Unit 0 Part 2 Psychological Perspectives

Summary

In this educational video, Jolie McCre explores the eight key psychological perspectives that form the foundation of AP Psychology. She explains how each perspective—evolutionary, biological, psychodynamic, behavioral, humanistic, cognitive, social-cultural, and biopsychosocial—offers a unique lens to understand human behavior and thought processes. The video aims to help students apply these perspectives to real-world scenarios, emphasizing the importance of concept application in psychology.

Takeaways

• 📚 The video is part of a series on foundational concepts for an AP Psychology course, emphasizing the importance of psychological perspectives.
• 🔍 The script introduces the idea of psychological perspectives as different viewpoints or 'lenses' through which psychologists interpret human behavior and thought processes.
• 🧬 The evolutionary perspective links human behavior to principles of natural selection and survival, suggesting behaviors are adaptations that have helped our species thrive.
• 🧠 The biological perspective focuses on the physical aspects of the brain and body, such as the nervous system and neurotransmitters, to explain behaviors and thoughts.
• 🌊 The psychodynamic perspective, influenced by Freud's psychoanalysis, delves into the unconscious mind, exploring repressed memories and inner conflicts that shape behavior.
• 🐦 The behaviorist approach, pioneered by John B. Watson and Ivan Pavlov, views psychology as an objective science based on observable behaviors shaped by environmental factors like rewards and punishments.
• 🌱 The humanistic perspective, popularized by figures like Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers, emphasizes the potential for personal growth, choice, and the inherent goodness in people.
• 🤔 The cognitive perspective is concerned with mental processes such as problem-solving, memory, and perception, rather than behaviors, examining how these processes inform actions.
• 🌐 The social-cultural perspective considers how social interactions and cultural norms influence behaviors and mental processes.
• 🧬🌐🤔 The biopsychosocial approach is a comprehensive one, examining the interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors to understand human behavior and thought.
• 📝 The script concludes with a call to action for viewers to apply these perspectives to real-world scenarios, highlighting the practical application of psychological theories.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video?

The main focus of the video is to explain the various psychological perspectives that psychologists use to understand and explain human behavior and the mind.

What are the four key skills that AP Psychology students should utilize throughout the course?

The four key skills are concept application, research methods and design, data interpretation, and argumentation.

What does the term 'perspective' mean in the context of psychology?

In the context of psychology, a 'perspective' refers to a point of view or a framework that influences how psychologists think about and study psychological concepts.

How does the evolutionary perspective explain human behavior?

The evolutionary perspective explains human behavior by considering how natural selection and survival mechanisms might have shaped our thoughts and actions to ensure the continuation of our species.

What is the primary focus of the biological perspective in psychology?

The biological perspective focuses on understanding how elements of our brain and body, such as the nervous system, neurotransmitters, hormones, and genes, influence our behaviors and thought processes.

Who is the founder of the psychodynamic approach in psychology?

Sigmund Freud is the founder of the psychodynamic approach, which focuses on the unconscious mind and its influence on behavior.

What does the behavioral perspective emphasize in the study of psychology?

The behavioral perspective emphasizes observable behaviors and how environmental factors like rewards and punishments, as well as classical conditioning, shape our actions.

How does the humanistic perspective view human potential and behavior?

The humanistic perspective views humans as having the capacity for healthy personal choice, potential, and growth, and it emphasizes the inherent goodness in people and the power of free will to determine a better future.

What are the main areas of focus for the cognitive perspective in psychology?

The cognitive perspective focuses on mental processes such as problem-solving, thinking, memory, perception, and creativity, rather than behaviors.

How does the social-cultural perspective explain human behavior?

The social-cultural perspective explains human behavior by looking at how interactions with others, social environments, and the norms and expectations of communities and cultures influence our actions and mental processes.

What is the biopsychosocial approach and how does it differ from other perspectives?

The biopsychosocial approach examines the interconnected influences of biological, psychological, and social factors on our thoughts and behaviors, offering a more holistic view compared to perspectives that focus on a single factor.

Why is it important for AP Psychology students to understand and apply psychological perspectives?

Understanding and applying psychological perspectives is important for AP Psychology students as it allows them to analyze and interpret real-world scenarios from various viewpoints, enhancing their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Outlines

00:00

🔍 Introduction to Psychological Perspectives

The script introduces the second part of the 'Unit Zero Science Practices Series' by Jolie McCre, focusing on 'Psychological Perspectives.' It sets the stage for understanding the foundational concepts of AP Psychology, emphasizing the importance of perspectives in psychology for the entire course. The video aims to teach viewers about the various approaches psychologists use to explain the mind and behavior. It outlines the main questions to be answered, including identifying the main perspectives in psychology and their application to real-world scenarios. The script also introduces the four key skills that AP Psychology students are expected to utilize, particularly 'concept application,' which is directly related to understanding and applying psychological perspectives. Eight main perspectives are listed for in-depth discussion in the video.

