Psychology is the study of the behavior and mind of all living organisms. Perspectives are made in psychology in order for us to be able to have a better understanding of human behavior. These “theories” help contribute to studying how people think, feel, and behave. Three of the main perspectives include behaviorism, which is the study of people’s behavior, humanistic, which is the study of the potential good in everyone, and cognitive, the study of mental processes. Behaviorism is one of the perspectives used to help get a better understanding of people. John B. Watson, an American psychologist, founded behaviorism while studying people. While others studied the conscious experience, Watson studied behavior and switched the study of psychology
…show more content…
Humanism focuses on the potential good that everyone has. This perspective deals with the belief that people hold innately good morals, ethical values, and good intentions. With this theory, people begin to form ideas of self-control and intentionality. The two most important contributors to the founding of humanistic psychology were Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers. Abraham Maslow proposed a hierarchy of human needs in motivating behavior. Maslow’s theory was that if a person had the basic needs for survival such as a place to live, food, and water then they will find something else that they think they will need, such as money. These needs and wants a person has will begin to motivate their behavior. Maslow created a pyramid titled, “Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs” with physiological things such as food and water being the greatest, security being the next largest, then social aspects, esteem, and lastly self-actualization. Carl Rogers, the other main contributor of humanism, stated that people have the potential for good within all of us. He used a therapeutic approach in helping people. Roger used the factors of positive regard, genuineness, and empathy to help people deal with and work through their own issues (Throne & Henley, 2005). Humanistic therapy is still used today in order for patients to realize their initial goodness and potential. It helps people …show more content…
The cognitive perspective deals with understanding the mental processes of people. It focuses on how a person thinks, perceives, problem-solves, and their memory. With this “theory” people begun to identify others as self-aware human beings or animals and that there is more to us then our behavior. Although, it was said there is no specific person responsible for founding this theory, many people have contributed to its discovery. For example, Noam Chomsky believed that the focus people had on others behavior would not help them in understanding them. He felt that understanding mental functioning would be the most beneficial for people to understand the behavior and actions of others. Another person would have played a vital role in founding cognitive, was Jean Piaget. He stated that the cognitive ability changes as a person grows from childhood to adulthood. Finally, Ulric Neisser was another contributor to the cognitive perspective. He published the first textbook for cognitive called, “Cognitive Psychology” which was the main text for the cognitive theory (Throne & Henley, 2005). An example of the cognitive perspective being used today would be with a psychotherapist. These therapists deal with the cognitive process when trying to help a patient. They try to figure out what a person is thinking, how they deal with and solve their problems, and the way
Humanism focuses on the potential good that everyone has. This perspective deals with the belief that people hold innately good morals, ethical values, and good intentions. With this theory, people begin to form ideas of self-control and intentionality. The two most important contributors to the founding of humanistic psychology were Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers. Abraham Maslow proposed a hierarchy of human needs in motivating behavior. Maslow’s theory was that if a person had the basic needs for survival such as a place to live, food, and water then they will find something else that they think they will need, such as money. These needs and wants a person has will begin to motivate their behavior. Maslow created a pyramid titled, “Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs” with physiological things such as food and water being the greatest, security being the next largest, then social aspects, esteem, and lastly self-actualization. Carl Rogers, the other main contributor of humanism, stated that people have the potential for good within all of us. He used a therapeutic approach in helping people. Roger used the factors of positive regard, genuineness, and empathy to help people deal with and work through their own issues (Throne & Henley, 2005). Humanistic therapy is still used today in order for patients to realize their initial goodness and potential. It helps people …show more content…
The cognitive perspective deals with understanding the mental processes of people. It focuses on how a person thinks, perceives, problem-solves, and their memory. With this “theory” people begun to identify others as self-aware human beings or animals and that there is more to us then our behavior. Although, it was said there is no specific person responsible for founding this theory, many people have contributed to its discovery. For example, Noam Chomsky believed that the focus people had on others behavior would not help them in understanding them. He felt that understanding mental functioning would be the most beneficial for people to understand the behavior and actions of others. Another person would have played a vital role in founding cognitive, was Jean Piaget. He stated that the cognitive ability changes as a person grows from childhood to adulthood. Finally, Ulric Neisser was another contributor to the cognitive perspective. He published the first textbook for cognitive called, “Cognitive Psychology” which was the main text for the cognitive theory (Throne & Henley, 2005). An example of the cognitive perspective being used today would be with a psychotherapist. These therapists deal with the cognitive process when trying to help a patient. They try to figure out what a person is thinking, how they deal with and solve their problems, and the way