Preview

The Diverse Nature of Psychology

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
814 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Diverse Nature of Psychology
The Diverse Nature of Psychology

Lisa A. Duggar

PSY/490

March 25, 2012

Dr. Austin Obika PhD., LPC

The Diverse Nature of Psychology The diverse nature of psychology is a complex phenomenon. Psychology is a large field encompassing many perspective, theories, and concepts. In this paper, the influence of diversity on psychology’s major concepts will be evaluated. A couple of sub-disciplines including their sub-topics will be identified and the ways in which they can be applied along with their contributions to the world psychology.
Diversity
Diversity is usually describing many differences between variables, or variety. In psychology, diversity ranges among similarities and differences not only among individuals’ race, ethnicity, and culture but also by their individual traits and characteristics, including interpersonal skills. Diversity also includes social class, sexual orientation, religion, weight, disabilities, and political affiliation (Hussey, Fleck & Warner, 2010). Diversity in education is of the utmost importance to teach students about these differences not only learn about them but also to understand, respect, and accept them. There are just as many diversity topics as there are sub-disciplines and categories in psychology; therefore, diversity has influenced psychology’s major concepts by vastly enriching research and studies. Diversity has allowed researchers to widen the spectrum of the study of human behavior by allowing the insight of other races, ethnicities, and cultures to contribute to psychology and furthering education.
Motivation
Motivation is the force that initiates behavior. Motivation is the guiding force that also maintains goal-oriented behavior. Motivation is the driving force that makes people eat food to satisfy hunger, to exercise, to wake up and go to work, to go to college, and so on. Motivation in psychology has many approaches and theories. Of



References: Hussey, H. D., Fleck, B. B., & Warner, R. M. (2010). Reducing Student Prejudice in Diversity-Infused Core Psychology Classes. College Teaching, 58(3), 85-92. doi:10.1080/87567550903418560 Senko, C., Hulleman, C. S., & Harackiewicz, J. M. (2011). Achievement Goal Theory at the Crossroads: Old Controversies, Current Challenges, and New Directions. Educational Psychologist, 46(1), 26-47. doi:10.1080/00461520.2011.538646 van Veen, V., Krug, M. K., Schooler, J. W., & Carter, C. S. (2009). Neural activity predicts attitude change in cognitive dissonance. Nature Neuroscience, 12(11), 1469-1474. doi:10.1038/nn.2413 [pic]

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    Motivation is the driving force behind all of our actions and behavior as individuals. The influences of an individual’s needs and desires have strong impacts on the direction of their behavior. Motivation is based on our emotions and achievement-related goals. Achievement motivation can be defined as the need for success and attaining our goals, and feeling more accomplished. Motivation is the basic drive for all of our actions. Motivation refers to the purpose of our behavior, which involves our needs, desires, and ambitions in our lives. These physiological motivations drive our natural behavior in different environments. Most of our goals are incentive-based and can vary from basic hunger to the need for love and the establishment of mature sexual relationships. Motivation is important because it establishes the basic functions to keep us going in our every day lives. All of our behaviors, actions, thoughts, and beliefs are influenced by our inner motivation.…

    • 1053 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    References: Fhagen-Smith, P. (2014). Psychology 251. Multicultural Psychology – Courses of Instruction | Wheaton College. Retrieved from http://wheatoncollege.edu/catalog/psy_251/…

    • 1039 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    References: Bucher, R. D., & Bucher, P. L. (2009). Diversity Consciousness. Opening Our Minds to People, Cultures, and Opportunities (Third Edition ed.). Pearson Education: .…

    • 1152 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Psychology 490/Capstone

    • 967 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Diversity in psychology as in life is critical to survival. Stabilization within the field of psychology must rely on a meshing of multiculturalism, contributions from within and outside of the field and knowledge in a variety of approaches and theories. Without diversity, we become stagnant and complacent. Only the strongest survive and being able to draw from a diverse set of disciplines can widen the range of psychological outcomes. Motivation, the theory of emotion and the approach and avoidance concepts will be addressed in this paper, as well as how the humanistic approach can be applied as it relates to motivation.…

