Why do people behave the way they do?

An introduction
How psychologists explain human behaviour

Biological approach to understanding

human behaviour
All behaviour is determined by genetic, physiological
and neurological factors
The central nervous system and the brain is a major
influence
Normality is a properly functioning nervous system

Biological approach to understanding

human behaviour
The nature of psychological development
Stages of behavioural & psychological development
are based on changes in brain growth which are
genetically determined (maturation)
Preferred method of study
Experiment (on animals often rats
and humans)

Biological approach to understanding

human behaviour
Major causes of abnormal behaviour
genetic disorders
organic (bodily) disorders
brain disease or injury
chemical imbalance / allergies
mental illness

Biological approach to understanding

human behaviour
Preferred methods of treatment
chemotherapy( drugs)
electroconvulsive therapy; psychosurgery
Goals of treatment
To alleviate symptoms or to reverse the underlying cause (s) of
the illness
Key Studies
Maguire et al : Brains of London Taxi Drivers
Sperry: The split brain studies

Psychodynamic approach (perspective) to

understanding human behaviour (Freud)
Behaviour determined by unconscious forces
The individual experiences unconscious conflict due
to opposing demands made by different parts of the
personality (id, ego, superego)
Normality
A reasonable balance between id, ego, superego but
there is always some conflict

Psychodynamic approach (perspective) to

understanding human behaviour (Freud)
The nature of psychological
development
Five psychosexual stages whose
sequence is determined by maturation
An individual is shaped by early
childhood experiences

Psychodynamic approach (perspective) to

understanding human behaviour (Freud)
Preferred method of study is case study
Key Studies:
Freud, S. (1909) Analysis of a phobia
in a five-year-old boy. Pelican Freud
Library, Vol. 8, Case Histories
Thigpen, C.H. & Cleckley, H.
(1954)
A case of multiple personality.

Psychodynamic approach (perspective) to

understanding human behaviour (Freud)
Major causes of abnormal behaviour
Emotional disturbance / neurosis caused by unresolved
conflicts stemming from childhood
Preferred methods of treatment
Psychoanalysis in which the unconscious is revealed
Goals of treatment
To uncover unconscious conflict and to achieve balance
between id, ego, superego

Behaviourist approach (perspective) to

understanding human behaviour
All human behaviour shaped by
environmental forces
behaviour is learned by
classical & operant conditioning
(Pavlovs dogs)
Normality
The possession of an adequately large repertoire of
learned responses

Behaviourist approach (perspective) to

understanding human behaviour
Major causes of abnormal behaviour
learned maladaptive responses
no distinction between symptoms and behaviour disorder
Key Study:
Little Albert:
J Watson & R Rayner (1926)
Conditioned emotional responses

Behaviourist approach (perspective) to

understanding human behaviour
Preferred methods of treatment
behaviour therapy
systematic desensitisation
aversion therapy, flooding therapy

Goals of treatment
To eliminate maladaptive responses (phobias etc)
and to acquire new ones

Behaviourist approach (perspective) to

understanding human behaviour
Classical conditioning
With care & patience, it is possible to demonstrate the
conditioning of the eye-blink reflex in humans. In pairs
choose who will be the experimenter and the learner
Experimenter - blow carefully (use a drinking straw )
across the eyeball. Now pair the puff of air with a gentle
tap on the back of the participants hand. Record the
number of pairings required to produce the eye-blink to
the tap on the hand alone.

Cognitive approach to understanding human

behaviour
The human mind is compared to a computer
(information processor) as cognitive processes
select, code, store and retrieve information
Key Study Areas: Memory, Perception, Language
Normality
The proper functioning of cognitive processes &
ability to use them to monitor & control behaviour

Cognitive approach to understanding human

behaviour
The nature of psychological development
Stages of cognitive development (Key Names: Jean
Piaget, L Vygotsky)
Preferred methods of study
experiment (mainly humans)
artificial intelligence

Cognitive approach to understanding human

behaviour
The major causes of abnormal behaviour
unrealistic/irrational ideas about self & others
the inability to monitor behaviour through cognitive
processes
Key studies: Loftus & Palmer how leading
questions reconstruct memory
Samuel & Bryant: Asking only one question in the
conservation tasks

Cognitive approach to understanding human

behaviour

Preferred methods of treatment

Rational Emotive Therapy
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
e.g. Pain clinics / depression clinics

The goals of treatment

To correct unrealistic ideas so that thinking becomes
an effective means of controlling behaviour

Key questions to ask about human

behaviour
Do people behave the way they do

because of the sort of person they are

the dispositional explanation
or
because of the situation they are in?
the situational explanation
or a bit of both

Key questions to ask about human

behaviour
Do people behave the way they do
because of biological (nature) reasons
or
because of their environmental (nurture)
experiences?
or a bit of both

Key questions to ask about human

behaviour
How can metaphysical mental
processes cause behaviour?
The ghost in the machine!

Psychology of why people behave

the way they do !