05:00

🌟 Exploring the Eight Psychological Perspectives

This paragraph delves into the details of the eight psychological perspectives, explaining how each offers a unique viewpoint on understanding human behavior and mental processes. The evolutionary perspective uses principles from biology to explain behaviors that contribute to species survival. The biological perspective examines the role of the brain, nervous system, neurotransmitters, hormones, and genes in behavior. The psychodynamic perspective, influenced by Freud's psychoanalysis, focuses on the unconscious mind, including repressed memories and inner conflicts. The behavioral perspective, pioneered by John B. Watson, emphasizes observable behaviors and how environmental factors like rewards and punishments shape them. The humanistic perspective, popularized by figures like Maslow and Rogers, highlights human potential, growth, and the power of free will. The cognitive perspective concentrates on mental processes such as problem-solving and memory. The social-cultural perspective considers how social interactions and cultural norms influence behavior. Finally, the biopsychosocial approach integrates biological, psychological, and social factors to understand complex behaviors. The paragraph challenges viewers to identify the perspectives of hypothetical psychologists presented in review questions at the end of the video.

10:03

📝 Conclusion and Review Questions

The final paragraph of the script concludes the discussion on psychological perspectives, inviting viewers to check their understanding by answering multiple-choice review questions. It emphasizes the need for viewers to not only explain the perspectives but also apply them to real-world situations. The script provides a brief overview of how to assess one's comprehension of the material, suggesting that viewers should be able to define the eight perspectives and recognize their application in various scenarios. The correct answers to the review questions are promised at the end of the video, encouraging active engagement with the content.

Keywords

💡Perspective

A 'perspective' in the context of this video refers to a point of view or framework that psychologists use to interpret and understand psychological concepts. It is not about being more right or wrong but providing different viewpoints that inform a psychologist's approach to studying the mind and behavior. The video emphasizes that understanding these perspectives is foundational to the study of psychology and is essential for applying psychological concepts to real-world scenarios.

💡Evolutionary Perspective

The 'evolutionary perspective' in psychology is an approach that applies principles from evolutionary biology to understand the human mind. It considers how natural selection and survival mechanisms may have shaped our thought processes and behaviors to ensure the continuation of our species. An example from the script is the idea that certain behaviors might have developed as survival strategies that helped previous generations thrive.

💡Biological Perspective

The 'biological perspective' seeks to understand how elements of our brain and body, such as the nervous system, neurotransmitters, hormones, and genes, are connected to our behaviors and thought processes. It is concerned with the biological basis of psychology, as illustrated in the script by the focus on how these factors affect the way we think and act.

💡Psychodynamic Perspective

The 'psychodynamic perspective' is influenced by Sigmund Freud's psychoanalysis and focuses on the unconscious mind. It considers repressed memories, inner motivations, and conflicts that individuals may not be aware of, and how these unconscious aspects influence thoughts and actions. The video script mentions this perspective in relation to how certain behaviors might stem from unresolved unconscious conflicts.

💡Behaviorist Perspective

The 'behaviorist perspective' focuses on observable behaviors and how the environment, through rewards and punishments, shapes these behaviors. It was developed by John B. Watson and is based on the idea that psychology should be an objective science, focusing on what can be seen and observed. The script uses this perspective to explain how different stimuli can produce different actions.

💡Humanistic Perspective

The 'humanistic perspective' emphasizes the human capacity for personal choice, potential, and growth. It was popularized by figures like Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers and sees inherent goodness in people, believing that behaviors and thoughts can be influenced by one's free will. The video contrasts this with other perspectives, such as the evolutionary or biological, which may attribute behaviors to survival adaptations or brain chemistry.

💡Cognitive Perspective

The 'cognitive perspective' focuses on mental processes such as problem-solving, thinking, memory, perception, and creativity. It looks at how these processes influence behavior rather than the behaviors themselves. The video script mentions influential cognitive psychologists like Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky, who have contributed to understanding how our thoughts and actions are shaped by cognitive processes.

