In Psychology there are many different approaches that offer explanations into the human mind and behaviour looking specifically at psychological processes, thoughts, feelings and motivations behind these behaviours. These main approaches are biological, behavioural, psychodynamic and cognitive. In addition to these explanations there is an argument within psychology that debates if physiological aspects or environmental aspects determine our behaviour, known as the nature versus nurture debate (Haralambos, et al., 2002). However there is much critique of these psychological approaches and their encompassing theories, which will be examined further to demonstrate explanations for criminal behaviour. 90
2.1 Evaluate two approaches in psychology
2.2 Analyse the application of these approaches to an aspect of human behaviour …show more content…
In addition there are significant therapeutic applications of this approach. However it can be argued that behaviourist explanations are reductionist, ignoring biological factors, emotions and mental processes, deterministic and due to laboratory experiments have low ecological validity (McLeod, 2013). Furthermore, behaviourism supports the nurture side of the nature –nurture debate in psychology, with the assumption that all behaviour is learnt from the environment. 90 (287)
The Behaviourist approach would explain criminal behaviour based on their assumption that behaviours have been learnt in the same way as all other behaviours, from childhood through their environment, also referred to as learning theories (Sammons, 2009). Differential Association Theory and Social Learning Theory offer explanations for offending and highlight peer groups, family, and media sources such as video games as probable sources of criminal and anti-social behaviour (Sammons, 2009).
2.1 Evaluate two approaches in psychology
2.2 Analyse the application of these approaches to an aspect of human behaviour …show more content…
In addition there are significant therapeutic applications of this approach. However it can be argued that behaviourist explanations are reductionist, ignoring biological factors, emotions and mental processes, deterministic and due to laboratory experiments have low ecological validity (McLeod, 2013). Furthermore, behaviourism supports the nurture side of the nature –nurture debate in psychology, with the assumption that all behaviour is learnt from the environment. 90 (287)
The Behaviourist approach would explain criminal behaviour based on their assumption that behaviours have been learnt in the same way as all other behaviours, from childhood through their environment, also referred to as learning theories (Sammons, 2009). Differential Association Theory and Social Learning Theory offer explanations for offending and highlight peer groups, family, and media sources such as video games as probable sources of criminal and anti-social behaviour (Sammons, 2009).