Human Behavior
As it has been discovered, there are different perspectives in contemporary psychology that attempt to explain human behavior. Perspectives involve certain beliefs or assumptions about human behavior that is the way human beings function, the aspects that are worthy of study, as well as, the research methods that are fit for studying human behavior (Mahfouz, Philaretou & Theocharous, 2008). Although there are different theories within perspectives, they share some common assumptions that help in understanding the phenomena under investigation. The main aim of this paper is not to highlight and discuss the various human behavior perspectives in detail, but to look at the psychology perspectives or orientations that I mostly align with, as well as, to provide reasons for such. In addition, the paper discusses the theories that I would rely on when trying to understand the behavior of humans and how the theoretical preferences tend to influence human behavior.
One may question why there exist so many distinct psychological perspectives and whether one approach is correct or wrong. A majority of psychologists and researchers would consent that no single perspective is correct, even though during the past, behaviorists would say that their approach was the best and the only scientific perspective. Having analyzed all the perspectives, it is evident that each has its advantages and disadvantages and brings a different aspect to the study and understanding of the behavior of humans. Due to this reason, it is vital that psychology has distinct perspectives to the study and understanding of human behavior.
There are various distinct ways to think about human behavior and thought. The various perspectives in contemporary psychology offers students and researchers a way to approach various problems and establish new ways of explaining and predicting human behavior and develop new treatment methods for problem behaviors (Gross, 2013). For this reason, I would rely on multiple theories to assist in understanding human behavior. This is because each perspective has something to offer in the understanding of human behavior, and, therefore, would align with all the perspectives. However, the degree of alignment is what differs among different perspectives because of the level of personal agreement of the principles of the perspective. Relying on the category of multiple perspectives offers a broad understanding of human behavior. The psychodynamic perspective stresses the role of interpersonal relations, the insensible mind, and early childhood experiences in explaining human behavior and treating people who suffer from mental illnesses. This is true as childhood experiences play a significant role in influencing behavior and would align with the perspective. Behavioral perspective is concerned with learned behaviors rather than on internal states. It focuses solely on observable behaviors (Mahfouz, Philaretou & Theocharous, 2008). It is focused on how behaviors are learned and reinforced. I would align with this perspective to a large degree because people in society learn behavior from other people and reinforce them.
The cognitive perspective of human behavior is concerned with mental processes including thinking, memory, language, decision-making, and language. Supporters of the perspective compare the human mind to a computer in order to explain how information is obtained, processed, stored, and utilized. I do not support this perspective because I do not agree on the comparison of the human mind to objects such as computers, although they are made by humans. The biological perspective of human behavior is concerned with the physical and biological behavior bases. I support this perspective as biology is a determinant of many other human variables besides behavior. This perspective looks at how genetics influence various behaviors or how certain parts of the brain influence personality and behavior (Gross, 2013). I support the perspective because things such as the immune system, the brain, the endocrine, and the nervous system play a significant role in influencing behavior. Although a recent perspective, the cross-cultural perspective has played a key role in understanding human behavior. Human behavior is different across different regions and cultures. This means that culture influences people’s way of thinking, as well as, their behavior. Through the socialization process, people are taught the values, norms, morals, and customs that are upheld by their cultures or societies (Wolf, 2007). I would align with this perspective because I personally adopted the values and behaviors that were instilled by family and society at large. In addition, social behaviors vary in collectivistic and individualistic societies. For instance, in collectivistic cultures including China, people work harder in groups. However, in individualistic cultures such as the United States, people exert less effort when working as groups.
The evolutionary perspective is concerned on the investigation of how evolution describes physiological processes. Researchers and psychologists take the main evolutionary principles and apply them to describe social and psychological phenomena. According to this perspective, mental processes exist as they serve an evolutionary purpose and help in reproduction and survival (Ray, 2013). I do not align with this perspective as with the biological and behavioral perspectives that tend to explain human behavior in a clear way and offer a comprehensive understanding. The humanistic approach stresses on the significance of motivation on reflection and behavior. Frameworks such as self-actualization are a crucial component of the humanistic perspective. It focuses on the ways that people are driven to change, grow, and develop their personal potential. However, I do not support this perspective wholly because I do not think it is universal. This is why relying on multiple perspectives or theories is important in understanding human behavior.
My theoretical preferences influence my view of human behavior since I see human behavior as a trait that is acquired naturally and which can be influenced by the environment (society) that one lives in. People have different biological traits that determine how they react or behave in different situations. Similarly, children acquire or learn behavior through norms and values that are instilled in them as they grow (Wolf, 2007). In studying human behavior, it is inappropriate to reduce individuals to objects as this may lead to subjective conclusions about the phenomenon under study.
In conclusion, therefore, there are many distinct perspectives to psychology that explain the distinct kinds of behavior and offer different angles. There is no single perspective that has descriptive powers over the others. It is only with all distinct types of psychology that sometimes contradict each other in what is referred to as nature-nurture debate, build upon each other (health and biological psychology), or overlap each other (child psychology and psychoanalysis) that we can comprehend and establish efficient and effective solutions that arise in order to have a healthy mind and healthy body. The reality that there are distinct perspectives reflects the richness and complexity of human behavior. An empirical perspective such as cognitive or behaviorism psychology appears to ignore personal experiences that different individuals have. On the other hand, the humanistic perspective recognizes the experiences of humans, but largely at the cost of using non-scientific techniques to give evidence. The biological approach reduces people to physical structures and mechanisms that are clearly important and essential (genes). It, however, does not take into consideration the effect of the environment and consciousness on behavior. The psychodynamic approach is concerned with childhood and the unconscious mind. In this case, it appears to ignore the role of organization in society that differs from region to region, as well as, the likelihood of free will.
References
Gross, R. J. (2013). Being human psychological and philosophical perspectives. London: Routledge.
Ray, W. J. (2013). Evolutionary psychology: Neuroscience perspectives concerning human behavior and experience. Thousand Oaks, Calif: Sage.
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