Psychology Paper and Self Reflection
Self-Reflection Related to Influential Psychology Theories When psychologists were first acknowledged they began studying behaviors and biological processes. There are numerous recognized psychologists that have contributed to the seven major perspectives of today’s modern psychology. These theories include: Evolutionary theory, sociocultural theory, biopsychological theory, psychoanalytic theory, cognitivism, humanistic theory and behaviorism. The three theories that I would like to describe, analyze and reflect upon are the behaviorism, cognitivism and psychoanalytic. The term “behaviorism” developed from the renowned behavioral psychologist named
John B. Watson (Molm, 2005). Many influential theorists became associated with behaviorism including: Ivan Pavlov, Edward Throndike, William James and B.F Skinner. Ivan Pavlov studied behaviorism through learning which scientifically was called conditioning (Younger, Vanson, & Huffman, 2010). Edward Throndike “determined that the frequency of a behavior is modified by its consequences” (Younger, Vanson, & Huffman, 2010, p.157.) William James expanded and broadened psychology by incorporating animal behaviors along with human behaviors into his studies. B.F Skinner became interested in the behavioristic approach and ended up being one of behaviourisms biggest advocate (The Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology, 2001). His version of behavioral psychology is one the most influential theories developed in the twentieth century (Robinson, 2004). “Scientific psychology has four basic goals: to describe, explain, predict, and change behaviour or mental processes through scientific methods” (Younger et al., 2010, p.7). In Pavlov’s case he used scientific experiments to describe learning. Using classical conditioning he showed a connection between how different stimulus’s can create a learned (conditioned) response. His experiment included “a neural stimulus which becomes associated with an unconditioned response to elicit
John B. Watson (Molm, 2005). Many influential theorists became associated with behaviorism including: Ivan Pavlov, Edward Throndike, William James and B.F Skinner. Ivan Pavlov studied behaviorism through learning which scientifically was called conditioning (Younger, Vanson, & Huffman, 2010). Edward Throndike “determined that the frequency of a behavior is modified by its consequences” (Younger, Vanson, & Huffman, 2010, p.157.) William James expanded and broadened psychology by incorporating animal behaviors along with human behaviors into his studies. B.F Skinner became interested in the behavioristic approach and ended up being one of behaviourisms biggest advocate (The Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology, 2001). His version of behavioral psychology is one the most influential theories developed in the twentieth century (Robinson, 2004). “Scientific psychology has four basic goals: to describe, explain, predict, and change behaviour or mental processes through scientific methods” (Younger et al., 2010, p.7). In Pavlov’s case he used scientific experiments to describe learning. Using classical conditioning he showed a connection between how different stimulus’s can create a learned (conditioned) response. His experiment included “a neural stimulus which becomes associated with an unconditioned response to elicit