The five approaches in psychology each have a different view on human behaviours. This essay is going to discuss the key concepts, features and assumptions of the Behaviourist approach, the Biological approach and the Psychodynamic approach. It will compare and contrast the approaches and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of an ever-changing science, whilst considering how these approaches can provide a relevant application in today’s society. It will use sources from published books, online sources and journals to evidence each aspect.
The behaviourist approach can be traced back to the late 19th century when Edward Thorndike established the Law of Effect, a process that involves strengthening behaviour through reinforcement. In the early 1900’s John Watson conceived methodological behaviourism by promoting the study of observable behaviour, this then rejected Wilhelm Wundt’s earlier introspective method.
Methodological behaviourists believe that all human beings are born with an innate ability to do anything. Because of this, behaviour is then based on observable stimuli and how all organisms respond to stimulus. Finding the stimulus then leads to a deeper understanding of behaviour. Methodological theories need to be supported by empirical data which will be obtained via careful and controlled experiments such as ‘Little Albert’ and ‘Pavlov’s dogs’. Methodological behaviourism is still practiced today, the concepts it uses are a base for psychological treatments, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, latent learning and cognitive maps.
In contrast to methodological behaviourism was Skinner’s Radical behaviourism. Although Skinner agreed that the goal of psychology should be used to predict behaviour. Skinner also felt that internal thoughts and feelings couldn’t be used to explain behaviour, however, they should be used to analyse behaviour. Skinner suggested that radical behaviourists… recognise the role of private events but contend that so-called mental activities are metaphors or explanatory fictions and that behaviour attributed to them can be more effectively explained in other ways. (Gross 2015). Radical behaviourism has been remarkably successful experimentally, primarily by using new methods which reveal new phenomena.
Behaviourism is an approach of structure. It is systematic, objective and immensely process driven. It assumes we are a product of our environment and this influences our behaviour. It relies on the scientific understanding of stimulus and response.
Two key elements of the approach are classical conditioning and operant conditioning. According to (Gross 2015) The key form of learning is conditioning, either classical (Pavlovian), or operant, which is at the centre of Skinner’s radical behaviourism.
The biological approach explains behaviour as a direct product of interactions within the body. It originated from Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, and looks upon the relationship between neurons and the endocrine system. It is incredibly scientific. The Biopsychological approach attempts to explain human – and non-human – psychological process and behaviour in terms of the operation of physical/physiological structures such as interactions between neurons/nerve cells and hormones. (Gross 2015).
It is the only approach in psychology that examines thoughts, feelings, and behaviours from a biological and thus physical point of view (McLeod, 2015). The biological approach uses a comparative method, it compares different species of animals which can then help to understand human behaviour. It also looks at genetics and what we inherit from our parents, illnesses such as schizophrenia and intelligence/high IQ. Biopsychologists want to know how biological forces shape human behaviours. They may look at how the brain works, looking at; degenerative diseases that can dominate thought and behaviour, genetic disorders, or even by analysing how trauma effects the brain and influences behaviour. As technology has advanced over time the ability to study the brain has been made easier, by using PET, CT and MRI scans. Researchers utilize rigorous empirical methods, and their results are often reliable and practical. Biological research has helped yield useful treatments for a variety of psychological disorders (Cherry, 2018). Biopsychology is used to diagnose a number of psychological disorders today, such as; Global Development Delay, Intellectual Disability Disorder and Autism.
The psychodynamic approach was predominantly founded by Sigmund Freud who wrote between the 1890’s and the 1930’s, he developed theories that were later called the psychoanalytic approach which formed a basis for the psychodynamic approach. He laid the notion that the unconscious lies at the root of his psychoanalytic method. Freud’s psychoanalysis was the original psychodynamic theory, but the psychodynamic approach as a whole includes all theories that were based on his ideas, e.g., Jung (1964), Adler (1927) and Erikson (1950). (McLeod, 2017). Today, psychoanalysis has been marginalized and is struggling to survive in a hostile academic and clinical environment. This raises the question as to whether the paradigm is still relevant in psychiatric science and practice. (Paris, J).
Freud used a topographical structure known as the iceberg method to explain the mind and how this holds the conscious, the pre-conscious and the unconscious thoughts. It believes that all behaviour has a cause, even slips of the tongue and being involved in an accident are intended. Humans being’s behaviour, actions and thoughts are a commodity of our personality. Freud believed that behaviour was down to libido and early childhood experiences. He speculated this is due to the personality being combined of three parts; the id, the ego and the superego.
