Welcome to the Perspectives in Psychology!
In your OCR A Level Psychology course, "Perspectives" are like different sets of glasses. When a psychologist puts on a pair of Behaviourist glasses, they see the world in terms of rewards and learning. When they switch to Psychodynamic glasses, they see hidden motives and childhood memories. This chapter will help you understand these two famous "lenses" so you can compare them and use them to explain human behaviour.
Don't worry if these ideas feel a bit abstract at first. We will break them down into simple pieces using the core studies you already know!
1. The Behaviourist Perspective
The Behaviourist perspective is often called the "learning perspective." Its main rule is simple: if you can't see it, don't study it! Behaviourists believe we are born as a blank slate (tabula rasa) and everything we do is learned from our environment.
Defining Principles and Concepts
There are three main ways behaviourists say we learn:
1. Classical Conditioning: Learning through association. We learn to link a neutral stimulus with a natural reflex (like feeling hungry when you see a specific fast-food logo).
2. Operant Conditioning: Learning through consequences. If you get a reward (positive reinforcement), you do it again. If you get punished, you stop. If something bad is taken away (negative reinforcement), you also do it again!
3. Social Learning Theory: Learning through observation and imitation. We watch "models" (like parents or celebrities) and copy what they do.
Research to Illustrate
You can use these core studies to show the Behaviourist perspective in action:
Bandura et al. (1961): This study shows Social Learning Theory. Children watched an adult act aggressively toward a "Bobo doll" and then imitated those exact same physical and verbal behaviours. It proves we learn by watching others.
Chaney et al. (2004): This study illustrates Operant Conditioning. By using the "Funhaler" (which had a spinning toy and whistle), children were positively reinforced for taking their asthma medication correctly. Because the "consequence" was fun, their behaviour changed!
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths:
- Scientific: It focuses on things we can actually see and measure, making it very objective.
- Practical Applications: It has led to great therapies and ways to encourage better behaviour in schools and hospitals.
Weaknesses:
- Reductionist: It simplifies complex human behaviour down to just "stimulus and response," ignoring our thoughts and emotions.
- Nurture-heavy: It ignores the role of nature (genetics and biology).
Quick Review: Behaviourists care about the environment and observable actions. Think of a computer—input goes in (environment), and output comes out (behaviour).
2. The Psychodynamic Perspective
The Psychodynamic perspective was started by Sigmund Freud. It’s the opposite of Behaviourism in many ways because it focuses on what is happening inside our minds—specifically the parts we aren't even aware of!
Defining Principles and Concepts
1. The Unconscious Mind: This is like the "basement" of our mind. It stores our deepest fears, desires, and traumatic memories that drive our behaviour without us knowing it.
2. Childhood Experiences: Psychodynamic psychologists believe our personality is almost entirely shaped by what happened to us before the age of six.
3. Tripartite Personality: Freud argued our mind has three parts constantly fighting:
- The Id: Our selfish, instinctive part (wants everything now!).
- The Ego: The rational part that tries to balance reality.
- The Superego: Our moral "conscience" that tells us what is right and wrong.
Research to Illustrate
Freud (1909): The study of Little Hans. Freud used Hans's phobia of horses to explain the "Oedipus Complex." He argued the boy's fear was actually an unconscious fear of his father, shifted onto horses. This shows how internal conflicts affect behaviour.
Hancock et al. (2011): This contemporary study looks at the language of psychopaths. It found that psychopaths use more basic "id-based" language (focused on food and money) rather than higher-level social needs. This illustrates how unconscious drives can be revealed through the words we choose.
Kohlberg (1968): While Kohlberg focuses on developmental stages, his work is often linked to psychodynamic ideas because it looks at the internal "moral" journey and how our thinking patterns change as we grow.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths:
- Indepth: It provides very detailed, "rich" explanations of why individuals behave the way they do.
- Highlighting Childhood: It was one of the first perspectives to realize how important our early years are for our adult mental health.
Weaknesses:
- Unscientific: You cannot "see" or "prove" the unconscious mind exists, so it's hard to test using scientific methods.
- Subjective: It relies heavily on the researcher's interpretation (e.g., Freud's interpretation of Hans's dreams).
Did you know? Freud used the analogy of an iceberg. The tip above the water is our conscious mind, but the huge part underwater is our unconscious!
3. Comparing the Two Perspectives
In your exam, you might be asked how these perspectives are similar or different. Here is a handy comparison table:
Nature vs. Nurture:
- Behaviourists are almost entirely on the Nurture side (environment).
- Psychodynamic theorists also lean toward Nurture (childhood experiences), but they believe we are born with certain innate drives (like the Id), which adds a bit of Nature.
Freewill vs. Determinism:
- Both perspectives are Deterministic. Behaviourism says our environment controls us. Psychodynamic says our unconscious mind and past control us. Neither gives much room for free choice!
Psychology as a Science:
- Behaviourism is highly scientific (uses experiments, \( p < 0.05 \) significance, and objective data).
- Psychodynamic is generally unscientific (uses case studies and subjective interpretations).
Key Takeaways for Revision
1. Behaviourist focus: Learning, reinforcement, imitation, and observable data. Think Bandura and Chaney.
2. Psychodynamic focus: The unconscious, childhood, and internal conflict. Think Freud and Hancock.
3. Application: Behaviourism is used for changing habits (like the Funhaler), while Psychodynamic ideas are used to understand deep-rooted personality traits and disorders.
4. Common Mistake: Don't assume "Social Learning" is its own area! It is a core part of the Behaviourist perspective. Make sure to use the correct terminology (e.g., "Positive Reinforcement" for Chaney).
Note: For more information on how these perspectives fit into wider debates, see the "Nature/Nurture" and "Freewill/Determinism" chapters in this section.