Cheryl Dunstan
Compare and contrast two approaches to psychology
Behaviourism and biological
Behaviourism only concerns itself with the behaviour that can be observed. It
assumes that we learn by associating certain events with certain
consequences, and will behave in the way with the most desirable
consequences. It also assumes that when events happen together, they
become associated and either event will have the same response. It does not
note any difference between animal behaviour and human behaviour. A
behavioural therapist will usually treat disorders such as phobias and
obsessions. A client suffering from a phobia, for example, will be taken into a
situation that he or she is afraid of, in gradual steps and eventually the fear is
reduced. More simply put - changing the way they behave in certain situations
in order to change the way they think.
While we do inherit certain things biologically, our behavioristic lifestyle can
dictate to our biology how it is we respond. For example, if a man wanted to
become a woman based on his ideals given to him by his society,
(behaviourism) he can actually do that by taken oestrogen pills. Ultimately, he
can under go an operation – the same thing applies with a woman that wants
to become a man, only she would be receiving testosterone. The biology
dictates the behaviour of that specific thing, but if something happens to that
thing that makes it want to alter its biology, it can, but nature being the
regulator of order; it will restore things back. In addition the biological
approach believes us to be as a consequence of our genetics and physiology.
We become ill, medically and/or psychologically, because of physiological or
genetic damage, disease, or accident. It is the only approach in psychology
that examines thoughts, feelings, and behaviours from a medical/biological,
and thus physical point of view. The nature...