The Id, is the first and only part of the personality available at birth. It is the source of all human beings needs, wants and desires. The id is entirely unconscious, it holds both the instinctive and primitive behaviours. The id is set within the pleasure principle. The id needs immediate satisfaction of all needs, wants and desires, sometimes this is not able to happen so the id builds a psychological tension such as anxiety which then needs to be discharged. This is done by the id trying to seek out dangerous or unacceptable behaviours which releases physical tension and relieves the anxiety. The id is beneficial early on in an infant’s life, for instance if the infant is hungry it will cry until its needs are met. Because babies from birth to the age of one are ruled completely by their id there is no reasoning with them. They will simply cry until their needs are met.
From the age of one the id gives rise to the ego. The ego is set within the pre-conscious and conscious, and is based on the reality principle which focuses on the ‘real world’. The ego tries to ensure that the ids needs are met by using a process called delayed gratification. This means that the ego will eventually allow the id’s wanted behaviour but in an appropriate time and place. An example of this would be by forcing human beings to queue.
The super ego is the third component of human personality. It is the part of the personality that internalises moral standards. The super ego has two parts. Firstly, the ego ideal which includes the rules and standards of good behaviour and strives for the perfect human being. The second part is the conscience. This includes information about the things that are viewed as morally wrong, such as killing someone when angry. It can also make humans feel guilty or give off low self-esteem.
The id, ego and super ego shouldn’t be viewed as three separate things more as an idea as a whole. These personality aspects are dynamic and are always merging within a person to provide behaviour and personality.
Behaviourism was the most prominent approach to psychology from the 1920’s-1950’s. This was due to it being the first approach based on empirical research, opposed to Freuds psychodynamic approach which is strongly deterministic. Behaviourism takes the nurture side of the nature-nurture debate.
The biological approach is associated with the nature side of the nature-nurture debate. Unlike the behaviourist approach, it believes that all human or animal behaviour is driven by genetics which can be traced back to stemming from parents and ancestors where humans and animals inherit genes from. The approach presumes that the environment cannot change behaviour.
In contrast to both the biological and behaviourist approaches, the psychodynamic approach has both nature and nurture beliefs. According to Freud infantile sexuality is the general impact of early experience on later personality (Gross 2015). This view is based on a nature belief. However, they also believe that childhood events during the psychosexual development period have the ability to influence and shape adult human beings. Events throughout childhood may remain in the unconscious which can give rise to issues in adult life, this is a nurture-based belief.
The three approaches can be investigated by looking at identical twins that have either been raised together or apart once separated at birth. The biological approach would assume that twins would behave and are exactly the same as each other whether they had been raised together or apart because of their genetic material. Opposed to this the behaviourism approach would assume that the twins reared apart would behave differently to each other, by reason of their different upbringings and environments. The psychodynamic approach would also suspect twins raised apart to be different as a result of events that had happened throughout the psychosexual stage. However, this could depend on when the twins were separated as if they were together for a while before separating it could mean that they would remain similar.
Behaviour is viewed differently by each of the approaches. The psychodynamic approach would view aggression as the result of unconscious urges or childhood experiences throughout the psychosexual stages. The behaviourist approach would consider how aggression is determined by association, reinforcement, or punishment. The biological viewpoint, on the other hand, would look at how the persons biological roots, genetic material or a type of brain injury could be a reason for an aggressive behaviour.
A criticism of the psychodynamic approach is that the analysis of human behaviour is unscientific. Freuds theories tend to be subjective, this is impossible to test using empirical research. For example, attempting to test the unconscious mind scientifically is difficult. In this respect, it could be argued that the psychodynamic perspective is irrelevant as its theories are often based on individuals such as ‘Little Hans’ and ‘Anna O’ and not the wider population. On the other hand, whilst the theories of the psychodynamic approach cannot be easily tested, this does not mean that it does not have strong explanatory power. Psychodynamic perspectives have influenced the study of groups widely and are notable for their major contribution to theories of group development. (Mcleod and Kettner-Polley, 2004)
Behaviourism could be criticised as it only provides a partial account of human behaviour. Important factors like emotions, hereditary factors or expectations are not considered. However, an advantage is its ability to explain and measure behaviour simply and scientifically.
A strength of the biological approach is that it can be scientifically proven and provides clear predictions. However, it is limited as it explains behaviour as the result of genes, whilst neglecting the effects of childhood and social environment. The approach fails to provide enough information to fully explain human behaviour.
In conclusion, each approach has its own way of thinking about behaviour. Not one approach outweighs the rest. The approaches often contradict, however, when particular aspects are used together the approaches are able to effectively create solutions for a healthy mind.