious): this is the house where everything we can remember or recover
from our memory;
3. The unconscious: at the deepest level of our
mind, is a storehouse of processes that guide our behavior, including primitive
and instinctive desires.
The Id, Ego, and Super Ego
There are three metaphorical
parts to the mind.
1. Id: The id operates on a subconscious level, focusing only on
instinctual drives and desires. According to Freud, two biological instincts
make up the id: Eros, or the survival instinct, which encourages us to engage
in life-sustaining activities; and the Thanatos, or the death instinct, which
encourages destructive, aggressive, and violent behaviors.
2. Ego: The ego as the conduit and controller of the Id, striving
to meet the needs of Id in a socially appropriate way. It is the one most
closely related to reality and begins to develop in childhood;
3. Superego: The superego is the part of the mind occupied by higher morals and principles that motivates us to behave in socially and morally acceptable ways.
Defence Mechanisms
Freud believed that these three
parts of the mind are always in conflict with each other because each has a
different primary goal. Sometimes, when conflict is embarrassing for a person,
his ego can use one or more defense mechanisms to protect the individual.
These defense mechanisms include:
Repression: The ego drives anxious and threatening
thoughts out of consciousness.
Denial: Denial refers to
self-prevention of awareness, restlessness, or overwhelming experiences and
refusal to acknowledge or believe the happenings.
Projection: The ego attempts to resolve
to suffer by attributing personally unacceptable thoughts, feelings, and
motivations to others.
Displacement: An individual satisfies an
impulse by acting in a socially unacceptable way on an object or substitute
(e.g., the frustration of letting go of his or her leader);
Regression: as a defense mechanism, a
person returns to development to cope with stress (e.g., behaving like an
overloaded adult child);
Sublimation: Similar to shifting, this
defense mechanism is about satisfying the royalty in a representative but
socially acceptable way.
The 5 Psychosexual Stages of Development
Finally, one of Freud’s most
enduring concepts is the psycho-sexual phase. Freud suggested that children
develop in five distinct stages, each focusing on another source of pleasure:
Stage1: Oral - the child seeks pleasure
from the mouth (e.g., sucking);
Stage 2: Anal - the baby seeks pleasure
from the anus (e.g., holding and expelling feces);
Stage3: The phallic - the baby looks for pleasure
from the clitoris (similar to masturbation);
Step 4: Latent - the child has little or
no sexual stimulation;
Step 5: Genitals - the baby seeks pleasure
from the penis or vagina (e.g., sexual intercourse)
Humanistic Psychology
Humanistic psychology was
developed in response to psychoanalysis and activism. Instead,
humanistic psychology focuses on the concepts of personal free will, personal
growth, and self-actualization. While earlier schools of thought focused
on abnormal human behavior, humanistic psychology focused on helping people
realize and fulfill their potential, which is very different.
Definition
Human psychology is a vision that
emphasizes the perception of all people and the uniqueness of each individual.
Humanism begins with the idea that people have free will and motivates them to
understand their own abilities and to understand themselves.
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
Maslow (1943, 1954) argued that
people are motivated to satisfy certain needs, and some take precedence over
others. Our main concern is physical survival, and this will be the main
motivation for our actions. Once we reach that level, the next step is to
motivate us first and foremost.
1. Physical
Need –These are
required for human life like air, food, drink, shelter, clothes, heating, sex, and
sleep.
If these requirements are not
met, the person cannot function properly. Maslow gives more priority to
physiological than other needs.
2. Safety
Need - As soon as
a person's physiological needs are met, the need for safety and protection
becomes evident. People want to order, prophecy, and control in their lives.
Families and communities can meet these needs (e.g., police, schools,
businesses, and healthcare).
Safety needs include financial security (such as work, social
support), law and order, freedom from fear, social security, property, health,
and well-being (such as protection from accidents and injuries).
3. The need
for love and intimacy -
When there is a need for physical and emotional well-being, the third level of
human need is social and sense of belonging. Membership refers to the way
people feel about connecting, uniting, connecting, and joining a team.
Examples of needs include
friendship, relationships, trust and acceptance, acknowledgment and giving of
love, and affection.
4. Self
Esteem: The need
for respect is the fourth level in Maslow's hierarchy and includes respect for
self-worth, accomplishment, and respect. Maslow divided self-esteem into two
categories: (i) self-esteem (dignity, success, intelligence, independence) and
(ii) the need for reputation or prestige, or others (e.g., status, fame).
5. Self-Actualization: Personal desire is
the highest point in Maslow's hierarchy and refers to the achievement of one's
individual abilities, self-efficacy, the pursuit of personal development, and
past experiences. Maslow (1943) describes this level as the desire to
accomplish all that one can do and become the best of oneself.
Someone can see or focus on this
need in a special way. For example, a person may have a desire to be a good
parent. On the other hand, this desire can indicate financial, educational, or
athletic status. For others, it may be expressing ideas in art, design, or
production.
Cognitive Psychology
Cognitive psychology is a school
of psychology that studies thought processes, including how people think,
understand, remember and learn. As part of broader science education,
psychology education relates to another curriculum, including neuroscience,
philosophy, and language.
The 8 Core Cognitive Capacities
• Permanent hearing.
• Response resistance.
• Speed of information
processing.
• Change of perception.
• Multiple tests at the same time.
• Working memory.
• Type of configuration.
• Validation.
Comments
Post a Comment