CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVES IN

PSYCHOLOGY

Unit 3
An introduction to Psychology
The Behavioural Perspective
 This perspective focuses on observable behaviour and the
important role of learning in behaviour: it has developed from
behaviourism and acknowledges that human behaviour is more
complex
 Today, this movement has broadened and emphasises the roles
of both environmental and cognitive influences on behaviour:
social-cognitive theory
 Social-cognitive theorists believe that personality comprises not
only learned behaviour but also ways in which individuals think
about themselves and the world around them
•The behaviourist perspective led to the development of a major
school of therapy called behaviour therapy: this involves the
systematic application of the principles of learning to bring about
desired changes in emotional states and behaviour e.g. “learn
new ways” of behaving in order to overcome psychological
problems
•Today many therapists use cognitive-behavioural therapy which
incorporates techniques for changing maladaptive thoughts as
well as overt behaviours
•This perspective is often referred to as Force 1:
Behaviourism/The Behaviourist Perspective
(behaviour is determined by outside forces)

Any thoughts on when and how these strategies could be useful

for the teacher in the Senior Phase/FET Phase in particular?
 Watson and
John B. Watson Little Albert

Source:
https://www.marketingyestrategia.com/john-b-watson/ Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/psychpics/4559862181

B. F. Skinner
Source:
https://www.azquotes.com/quote/273903
The Psychodynamic perspective
 This approach continues to evolve – there are several “neo-
Freudians” who place less emphasis on basic drives like sex and
aggression and more emphasis on processes of self-awareness, self-
direction, and conscious choice e.g. Carl Jung (1875-1961) and Erik
Erikson (1902-1961)
 The ideas that we have inner lives such as our fantasies, wishes,
dreams and hidden motives, that psychological problems may be
rooted in childhood, and that people are not consciously aware of
their deeper motives have had a profound impact on literature, art
and culture
 This perspective is often referred to as Force 2:
The Freudian/Psychodynamic Perspective
(behaviour is determined by inside forces)
 Sigmund Freud Source:
http://region20.herbzinser07.
com/dir/systems/2015/10/23/
existential-physics-and-
sigmund-freud-iceberg-
model-explain-the-titanic-
Source: disaster/
https://elpais.com/elpais/2016/05/06/ciencia/1462485695
_761256.html

Carl Jung

Source:
https://quotefancy.co
m/quote/782174/C-
G-Jung-A-man-who-
has-not-passed-
through-the-inferno-
of-his-passions-has-
never-overcome
 The Humanist Perspective
 In the 1950’s another movement began to achieve prominence
in psychology; humanist psychology also known as the “third
force” (as it was opposed to the dominant forces at the time,
namely behaviourism and Freudian psychology)
 Humanist psychologists including American psychologist
Abraham Maslow (1908 – 1970) and Carl Rogers (1902 – 1987)
rejected the determinist views of behaviourism and
psychodynamic psychology
Abraham
Maslow
Source: Source:
https://www.verywe http://cultureofem
llmind.com/biograp pathy.com/Refere
hy-of-abraham- Carl Rogers nces/Experts/Carl
maslow-1908- -Rogers-
1970-2795524 Quotes.htm
•Humanist psychology emphasises personal freedom, conscious
choice and responsibility for our actions
•The value of self-awareness, acceptance of our true selves and
becoming an authentic person is also prized
•They also stress the creative potential of individuals and their
ability to make choices that imbue their lives with meaning and
purpose

Source:
https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html
The physiological perspective
 This view examines the relationship between biological
processes and behaviour
 The brain and the nervous system are central to thinking, feeling
and behaviour
 The biological basis of behaviour including the roles of heredity,
hormones and the nervous system are acknowledged
 Evolutionary psychology subscribes to the view that our
behaviour reflects inherited predispositions or tendencies that
increased the likelihood of survival of our early ancestors
The Cognitive Perspective
 This perspective focuses on understanding the mental
processes by which people gain knowledge about themselves
and the world around them
 The word cognitive comes from the Latin word cognition
meaning “knowledge’. Psychologists who adopt the cognitive
perspective study mental processes involved in acquiring and
retaining knowledge such as learning, memory, concept
formation, problem solving, and language use

In what way is this a useful theory for teachers?

The Socio-cultural Perspective
 This view emphasizes the role of social and cultural influences
on behavior
 The focus is on the influences of age, ethnicity, gender, sexual
orientation, lifestyle, income level, disability status, and culture
on behavior and mental processes
 Differing values, customs and traditions influence people’s
behavior and in today’s society this is becoming more complex
as societies merge, change and develop

This leads us to the next contemporary view…

The Ecosystemic Perspective
 The Ecosystemic theories are based on the systems perspective
of human functioning
 Ecological theory is based on the interdependence between
different organisms and their physical environment: every part is
as important as the other in sustaining the whole
 The notion of balance is a central ecological concept : if there is
a disturbance in part of the system, the balance of the whole
system is affected (think of a spider’s web)
•Systems theory suggests that all aspects of an organism/s are
part of a system which functions together

Let’s explain this concept by using the example of ‘stress’…

•The ecosystemic approach is an amalgamation of ecological

views and the systems approach and applies this to human
functioning

•The whole is dependent on the interaction between the parts:

there are also sub-systems that may interact with each other

Look at the example of a family…

•In brief, the ecosystemic perspective integrates both ecological
and systemic theories
•One of the first ecosystemic theories to be put forward is known
as the bio-psycho-social model of human functioning
The eclectic approach
 Today, many psychologists follow an eclectic approach – one
that draws on theories and principles representing different
perspectives
 There is also a growing movement within psychology called
positive psychology that emphasises the study of human virtues
and assets rather than weaknesses and deficits

In what way would these approaches be useful to teachers?

References
• Nevid, J. 2013. An Introduction to Psychology. 4th edn. Belmont
USA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning. Pp. 10-16.
• Donald, D. , Lazarus, S. and Moolla, P. 2014. Educational
Psychology in Social Context. 5th edn. Cape Town: Oxford
University Press. Pp. 38-44.