💡Social Cultural Perspective

The 'social cultural perspective' examines how human behaviors and mental processes are influenced by social interactions, environments, and the norms and expectations of communities and cultures. It considers the impact of society and culture on the individual's psychology, as highlighted in the script when discussing how social factors can shape our thoughts and actions.

💡Biopsychosocial Approach

The 'biopsychosocial approach' is a comprehensive perspective that looks at the interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors in influencing thoughts and behaviors. It acknowledges that multiple interconnected elements contribute to psychological phenomena. The video script explains this approach as examining how our neurochemistry, peer groups, and self-esteem work together to affect our actions.

💡Concept Application

In the context of the video, 'concept application' is one of the four key skills that AP Psychology students are expected to utilize. It refers to the ability to apply psychological perspectives to understand and interpret various psychological phenomena. The video script emphasizes the importance of being able to define and apply the eight perspectives in psychology as part of concept application.

Highlights

Introduction to the second part of the 'Unit Zero Science Practices Series' by Jolie McCre.

Emphasis on the foundational role of Unit Zero for the entire AP Psychology course.

Explanation of the importance of psychological perspectives in understanding mind and behavior.

Introduction of the four key skills expected of AP Psychology students: concept application, research methods and design, data interpretation, and argumentation.

Highlighting the necessity for students to apply psychological perspectives as per the first key skill.

Listing the eight main perspectives in psychology that students should define and apply.

Definition of a 'perspective' in psychology as a point of view or framework for understanding psychological concepts.

Description of the evolutionary perspective and its focus on natural selection and survival mechanisms.

The biological perspective's emphasis on the brain, body elements, and their connection to behavior and thought processes.

The psychodynamic perspective, influenced by Freud's psychoanalysis, focusing on the unconscious mind and its influence on behavior.

Behaviorism's focus on observable behaviors and how environmental factors shape them.

Humanistic psychology's focus on personal choice, potential, and growth, and the belief in inherent human goodness.

The cognitive perspective's focus on mental processes like problem-solving, thinking, memory, and perception.

The social-cultural perspective's examination of how social environments and cultural norms influence behavior and mental processes.

The biopsychosocial approach, considering the interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors on behavior and thought.

The requirement for students to apply these perspectives to real-world scenarios for a deeper understanding.

Review questions provided to test students' understanding of the different psychological perspectives.

The conclusion of the video with a prompt for students to check their understanding of the main perspectives in psychology.