    • 967 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Hall, G. C. N., & Barongan, C. (2010). Multicultural psychology (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall.…

    • 1639 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Psychology is a diverse area of study. Within this paper it will discuss the influence of diversity and it’s major concepts within psychology. It will also discuss subtopics within psychology, as well as how subtopics are identified, and applied to other disciplines within society. As well as, explain how these subtopics affect my personal theoretical perspective. Lastly, it will discuss how my contribution of studying psychology will benefit society within my area of profession in which I hope to achieve in my near future.…

    • 1145 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Psychology has a diverse nature. Diversity describes the diverse nature of the field not diversity in human race. The following paper will define two examples of sub-disciplines of psychology and two theories connected to the sub-disciplines, how these two examples connect with contemporary society other than psychology, relate sub-disciplines to a theoretical perspective, and my psychological contribution to society.…

    • 1496 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Multicultural is a very big controversy when it comes to psychology. There is much diversity that comes along with dealing with multicultural psychology. Psychologists are trained to deal with much different diversity. All individuals exist in social, political, historical, and economic contexts, and psychologists are increasingly called upon to understand the influence of these contexts on individuals ' behavior in society. (“Guidelines “, 2003) In many different generations, there has been much diversity in the workplace. The biggest diversity in the workplace is stereotypes. Many people just like to assume things about a person without getting to know them.…

    • 845 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    References: Hall, G.C.N. (2010). Multicultural psychology (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NH: Pearson Prentice Hall.…

    • 1680 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    The field of psychology has been in existence for several hundred years. It seeks to define why specific behaviors occur and also to examine mental problems. Over the years psychology has become a discipline that has valuable application in other areas as well. Because it crosses the areas of science, behavior, and mental processes, it has broad implications in other arenas as well. These arenas include learning and cognition, motivation, and personality, to name a few. It is evidenced in the Western countries that the field of psychology comes into play. For example it is used in education, medicine, business, and law. The integration with multiple disciplines combined with advances in learning research has made the field very captivating. This paper will evaluate the influence of diversity on psychology’s major concepts, review subdisciplines and how they can be applied to other disciplined. It will also outline how these contribute to society in multiple areas.…

    • 906 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In the 21th century it is relatively easy to define psychology, however many forces has led to emergence of modern psychology. Much of the history of psychology has been characterized by heated debates about what constitutes the appropriate subject matter and methodologies for a science of mind and behavior. This ‘summary’ will be the period of history in which some of the critical groundwork for modern psychology has laid down.…

    • 439 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Anti-bias curriculum is a positive method to reduce prejudice among children. “By using anti-bias approach, children can develop and strengthen their self and group identities, while interacting respectfully with others in a multicultural environment.” (Rasmussen, 2004).…

    • 437 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Best Essays

    addressing diversity: History, current use, and future directions. Training and Education in Professional Psychology, 6, 196-203.…

    • 330 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    Psychology in itself is diversified. The reason for this is that people in all walks of life, ethnicity, gender, and culture that study or work in psychology bring different experiences and points of view to psychology. Different fields of psychology focus on different sub-topics of psychology for example, biopsychology focuses on the idea that a person’s biological make up has influence on his or her behavior. Another example would be Environmental Psychology (EP) where the focus is on how and why a person’s environment affects his or her behavior. This paper explores two sub-disciplines and two-subtopics within psychology and how those sub-disciplines and sub-topics can be applied to other disciplines within psychology.…

    • 929 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Motivation is the driving force within individuals that impels them to action. This driving force is produced by a state of uncomfortable tension, which exists as the result of an unsatisfied need. Al1 individuals have needs, wants, and desires. The individual's subconscious drive to reduce need-induced tensions results in behavior that he or she anticipates will satisfy needs and thus bring about a more comfortable internal state.…

    • 2396 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Good Essays