Transcripts

hi everyone my name is Jolie mccre and

this video is the second part of my unit

zero science practices Series this video

is called psychological perspectives and

as you might recall from the first video

the concepts in unit zero are the

foundation for the rest of the course

because what you learn in this unit you

will continue to draw on throughout the

course of AP

Psychology this video you will learn

just specifically about the approaches

psychologists take when they attempt to

explain our mind and our Behavior after

the video you should be able to answer

the following questions what are the

main perspectives in Psychology and how

do psychological perspectives apply to

real world scenarios and in the bottom

right hand corner I wanted you to see

that the four key skills the College

Board wants AP Psychology students to

utilize throughout the course um those

you can see are concept application

research methods and design data

interpretation and argumentation but the

first practice says that students should

be able to do concept application and

you can see highlighted there students

should be able to apply psychological

perspectives so in order to do that you

need to know what the main perspectives

in Psychology are so by the end of the

video you should be able to Define and

apply the following eight perspectives

listed on the screen and I will go over

each one in more depth

soon so first what do I mean by

perspective a perspective is simply a

point of view not all psychologists

think alike and the way that they think

about psychological Concepts is

influenced by their perspective

depending on their perspective a

psychologist might explain the root

cause of a behavior differently than

another psychologist from a different

perspective and it's not that one

perspective is more right or more wrong

these are just viewpoints that help

inform a psychologists approach to what

they study you can think of a

perspective like a framework or a lens a

pair of glasses that a psychologist uses

to see and explain why people act and

think the way they do and each

perspective focuses on different ideas

and ways of studying how our minds work

perspectives can also be referred to as

approaches to psychology or even

viewpoints in Psychology so the first

perspective is the evolutionary

perspective psychologists who take an

evolutionary approach are going to use

the knowledge and principles from

evolutionary biology and apply them to

the structure of the human mind

evolutionary psychologists consider and

examine how aspects like natural

selection and survival mechanisms might

determine our thought processes and our

behaviors in an attempt to keep our

species going from one generation to the

next some psychologists take a

biological approach to explaining the

mind and human behavior the biological

perspective seeks to understand and

explain how the elements of our brain in

our bodies are connected to our

behaviors and our thought processes they

are going to be concerned with things

like the nervous system

neurotransmitters hormones and genes and

how those factors affect the way we

think and how we

act some psychologists take a

psychodynamic approach to explaining the

mind and behavior these psychologists

are influenced by the work of Sigman

Freud who developed a field called

psycho analysis this Viewpoint focuses

on the unconscious mind so they're going

to focus on things like repressed

memories or inner motivations and

conflicts you aren't aware of and how

those unconscious aspects are

influencing your thoughts and

actions the behaviorist approach is

going to look at behaviors this field

was developed by John B Watson who was

inspired by the work of Ivan p have love

and classical conditioning and the

behavioral perspective is going to focus

on psychology as an objective science

something that you can see and observe

hence behaviorism or behavioral because

unlike our thoughts you can see and

observe your behaviors behavioral

psychologists look at how the

environment things like rewards and

punishments shape our behaviors as well

as how pairing different stimuli can

produce different

actions some psychologists take a

humanistic approach to explaining the

human mind and behavior this field was

made Popular by people like Abraham

maslo and Carl Rogers humanistic

psychologists focus on the human

capacity for healthy personal choice and

potential and growth they're going to

see the inherent goodness in people and

they will believe that our behaviors and

our thoughts can be influenced by our

own free will to determine a better

future this is really different from

some of the previous perspectives think

about the evolutionary psychologist who

is going to explain our behaviors as a

consequence of adaptations for survival

or the biological psychologist who is

going to think about our behaviors as

influenced by our brain chemistry a

humanistic psychologist is going to

believe that we have the power to make

those changes in our own lives that we

have the power and potential for growth

in

self-actualization the next perspective

is the cognitive perspective and the

cognitive perspective focuses primarily

on mental processes rather than

behaviors so things like problem solving

thinking memory perception creativity

when explaining psychological phenomena

uh psychologists from this perspective

will likely look at the mind in our

thoughts and they will describe how

we're acting through our thought

processes some of the most influential

cognitive psychologists are Jean P Lev

vigotsky and Albert vandora some

psychologists take a social cultural

approach to explaining the mind and

human behavior the social cultural

perspective focuses on how human

behaviors and mental processes are

influenced by our interactions with

others their social environments and the

norms and expectations of our

communities and cultures and finally

some psychologists take a

biopsychosocial approach to explaining

the mind and human behavior this

approach examines how multiple

interconnected factors influence our

thoughts and our behaviors so those

factors are biological factors things

like our

neurochemistry and our social factors

like our peer groups as well as our

psychological factors like our

self-esteem and how those work together

to influence the way we think and the

way we act so those are the eight

perspectives of psychology and as you

can probably recall from the beginning

of the video not only do you need to be

able to explain those perspectives but

you need to be able to apply them to

real world scenarios so in the next part

of the video I will share with you a few

examples of psychologists coming from

different perspectives and I would like

for you to think about what perspective

they are taking so to close out the

video I have four questions for review I

will only read the questions but the

answers you will need to take some time

to pause the video read them and

determine which one is correct I'll

share the correct answers with you at

the end of the video so this question

says psychologist number one is seeing a

patient about a behavior they wish to

correct the patient is frequently lying

as a strategy to gain social advantages

secure resources or avoid conflicts this

psychologist believes that lying might

be derived as a mechanism of survival

which helped previous generations

succeed and Thrive what perspective is

this psychologist coming

from the next question says psychologist

number two is seeing a patient about a

behavior they wish to correct the

patient is frequently skin-picking as a

response to stress anxiety or other

triggers this psychologist believes the

behavior results from a combination of

factors such as genetic predisposition

for impulsivity a stressful work

environment and possibly individual

psychological coping mechanisms what

perspective is this psychologist coming

from the next question States

psychologist number three is seeing a

patient about a phobia that severely

impacts their daily life this

psychologist believes the phobia stems

from unresolved unconscious conflicts

and repressed memories from Early

Childhood experiences what perspective

is this psychologist taking and the last

question States psychologist number four

is seeing a patient experiencing severe

depression that affects their daily

functioning this psychologist believes

that depression is due to imbalances in

brain chemistry possibly due to low

levels of Serotonin what perspective is

this psychologist taking so this

concludes part two psychological

perspectives if you would like to check

the answers to the multiple choice riew

questions you can find those at the

bottom of the screen if you want to

check your understanding see if you can

explain the main perspectives in

Psychology and if you can describe how

psychological perspectives apply to real

world situations you should also be able

to define the eight perspectives in

psychology